Head-to-head comparison
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor vs Wayne State University: which has better ROI?
Option A Ann Arbor, MI
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
- Net price / year
- $13,138
- Earnings, 10 years
- $83,648
- Payback
- 1.5 yrs
Option B Detroit, MI
Wayne State University
- Net price / year
- $12,766
- Earnings, 10 years
- $53,493
- Payback
- 9.9 yrs
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $52,552 in 1.5 years versus 9.9 years at Wayne State University, on median earnings of $83,648 vs $53,493 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Wayne State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,138 | $12,766 |
| Total net cost | $52,552 | $51,064 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $83,648 | $53,493 |
| Median debt | $19,500 | $21,250 |
| Payback | 1.5 yrs | 9.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $653,208 | $51,596 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor or Wayne State University?
Wayne State University, at $12,766 a year after aid versus $13,138 — a gap of $372 a year, or $1,488 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of Michigan-Ann Arbor or Wayne State University graduates earn more?
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor graduates report a median $83,648 ten years after entry, $30,155 more than the $53,493 at Wayne State University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor or Wayne State University?
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $21,250 at Wayne State University, a difference of $1,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
93% of students finish at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, against 58% at Wayne State University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.