Value of a U-M Degree
The University of Michigan offers more than a world-class higher education. The value of a U-M degree is routinely recognized by both our alumni and in national rankings.
For example, 84% of our alumni who completed our most recent Alumni Career Survey agreed, or strongly agreed, that they are highly satisfied with their U-M educational experience. In 2025 the Princeton Review ranked U-M the #1 public university in the state of Michigan in its “Best Value College” list, and #7 overall among all public schools, for its stellar academics, affordable costs, and career prospects for graduates.
U-M is Committed to Keeping College Affordable
In fact, 2 out of 3 first-year students are awarded financial aid each year.
While the Office of Financial Aid and many U-M schools and colleges do award grants and scholarships, Federal student loans are an additional form of financial aid for low- and middle-income students. Managed carefully, loans can be a valuable tool for expanding access to higher education.
When adjusted for inflation, the percentage of U-M undergraduate students who graduate with student loan debt, and the average total amount of student loan debt accrued at graduation, have decreased for the last decade regardless of tuition residency status.
U-M is committed to helping students make good borrowing decisions that keep their student debt levels -M is committed to helping students make good borrowing decisions that keep their student debt levels manageable. In fact, our most recent Alumni Career Survey followed-up with the Class of 2020 five years after graduation; the majority of participants who took on student loan debt either agreed, or strongly agreed, that their:
1) student loan debt has been manageable
2) U-M degree was worth their student loan debt.
U-M Students Gain Career Skills that Employers Seek
A U-M education provides students with many opportunities to develop transferable career skills. For example, our 2025 Alumni Career Survey found that 90% of participants agree, or strongly agree, that their U-M degree helped them gain critical thinking skills, which was also the top career skill that they reported using in their current job to perform it effectively.
According to Steppingblocks career outcome data, U-M alumni who graduated in the last 25 years heavily utilize the following top career skills when compared to graduates from other colleges and universities.
Alumni are Satisfied with their U-M Education and Careers
U-M graduates from our 2025 Alumni Career Survey reported high satisfaction with their education and career outcomes, emphasizing the value of a U-M degree for both academic enrichment and professional development.
U-M graduates don’t just earn degrees, they land jobs. We combine affordability with the real-world preparation employers demand. Strong earning potential, and connection to the U-M Alumni Network, are additional factors that enhance our graduates’ return on investment. Click below to learn more about the value of a U-M degree.
Affordability
U-M has the most comprehensive need-based program for Michigan residents, with the lowest, to 3rd lowest, net-price among the 15 Michigan 4-Year Publics. Explore our premier financial aid package for qualifying in-state students, the Go Blue Guarantee, which provides free tuition for families with incomes of $125,000 & under & assets below $125,000. Partial tuition support may be available for some families earning more. 
All in-state and out-of-state students may use our net price calculator to help estimate eligibility for any available financial aid, and approximate your out-of-pocket expenses as a degree seeking, full-time student.
Education and Career Preparation
With 18 nationally recognized undergraduate Schools & Colleges, U-M offers exceptional degree programs to help prepare students for graduate studies or to enter the workforce. The University Career Center provides resources for all students to discover and explore career paths. School & colleges also have staff who specialize in career services in their respective fields.
Michigan students are also encouraged to participate in interdisciplinary, Engaged Learning opportunities to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world projects, such as internships, research projects, study abroad, and other creative or entrepreneurial projects. 93% of graduating seniors report participating in at least one type of engaged learning experience during their time at U-M, according to the 2022 Engaged Learning Census report.
We surveyed alumni from the Class of 2015 & 2020 to learn more about their career preparation at U-M. Many graduates report that their degree helped them gain valuable career skills, regardless of their field or academic discipline.
Employment Outcomes
Our alumni routinely report high satisfaction with their education and career outcomes, indicating career success and the positive impact of the U-M undergraduate program on economic mobility. See our Alumni Career Survey results for more information.
Below are the top job categories and companies where our alumni work, based on headcount, according to Steppingblock data of students who graduated from U-M Ann Arbor with a bachelor’s degree since 2000.
Research consistently demonstrates higher earnings for bachelor’s degree earners. Census data indicates Full-time workers with a bachelors degree earn more than workers with high school diploma/GED.
Source: U.S. National Center for Educational Statistics (2024).
While salary and income data vary by several factors, such as experience, profession, and geographic region, a Georgetown University study (2025) found U-M grads earn a higher lifetime ROI over the span of 40 years compared to the average of graduates from other public and private universities.
Source: Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce analysis of data from US Department of Education, College Scorecard, 2009-22. (2025).
Alumni Network
The value of a U-M degree extends well beyond graduation! U-M graduates enjoy a robust alumni community, with programming and networking opportunities provided by both the Alumni Association and regional U-M alumni clubs throughout the country. The map below shows the top states all alumni who graduated in the last 25 years live and work in, according to data acquired from Steppingblocks. 