Source: IPEDS, as of September 29, 2026. Cost is resident tuition plus required fees, 2023-24.
Bachelor's Degrees in Michigan
13
Meet the Ranking Threshold
8
Median Resident Tuition and Fees
$26,390
With a Fully Online Option
1
General Studies Bachelor's Degrees in Michigan
General studies bachelor's degrees in Michigan number 13, eight ranked and five others, and three public universities and ten private colleges offer them. The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor leads at 66.6, 32nd in the national bachelor's ranking, and its score rests on a 93% graduation rate, on 54 degrees a year at $18,309 in tuition and required fees for residents and $60,107 for everyone else. Ferris State University in Big Rapids is the largest program with 70 degrees, scoring 43.5 on a 47% graduation rate and $14,246. Saginaw Valley State University scores 40.3 at $12,240 with a 48% graduation rate and 29 degrees.
The private colleges trade price for completion. Andrews University in Berrien Springs graduates 72% at $33,710 and scores 51, Spring Arbor University graduates 64% at $32,580 and scores 44, and Madonna University in Livonia graduates 60% at $27,360 and scores 40.6, each on 11 to 18 degrees a year. Baker College is the private exception: $12,810, a 36% graduation rate and 28 degrees, scoring 26.2, and it is the one ranked bachelor's you can finish online. Siena Heights University in Adrian graduates 39% at $29,778 and scores 14.5.
So across the ranked programs graduation rates run from 36% at Baker to 93% at Michigan. The five programs below the threshold awarded 1 to 4 degrees each: Lake Superior State University at $14,266, the University of Michigan-Dearborn at $14,944 with a 58% graduation rate, Cornerstone University, Kuyper College and Alma College at $47,430.
The 8 Best General Studies Bachelor's Degrees in Michigan
The best general studies bachelor's degrees in Michigan are ranked below by their national score, from the national bachelor's degree ranking. The number on each card is the program's place in Michigan. Each needed at least 10 graduates in the latest year to be ranked.
1
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Michigan
66.6- Public
- College graduation rate
- 93%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $18,309 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 54
About the Program
Ann Arbor, Michigan is home to University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, a public university of 52,855 students. The program's last federal report shows 54 bachelor's degrees conferred, so it is larger than 61 in every 100 programs measured here. Across the whole college, 93% of students finish, which is a higher rate than 99% of the institutions behind this list. Expect tuition and fees of $18,309 a year as a resident and $60,107 otherwise. About 16% of applicants are admitted, so an application is not a formality. Strongest of its measures is the graduation rate of its college, which lands at the 99th percentile.
2
Andrews University
Michigan
51.0- Private nonprofit
- College graduation rate
- 72%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $33,710 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 18
About the Program
Some 2,940 students attend Andrews University, a private nonprofit university in Berrien Springs, Michigan. During the most recent year on record it awarded 18 bachelor's degrees, a count at the 22nd percentile for size. Across the whole college, 72% of students finish, which is a higher rate than 95% of the institutions behind this list. Tuition and fees hold at $33,710 a year whichever state you come from. About 82% of applicants are admitted, so an application is not a formality. Strongest of its measures is the graduation rate of its college, which lands at the 95th percentile.
3
Spring Arbor University
Michigan
44.0- Private nonprofit
- College graduation rate
- 64%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $32,580 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 13
About the Program
Spring Arbor, Michigan is home to Spring Arbor University, a private nonprofit university of 2,441 students. Some 13 bachelor's degrees were conferred in the last year on record, a bigger output than 9% of the programs ranked alongside it. Its college-wide graduation rate is 64%, the 85th percentile, because the federal record tracks completion by institution. Residents and nonresidents are both charged $32,580 a year in tuition and fees. About 52% of applicants are admitted, so an application is not a formality. Strongest of its measures is the graduation rate of its college, which lands at the 85th percentile.
4
Ferris State University
Michigan
43.5- Public
- College graduation rate
- 47%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $14,246 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 70
About the Program
Big Rapids, Michigan is home to Ferris State University, a public university of 9,959 students. It conferred 70 bachelor's degrees in the latest reported year, which is more than 69% of the bachelor's programs ranked at this level. Of the students who start at Ferris State University, 47% graduate, and that beats 41 in every 100 institutions on this measure. Tuition and fees are $14,246 a year for every student, residents and nonresidents alike. Applicants are admitted at a rate of 91%, which leaves room for a rejection. Its strongest mark is the number of degrees it awards, at the 69th percentile.
5
Madonna University
Michigan
40.6- Private nonprofit
- College graduation rate
- 60%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $27,360 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 11
About the Program
Madonna University is a private nonprofit university in Livonia, Michigan that enrolls 2,124 students. The program's last federal report shows 11 bachelor's degrees conferred, so it is larger than 3 in every 100 programs measured here. Of the students who start at Madonna University, 60% graduate, and that beats 78 in every 100 institutions on this measure. Tuition and fees hold at $27,360 a year whichever state you come from. Admission is selective enough to plan for, with 63% of applicants accepted. Strongest of its measures is the graduation rate of its college, which lands at the 78th percentile.
6
Saginaw Valley State University
Michigan
40.3- Public
- College graduation rate
- 48%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $12,240 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 29
About the Program
Some 6,822 students attend Saginaw Valley State University, a public university in University Center, Michigan. It conferred 29 bachelor's degrees in the latest reported year, which is more than 42% of the bachelor's programs ranked at this level. Across the whole college, 48% of students finish, which is a higher rate than 44% of the institutions behind this list. Tuition and fees run $12,240 a year in state against $28,752 out of state, so on price it sits at the 33rd percentile. About 72% of applicants are admitted, so an application is not a formality. On the graduation rate of its college it does best, reaching the 44th percentile.
7
Baker College
Michigan
26.2- Private nonprofit
- Fully Online Option
- College graduation rate
- 36%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $12,810 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 28
About the Program
Based in Owosso, Michigan, Baker College is a private nonprofit college with 3,955 students on its rolls. The program's last federal report shows 28 bachelor's degrees conferred, so it is larger than 40 in every 100 programs measured here. A 36% graduation rate puts the college at the 16th percentile, though that figure counts every student who started there and not this degree alone. Tuition and fees hold at $12,810 a year whichever state you come from. Nothing in the degree requires attending in person, since it is offered fully online. About 82% of applicants are admitted, so an application is not a formality. Its strongest mark is the number of degrees it awards, at the 40th percentile.
8
Siena Heights University
Michigan
14.5- Private nonprofit
- College graduation rate
- 39%
- In-state tuition and fees
- $29,778 a year
- Degrees awarded, latest year
- 10
About the Program
Siena Heights University is a private nonprofit university in Adrian, Michigan that enrolls 1,781 students. Some 10 bachelor's degrees were conferred in the last year on record, a bigger output than 1% of the programs ranked alongside it. Of the students who start at Siena Heights University, 39% graduate, and that beats 23 in every 100 institutions on this measure. Tuition and fees hold at $29,778 a year whichever state you come from. Admission is selective enough to plan for, with 69% of applicants accepted. On the graduation rate of its college it does best, reaching the 23rd percentile.
Other General Studies Bachelor's Degrees in Michigan
The other general studies bachelor's degrees in Michigan awarded fewer than 10 degrees in the latest year or did not report a figure the ranking uses, so they are listed here without a score. That says something about size and nothing on its own about quality.
| College | Degrees Awarded | Graduation Rate | Tuition and Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste Marie | 4 | 51% | $14,266 |
| Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids | 2 | 62% | $29,100 |
| University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn | 2 | 58% | $14,944 |
| Kuyper College, Grand Rapids | 2 | 50% | $26,390 |
| Alma College, Alma | 1 | 63% | $47,430 |
Source: IPEDS, as of September 29, 2026. Graduation rate is the college's, for first-time, full-time students.
How Much Does a General Studies Bachelor's Degree Cost in Michigan?
A general studies bachelor's degree in Michigan costs a median of $26,390 a year in tuition and required fees for 2023-24 across the 13 programs, and the five public universities all sit well under it: Saginaw Valley State at $12,240 for residents, Ferris State $14,246, Lake Superior State $14,266, Michigan-Dearborn $14,944 and Michigan-Ann Arbor $18,309. Baker College at $12,810 is the one private program priced with the publics. The other seven run from Kuyper College at $26,390 and Madonna at $27,360 through Cornerstone, Siena Heights, Spring Arbor and Andrews to Alma College at $47,430. Non-residents pay $60,107 at Ann Arbor.
Michigan Reconnect is the state's aid for adults, and it pays for the community college years rather than the bachelor's. It covers in-district community college tuition after the Pell Grant for Michigan residents aged 21 and older with a high school diploma or equivalent, and if you don't qualify for Pell it pays full tuition, mandatory fees and contact hours. Eligibility requires that you don't yet hold an associate or bachelor's degree, so the grant is for the two years before you reach any program on this page.
How Does Credit Transfer Into a General Studies Bachelor's Degree in Michigan?
Credit transfers into a general studies bachelor's degree in Michigan through the Michigan Transfer Agreement for the general education block and through program-level agreements, where they exist, for the rest. Under the MTA, a community college student completes at least 30 semester hours of college-level credit that fulfill a portion of the lower-division general education requirements at participating four-year colleges and universities, with at least a 2.0 in each course. Michigan's community colleges and universities adopted it in fall 2014.
For whole-program agreements, MiTransfer Pathways are associate-to-bachelor's articulation agreements signed by 59 institutions, 28 community colleges, 15 public universities and 16 independent colleges and universities, in 10 program areas. The companion MiWorkforce Pathways, which connect applied community college degrees to bachelor's completion programs, include a General Applied Science program area, the one closest to a general studies degree. Ask Ferris State, Saginaw Valley State or Baker whether its general studies bachelor's sits on either pathway from your community college.
Beyond the MTA, universities differ sharply on how many credits they'll count toward a general studies major and how many must be taken in residence. Ask each how many transfer students it admits to the program and with how many credits, since the 30-hour block is the floor of what you can carry, not the ceiling.
What Do Jobs With a General Studies Bachelor's Degree Pay in Michigan?
Jobs open to a general studies bachelor's degree in Michigan pay the state medians below, from the May 2025 federal wage survey, with the national median beside each for comparison. Each row links to the salary guide for that job.
How to Choose a General Studies Bachelor's Degree Program in Michigan
To choose a general studies bachelor's degree program in Michigan, weigh the three public universities against each other first, because they are the affordable half of this list. Michigan-Ann Arbor's 93% graduation rate at $18,309 is the strongest combination of price and completion on the page, Ferris State offers the biggest program at $14,246 with 47% finishing, and Saginaw Valley State is the lowest price among the ranked eight at $12,240 with 48%. Among private colleges, Andrews, Spring Arbor and Madonna graduate 60% to 72% but cost $27,360 to $33,710, more than any public option.
Baker College is the only ranked program you can finish online, at $12,810, and its 36% graduation rate is the lowest of the eight, so ask Baker what share of its online students finish. If you're transferring in, bring a completed Michigan Transfer Agreement, which moves at least 30 credits of general education, and ask each university how many of your remaining associate credits it will count toward the general studies major, because that answer differs more between universities than the MTA block does.
If you're starting with an associate degree, the general studies associate degrees in Michigan have their own page.