The Best Business Schools in Detroit for 2027
Key Points: Best Business Schools in Detroit
- University of Michigan-Dearborn ranks #1 in the Detroit area on an 87.8 Program Score, with a 58% graduation rate.
- Lawrence Technological University graduates the most students on this list (61%), from #2.
- Private schools hold most of the places on this list.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, Wayne State University, ranks #3.
- Programs analyzed
- 92
- Schools ranked
- 5
- Tuition range
- $14,274-$42,360
- Average graduation rate
- 56%
We analyzed 92 accredited business programs in Detroit and the surrounding metro and ranked 5 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 5 ranked schools runs from $14,274 to $42,360 a year, a $28,086 spread for the same credential.
University of Michigan-Dearborn leads with an 87.8 Program Score on a 58% graduation rate, at $15,240 a year. Across all 5 ranked business schools in Detroit the average graduation rate is 56%, ranging from 41% to 61%. 2 of the 5 are public and 3 are private, a split that drives most of the price gap below.
How the Top Business Schools in Detroit Compare
Michigan-Dearborn leads at 87.8, and Madonna closes the chart at 76.8. Longer bars rank higher.
How We Rank Business Schools in Detroit
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 5 Best Business Schools in Detroit, Ranked for 2027
The 5 best Business Schools in Detroit, ranked by outcomes.
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI · Public
- Grad rate
- 58%
- Admit rate
- 56%
- In-state
- $15,240
- Out-of-state
- $32,496
University of Michigan-Dearborn's Marketing BBA lists Marketing 4+1 and Marketing Analytics 4+1 pathways and a Google AdWords certification.
- 58% graduation rate
- Program Score 87.8
- $15,240 in-state tuition
- Marketing Analytics 4+1
The University of Michigan-Dearborn offers a Marketing BBA through its College of Business. The program says it builds skills to create and implement marketing strategies that cut through the clutter of smartphones and other devices competing for consumer attention. It names careers in marketing management, advertising, sales, marketing research, new product development, retailing, purchasing and nonprofit management, and notes that the major suits students who want to start a business. Related resources include Marketing 4+1 and Marketing Analytics 4+1 pathways that lead into the university's master's programs, along with a Google AdWords certification. The page also reproduces Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, such as a $76,950 median salary for market research analysts, which are national occupation averages rather than results for this program.
UM-Dearborn is a public university with a 58% graduation rate and a 56% admit rate. In-state tuition is $15,240 and out-of-state tuition is $32,496. The program holds a Program Score of 87.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits in-state students who want a marketing degree with a digital and analytics angle at a public price, and who might continue to a master's degree on the same campus.
Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, MI · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 61%
- Admit rate
- 56%
- In-state
- $42,360
- Out-of-state
- $42,360
Lawrence Technological University's BSBA in Marketing lets students take MBA courses as early as junior year.
- 61% graduation rate
- Program Score 84.7
- $42,360 tuition
- MBA courses from junior year
Lawrence Technological University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Marketing. The program blends creative and analytical work, aiming to prepare students to design campaigns, solve real problems and connect with audiences. The curriculum includes Intro to Business Data Analytics and Foundations of AI in Business alongside Principles of Marketing and Principles of Management. The university highlights several features: students can take MBA courses as early as their junior year, faculty bring real-life sales and marketing experience, and small class sizes allow personal mentorship. The page also cites U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data putting the median annual salary for marketing managers at $135,030, though that figure describes the occupation nationally rather than graduates of this program.
LTU is a private nonprofit university with a 61% graduation rate and a 56% admit rate. Tuition is $42,360 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program has a Program Score of 84.7 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It suits students who want a data-minded marketing degree at a technology-focused school and who may want to continue into an MBA. Prospective students should weigh the higher sticker price against the 61% graduation rate.
Wayne State University
Detroit, MI · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 58%
- Admit rate
- 81%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
Wayne State University's online MBA offers 13 optional concentrations, each requiring three courses, and accelerated 7.5-week courses that can shorten time to degree.
- Program Score 80.5
- 58% graduation rate
- 13 concentrations
- Accelerated 7.5-week courses
Wayne State University's online Master of Business Administration comes from the Mike Ilitch School of Business, which describes the program as AACSB-accredited. Students can enroll part time or full time, with a mix of live and prerecorded lectures. The school offers accelerated courses in the fall and winter terms on a 7.5-week and 15-week schedule, which lets students take more classes per semester and finish sooner. Courses are available online, in the evening and occasionally on Saturdays. Students can add one of 13 concentrations, each requiring three courses, including finance, global supply chain management, health care supply chain management, and sport and entertainment management. Related options on the page include a Healthcare MBA, a joint JD/MBA, a joint MD/MBA, and a joint MBA/MSA that the school says meets Michigan's 150 credit-hour CPA education requirement.
Federal data reports a 58% graduation rate and an 81% admit rate for the university overall. The program holds a Program Score of 80.5 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working adults who need flexible scheduling, want a specialty such as supply chain or sport management, or plan to pair the MBA with law, medicine or accounting.
Cleary University
Howell, MI · Nonprofit · online option
- Grad rate
- 41%
- Admit rate
- 68%
- In-state
- $24,352
- Out-of-state
- $24,352
Cleary University's 120-credit BBA offers a Supply Chain Management concentration that covers Six Sigma and supply chain data analytics.
- Program Score 78.3
- $24,352 tuition
- 120-credit BBA
- Supply Chain Management concentration
Cleary University lists a Bachelor of Business Administration with a Supply Chain Management major concentration, totaling 120 credits. The program page describes the concentration as spanning the multicultural business environment, with an overview of global supply chain issues and how they affect businesses of all types. Students apply supply chain theory to modern problems, including Six Sigma techniques and data analytics specific to supply chains, with attention to future growth in the industry. Career titles listed on the page include supply chain analyst, procurement manager, logistics manager, demand planner, purchasing manager and import/export manager. The page points to the university catalog for the full course list.
Federal data shows a 41% graduation rate and a 68% admit rate for the school. In-state tuition is $24,352, matching the out-of-state figure. Cleary earns a Program Score of 78.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking here. The program fits students who want a business degree with a supply chain focus at a small school, and the graduation rate is worth weighing against that when comparing options.
Madonna University
Livonia, MI · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 60%
- Admit rate
- 63%
- In-state
- $28,440
- Out-of-state
- $28,440
Madonna University's business administration major requires an internship in the final two semesters of every concentration.
- 60% graduation rate
- Program Score 76.8
- $28,440 tuition
- Internship in every concentration
Madonna University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with 42 semester hours of business coursework, alongside a 30-hour Associate of Science and a minor. The degree spans finance, hospitality and tourism management, human resource management, marketing and business analytics. Students personalize the degree with a concentration such as finance or marketing, and each concentration requires an internship in the area of specialization, completed in the last two semesters. The page also lists a Global Supply Chain Management minor and an Artificial Intelligence Literacy program, and reports that the degree is accredited by ACBSP.
Madonna graduates 60% of its students and admits 63% of applicants. Tuition is $28,440 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program earns a Program Score of 76.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a general business foundation with a required work placement, and those who may start with the associate degree and continue to the bachelor's. Prospective students should confirm current requirements, start dates and available formats directly with the school before applying.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Business Schools in Detroit
The median school on this list graduates 58% of its students. The highest rates belong to Lawrence Technological University (61%) and Madonna University (60%). The top graduation rate is not at the #1 school, because the score also weighs selectivity, cost, and earnings.
- #2 Lawrence Technological University61% graduation rate
- #5 Madonna University60% graduation rate
- #1 University of Michigan-Dearborn58% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Business Schools in Detroit?
Every school here that reports an admit rate takes at least half of its applicants; the median is 63%.
- #1 University of Michigan-Dearborn56% admitted
- #2 Lawrence Technological University56% admitted
- #5 Madonna University63% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Online Options Among the Business Schools in Detroit
Of the 5 schools ranked here, 2 offer distance education. The highest ranked is Wayne State University, at #3.
- #3 Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI
- #4 Cleary UniversityHowell, MI
Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.
Campus Size Across the Business Schools in Detroit
Enrollment on this list runs from 1,004 at Cleary University to 23,803 at Wayne State University. Of the 5, 1 enrolls 20,000 students or more and 3 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Business Schools in Detroit Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of Michigan-DearbornMichigan-Dearborn | $73,340 | $7,863 |
| #3 | Wayne State UniversityWayne State | $116,326 | $11,212 |
| #4 | Cleary UniversityCleary | $81,341 | $19,651 |
| #5 | Madonna UniversityMadonna | $64,515 | $14,792 |
Four years out, medians on this list run from $64,515 at Madonna to $116,326 at Wayne State.
The highest-ranked school in the table, Michigan-Dearborn (#1), reports $73,340, so the highest score and the highest pay are not the same school.
After grants, the average undergraduate pays least at Michigan-Dearborn, $7,863 a year, and most at Cleary, $19,651.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What Business Schools in Detroit Cost
Tuition across the 5 ranked schools runs from $14,274 to $42,360 a year. Wayne State University anchors the low end at $14,274 a year, while Lawrence Technological University in Southfield sits at the top at $42,360. The cheapest public option among the business schools in Detroit is Wayne State University at $14,274; the cheapest private is Cleary University in Howell at $24,352.
Over the four years a bachelor's takes, that is roughly $57,096 in tuition at Wayne State University against about $169,440 at Lawrence Technological University. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to Detroit from another state should read the out-of-state column before treating the cheap end of this list as cheap.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
Which Business Major to Choose in Detroit
Business school covers a dozen different degrees, and the business schools in Detroit do not all offer the same ones. Across the 92 accredited programs analyzed here, the fields with the deepest coverage in Detroit are business administration (9 schools), accounting (9 schools), finance (7 schools), marketing (6 schools), and human resources (5 schools). A school ranked highly overall is not automatically strong in the major you want, so check the field before the name.
Accounting is the one track bound to a license: most states now license CPAs on either 150 credit hours and one year of experience or a bachelor's and two years, so the choice between a fifth year of school and a longer apprenticeship shapes the course plan from the first year rather than the last. 9 of the schools analyzed in Detroit run one.
Public and Private Business Schools in Detroit
2 of the 5 ranked business schools in Detroit are public and 3 are private, and that split drives most of the $28,086 tuition spread above. The public rate is a residency benefit: Wayne State University charges $14,274 in-state and $32,765 out of state, so where a student already lives changes this ranking more than any other single factor.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Why Study Business in Detroit
The 5 ranked schools sit across 5 towns in the metro, among them Dearborn, Southfield, and Detroit, and the table names the city of each, so check the commute before assuming a suburban campus is the convenient option. 2 of the 5 also run a confirmed online option for students who cannot be on campus daily.
Keep Exploring
Business Schools in Detroit: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best business school in Detroit?
By Program Score, University of Michigan-Dearborn ranks first among the 5 ranked business schools in Detroit, with an 87.8 score and a 58% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.
Can you study business part-time in Detroit?
Yes. Evening, weekend and part-time formats are common across the business schools in Detroit, and in a metro this size most schools run at least one. The tradeoff is length rather than content: the same credential takes longer while you keep working. Ask each school for the completion rate of its part-time cohort specifically, since it often differs from the headline graduation rate this ranking uses.
How much does a business degree cost in Detroit?
Tuition among the ranked Detroit schools runs from $14,274 to $42,360 a year. Public schools publish the in-state resident rate, so students moving in from another state should check the out-of-state column before comparing. Neither figure includes Detroit living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many business schools in Detroit does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 92 accredited business programs across Detroit and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 5 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers the Detroit metro area, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table.
Is it worth studying business in Detroit instead of online?
2 of the 5 ranked schools run a confirmed online option, so in Detroit this is a live choice rather than a hypothetical one. An accredited online program carries identical standing on a transcript, since accreditation attaches to the school and the program rather than to the delivery format. What a campus adds is proximity to the employers that school recruits into, and at $14,274 in-state, Wayne State University is what that proximity costs at the low end here. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.