The Best MBA Programs in Detroit for 2027
Key Points: Best MBA Programs in Detroit
- Lawrence Technological University ranks #1 in the Detroit area on an 84.4 Program Score, with a 61% graduation rate.
- Public schools hold most of the places on this list.
- University of Michigan-Dearborn follows at #2 with an 84.1 Program Score.
- Programs analyzed
- 7
- Schools ranked
- 5
- Average graduation rate
- 59%
We analyzed 7 accredited MBA programs in Detroit and the surrounding metro and ranked 5 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes.
Lawrence Technological University leads with an 84.4 Program Score on a 61% graduation rate. Across all 5 ranked MBA programs in Detroit the average graduation rate is 59%, ranging from 58% to 61%. 3 of the 5 are public and 2 are private. National median pay for the field is $105,770 a year per the BLS, the benchmark every school on this list feeds into regardless of what it charges.
How the Top MBA Programs in Detroit Compare
Lawrence Technological leads at 84.4, and Madonna closes the chart at 72.0. Longer bars rank higher.
How We Rank MBA Programs 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 MBA Programs in Detroit, Ranked for 2027
The 5 best MBA Programs in Detroit, ranked by outcomes.
Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, MI · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 61%
- Admit rate
- 56%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
Lawrence Technological University's MBA is offered here as a dual degree with a Master of Science in Information Technology, with classes online, on-ground or hybrid.
- 61% graduation rate
- Program Score 84.4
- MBA plus MSIT dual degree
- Online, on-ground or hybrid
Lawrence Technological University lists this program as a dual master's degree that combines its MBA with a Master of Science in Information Technology. The MBA portion adds 27 credit hours, with up to 6 credits of foundation courses in accounting, economics, finance and business law, and it ends with Global Strategic Management as the capstone course. The MSIT portion adds 21 credit hours of core courses, and the page notes that excusing the management information systems course changes the course count. Classes are available online, on-ground and in hybrid format, and the page says students work across 130+ businesses and organizations.
Lawrence Tech graduates 61% of its students and admits 56% of applicants. The program earns a Program Score of 84.4 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working professionals who manage technical teams or enterprise information systems and want business training alongside the technical credential, and who need the schedule flexibility of online or hybrid classes. Prospective students should confirm current requirements, start dates and available formats directly with the school before applying.
University of Michigan-Dearborn
Dearborn, MI · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 58%
- Admit rate
- 56%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
An MBA you can finish fully online, in the evening on campus, or both, with part-time students typically done in two to two and a half years.
- 58% graduation rate
- Program Score 84.1
- Fully online or evening on campus
- 48 credits, as few as 36 with waivers
The University of Michigan-Dearborn offers a Master of Business Administration through its College of Business that can be completed entirely online, in the evening on campus, or through a mix of both. The redesigned core covers Business Analytics, Business Applications of AI, Stakeholder-Centric Management, Global Business and Decision-Making, followed by electives and an application-based strategy capstone. The degree is 48 credits, and students with equivalent coursework from an AACSB-accredited program can waive foundation courses and cut that to as few as 36, with up to 9 transfer credits also allowed. Online courses are mostly asynchronous, and part-time students, who are many of the cohort, typically finish in two to two and a half years. Hands-on options include the Bloomberg Finance Lab and applied research through iLabs.
Dearborn graduates 58% of its students and admits 56% of applicants, and the program page describes admission as selective, with a holistic review of academics, quantitative skills and a statement of purpose. The program carries a Program Score of 84.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It suits working professionals from any undergraduate major who want a flexible format and an analytics and AI emphasis.
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.
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI · Public
- Grad rate
- 58%
- Admit rate
- 88%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
Oakland University's MBA can be taken on campus in the evening, fully online, or as a mix of both, with 10 optional concentrations from analytics to supply chain.
- Program Score 77.4
- 58% graduation rate
- 88% admit rate
- On-campus evening or 100% online
Oakland University's Master of Business Administration is run through its School of Business Administration and covers the functional areas of business in a case-based, action-based format. Students can take on-campus evening courses, online classes, or both, depending on availability and schedule. Oakland also lists a 100% online MBA that the school says uses the same curriculum and faculty. Students who want more structure can add a concentration in business analytics, business economics, entrepreneurship, finance, human resource management, international business, marketing, management information systems, production and operations management, or supply chain management, each built from approved electives. Oakland states that the GMAT or GRE is waived for applicants who meet certain criteria, such as an earlier graduate degree with a 3.0 GPA.
Federal data shows a 58% graduation rate and an 88% admit rate for Oakland as a whole, so admission is not highly selective. Those figures describe the university, not the MBA cohort alone. The program earns a Program Score of 77.4 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. The program suits working professionals in the Detroit suburbs who want an evening or online route and the option to specialize. Oakland reports that 90.8% of 2025-26 MBA graduates were employed before or within four months of graduating, based on its own survey.
Madonna University
Livonia, MI · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 60%
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
Madonna University's 36-credit MBA can be taken as an accelerated one-year program or on a traditional full-time or part-time path.
- 60% graduation rate
- Program Score 72.0
- 36-credit MBA
- Accelerated one-year option
Madonna University's Master of Business Administration is a 36 credit-hour program that the school reports is accredited by ACBSP. Its Business Degree by Design approach lets students choose an accelerated one-year format or a traditional format, full or part time, with or without certificates. Coursework covers organizational leadership, supply chain management, management strategy, ethics, managerial accounting and strategic marketing, and it ends with a capstone sequence built around a research-based project. Prerequisites in financial accounting, economic analysis and marketing may be waived with undergraduate equivalents, and applicants need a bachelor's degree from any field with a 3.0 GPA.
Madonna graduates 60% of its students and admits 63% of applicants. The program earns a Program Score of 72 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits working professionals in business, healthcare, finance, supply chain or nonprofit work who want a broad graduate business education and the option to finish quickly or spread the work over more terms. Prospective students should confirm current requirements, start dates and available formats directly with the school before applying.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked MBA Programs 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 school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 Lawrence Technological University61% graduation rate
- #5 Madonna University60% graduation rate
- #2 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 MBA Programs in Detroit?
Every school here that reports an admit rate takes at least half of its applicants; the median is 63%.
- #1 Lawrence Technological University56% admitted
- #2 University of Michigan-Dearborn56% admitted
- #5 Madonna University63% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Public and Private MBA Programs in Detroit
This list holds 3 public and 2 private nonprofit schools. Their median Program Scores: 80.5 public and 78.2 private nonprofit.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Online Options Among the MBA Programs in Detroit
Of the 5 schools ranked here, 2 offer distance education. The highest ranked is University of Michigan-Dearborn, at #2.
- #2 University of Michigan-DearbornDearborn, MI
- #3 Wayne State UniversityDetroit, 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 MBA Programs in Detroit
Enrollment on this list runs from 2,124 at Madonna University to 23,803 at Wayne State University. Of the 5, 1 enrolls 20,000 students or more and 2 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the MBA Programs in Detroit Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Lawrence Technological UniversityLawrence Technological | $126,179 |
| #2 | University of Michigan-DearbornMichigan-Dearborn | $142,710 |
| #3 | Wayne State UniversityWayne State | $116,326 |
| #4 | Oakland UniversityOakland | $122,437 |
| #5 | Madonna UniversityMadonna | $79,180 |
Graduates of Michigan-Dearborn earn the most four years after finishing, a median of $142,710; the lowest figure here is $79,180 at Madonna.
Lawrence Technological, the highest-ranked of these schools (#1), comes in at $126,179.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level.
What MBA Programs in Detroit Cost
The federal data behind this ranking reports each school's undergraduate tuition, not its MBA price, so this page does not quote a per-program MBA cost. Graduate business tuition is usually billed per credit and varies by format: full-time, part-time, evening, and executive sections at the same school often carry different rates. Get the current per-credit rate and total program cost from each school's graduate business office before comparing.
Run the full two-year math on that quoted rate, and add fees and any required residencies. Against the national median of $105,770 a year for the management roles MBA graduates move into, a lower total cost pays itself back faster. Employer tuition assistance and graduate assistantships change the real price more than the sticker does, so ask about both.
Accreditation Across Detroit Business Schools
The MBA programs in Detroit lean public: 3 of the 5 ranked schools are public against 2 private. Accreditation is what makes their degrees comparable at all. For an MBA the signal employers read is business-school accreditation from AACSB sitting on top of the university's institutional accreditation, and a private school's higher price does not mean it carries it. Confirm it on each school's own page before applying.
Why Study for an MBA in Detroit
The 5 ranked schools are spread across 5 towns, which makes "Detroit" a looser description than the heading suggests. Lawrence Technological University in Southfield tops the list, with University of Michigan-Dearborn and Wayne State University behind it, and the table names the town of each. For a part-time cohort meeting on weeknights that spread is the deciding constraint: a campus an hour out is a different degree from one on the way home, whatever the ranking says.
2 of the 5 also run a confirmed online option, which keeps the credential but gives up most of the local access that justifies studying in Detroit in the first place.
Careers and Pay After a Detroit MBA
Every one of the MBA programs in Detroit points toward the same national labor market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts national median pay for the field at $105,770 a year, a figure that describes the profession rather than any single school here. That is the tradeoff this ranking exists to expose: in the federal wage data, a higher price does not buy a higher salary.
Keep Exploring
MBA Programs in Detroit: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best MBA program in Detroit?
By Program Score, Lawrence Technological University ranks first among the 5 ranked MBA programs in Detroit, with an 84.4 score and a 61% 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.
Do MBA programs in Detroit require the GMAT?
Fewer of them every year, and the 5 ranked here are not uniform about it. Many programs now waive the GMAT or GRE for applicants with several years of relevant work, and the terms differ program by program, so check them on each school's admissions page before registering for a test. A waiver saves the fee and the study time, and it does not loosen the rest of the file.
How much does an MBA cost in Detroit?
It depends on the school and the format. The federal data this ranking uses reports undergraduate tuition, not MBA pricing, so ask each school's graduate business office for its current per-credit rate and total program cost, and compare full-time, part-time, and online sections separately. Neither figure includes Detroit living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many MBA programs in Detroit does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 7 accredited MBA programs across Detroit and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 5 schools, listing one entry per school. 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 doing an MBA 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. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.