Eastern Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Eastern Michigan University at a Glance
Eastern Michigan University is a public research university in Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1849 as the Michigan State Normal School, it was the fourth normal school established in the United States and the first outside New England. In 1899, the Michigan State Normal School became the first normal school in the nation to offer a four-year curriculum; the college became a university in 1959.
1849
177 years old
$94M
$94.01 million (2022)
12,176
10,034 undergrad · 2,142 grad
972
800 acres
Identity
Is Eastern Michigan University Worth It?
At a value score of 39/100, Eastern Michigan University is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $51,793 — 4% below average — while paying $15,407/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.2 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 46% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Eastern Michigan University has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Eastern Michigan University compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in MI
Ranked #76 of 128 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #2 | Modesto Junior College | 100 | $2,818 | $42,368 |
| #3 | Skyline College | 100 | $1,738 | $55,702 |
| #4 | Oakland University | 92 | $9,120 | $58,612 |
| #5 | Shasta College | 89 | $2,878 | $39,269 |
| #6 | Cypress College | 86 | $4,606 | $43,533 |
| #76 | Eastern Michigan University | 39 | $15,407 | $51,793 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Eastern Michigan University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 6 in MI.
Best Programs at Eastern Michigan University
The highest-earning program at Eastern Michigan University is Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians at $66,000/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at $18,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians graduate from Eastern Michigan University earns $66,000, while a Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies graduate earns $18,700. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians graduates carry $27,687 in median debt vs. $27,000 for Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $15,407/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $66,000 | $66,000 | $27,687 |
| Construction Management | $64,900 | $64,900 | $19,991 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $63,900 | $63,900 | $27,325 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $61,100 | $61,100 | $25,000 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $54,600 | $54,600 | $21,355 |
| Science, Technology and Society | $51,000 | $51,000 | $27,776 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $48,900 | $48,900 | $12,643 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $47,500 | $47,500 | $21,683 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $46,900 | $46,900 | $20,500 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $46,700 | $46,700 | $30,005 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $41,000 | $41,000 | $25,038 |
| Marketing | $40,000 | $40,000 | $23,917 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $39,300 | $39,300 | $20,000 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $36,700 | $36,700 | $27,000 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $35,800 | $35,800 | $26,562 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $35,200 | $35,200 | $30,892 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $33,600 | $33,600 | $23,000 |
| Criminology | $32,900 | $32,900 | $27,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $32,400 | $32,400 | $29,500 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $31,000 | $31,000 | $30,734 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $30,400 | $30,400 | $26,812 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $30,200 | $30,200 | $23,000 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $29,700 | $29,700 | $27,612 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $29,500 | $29,500 | $29,215 |
| Sociology | $29,100 | $29,100 | $31,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $28,200 | $28,200 | $25,000 |
| Social Work | $27,600 | $27,600 | $27,252 |
| Biology, General | $27,500 | $27,500 | $27,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $27,500 | $27,500 | $26,661 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $27,400 | $27,400 | $29,834 |
| Journalism | $26,900 | $26,900 | $29,375 |
| Psychology, General | $25,800 | $25,800 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $25,000 | $25,000 | $29,080 |
| History | $24,600 | $24,600 | $29,000 |
| Graphic Communications | $23,800 | $23,800 | $31,000 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $19,100 | $19,100 | $31,000 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $18,700 | $18,700 | $27,000 |
Similar Colleges in MI
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Ypsilanti, MI
- Student Body
- 10,055 students
- Admission Rate
- 80%
- Graduation Rate
- 46%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $15,407
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $51,793
- Median Student Debt
- $25,000