Michigan's public state universities

The single largest enrollment year was 2021 with 50,278 students. This was also the first year in the last 20 that the school had the highest enrollment in the state, surpassing Michigan State - the leader of the past 19 years - by less than 700 students.

From 2002-22, UM's enrollment increased by 36%, also the highest jump among the state’s public universities.

In the fall of 2022, 51,225 students were enrolled at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, the most among the state’s public universities and UM’s highest enrollment. Prior to 2021, Michigan State had held the top spot for many years.

In 2020 37% of graduating seniors held some amount of student debt, with an average of $26,600 per student.

From 2002 to 2022, MSU's enrollment grew 11%, the second highest among all state schools.

Michigan State University enrolled 50,023 students in 2022, giving it the second largest student count, second only to UM-Ann Arbor. MSU had been Michigan’s largest university — per student enrollment — up until 2020 when UM’s student count surpassed MSU.

From 2002-22, EMU's enrollment declined 43%, the third-worst drop among the state’s public universities.

14,063 students enrolled in Eastern Michigan University in 2022, the eighth-largest total among Michigan’s state universities. EMU has seen enrollment declines in 17 of the past 20 years.

From 2002-22, WSU's enrollment declined 24%, for 5th-worst drop out of the 15 state universities.

At 23,788 students enrolled in 2022, Wayne State University has the third-highest enrollment among Michigan’s state universities, though 10 of the past 11 years have seen year-over-year declines. The one exception was in 2016, when enrollment increased by 76 students.

Oakland University's 16,108 enrollment in 2022 makes it the sixth largest among Michigan’s state universities, though that is its lowest count since 2002. From 2002-15, the school saw year-over-year increases in enrollment in all but two years, but its enrollment has declined every year since 2016.

The University of Michigan-Dearborn enrolled 8,224 students in 2022, the 10th-largest student body among Michigan’s 15 state universities. This is the second consecutive year the school failed to surpass 9,000 students, after doing so from 2015-19.

In 2022, 17,835 students enrolled at Western Michigan University, making it the fifth largest among all state universities. However, it fell below 20,000 enrollees for the second straight year, a level it had exceeded in the 18 years prior. Enrollment peaked in 2002 with 29,732 students.

Grand Valley State University enrolled 21,648 students in 2022, making it the fourth largest among all state universities. It has seen year-over-year declines in the last six years.

Central Michigan University had 14,563 students enroll in 2022, making it the seventh-largest enrollment among state universities. Its highest enrollment was 28,159 in 2002.

In 2022, the University of Michigan-Flint, enrolled 5,985 students, making it the second smallest among Michigan’s 15 state universities. 2022's enrollment also represents the school's lowest since 2002, and the first time it failed to surpass 6,000 in the past 21 years. The school has seen year-over-year declines since 2015, after peaking in 2014 with 8,555 students.

In 2022, 7,147 students enrolled at Saginaw Valley State, making it the 11th largest of Michigan’s 15 state universities. That was the lowest enrollment the school has seen in 21 years, with year-over-year declines occurring every year since 2013.

With an enrollment of 10,072, Ferris State University is the ninth-largest among all state universities. Its peak enrollment of 14,715 students in 2015 marked the beginning of seven years of decline.

From 2002-22, the university’s enrollment declined 23%, the sixth-worst drop among all state universities.

Northern Michigan University enrolled 6,970 students in 2022, making it the 13th largest in the state. 2022 was also the first time the school failed to enroll at least 7,000 students in the past 21 years. Since 2011, the school has seen a year-over-year decline in all but one year (2019).

From 2002-22, MTU's enrollment increased 7%, the third highest increase among Michigan’s 15 universities.

Michigan Technological University enrolled 7,703 students in 2022, making it the 12th-largest among 15 state universities. This marks the second-consecutive year the school has seen a year-over-year increase in enrollment. This is also the seventh of the past eight years in which enrollment surpassed 7,000 students.

Full time medical staff are not included in data.

Grand Valley State University

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Wayne State University

Michigan State University

Eastern Michigan University

Oakland University

University of Michigan-Dearborn

Western Michigan University

Grand Valley State University

Central Michigan University

University of Michigan-Flint

Saginaw Valley State University

Ferris State University

Lake Superior State University

Northern Michigan University

Michigan Technological University

From 2002-22, FSU's enrollment declined 9%, the eighth-worst drop among all state universities.

From 2002 to 2021, LSSU's enrollment has declined 45%. That’s the second-largest drop among Michigan’s 15 universities.

Lake Superior State University, Michigan’s smallest university, enrolled 1,812 students in 2021 (2022 data is not available). LSSSU has lost almost half its enrollment since its peak of 3,322 in 2002.

Tuition

Enrollment

Student debt

Staffing

Lake Superior State University

From 2002-22, SVSU's enrollment declined 22%, the seventh-worst drop among Michigan’s state universities.

From 2002-22, UM-F's enrollment has declined 7%, the ninth-worst drop among 15 state universities.

Since then, CMU has seen year-over-year declines in all but four of the past 20 years. Since 2002, its enrollment has declined 48%, the largest drop among all state universities.

Despite the recent trend, from 2002 to 2022, GVSU's enrollment has grown 6%, the fourth-highest increase among all state universities.

From 2002 to 2022, WMU's enrollment declined 40%, the fourth-largest drop in enrollment among all state universities.

From 2002-22, UM-D's enrollment declined 6%, the 10th-worst drop among 15 state universities.

From 2002-22, Oakland's enrollment grew by 0.3%, the fifth-best performance among the state’s public universities.

At $13,538 tuition for the 2021-22 school year, Central Michigan University had the 11th highest tuition of the 15 state universities. In 2020 it actually decreased tuition $98, the only school among the state universities to do so in the last 17 years.

From 2005-21, tuition rose 114%, the fifth-highest increase among state universities.

In 2020, 72% of graduating seniors held some student debt, at an average of $31,962.

At $17,193 per year, the University of Michigan,-Ann Arbor had the second-highest tuition among Michigan’s state universities.

Michigan Technological University had the highest tuition among the 15 state universities for the 2021-22 school year at $18,751, a title it has held since the 2010-11 school year.

From 2005 to 2021, tuition has risen 113%, for the sixth-largest increase among all state universities.

In the 2021-22 school year, tuition at Northern Michigan University was $12,526, the second-lowest among the 15 state universities.

In 2020, 70% of NMU’s graduating seniors held some amount of debt, at an average of $32,378 per student.

In the 2021-22 school year, Lake Superior State University's tuition was $13,200, the 10th-highest among 15 state universities.

From 2005-21, tuition rose 108%, the 10th-highest increase among 15 state universities.

In 2021, Ferris State University's tuition was $14,130 per year, making it the seventh-highest among the 15 state universities.

From 2005-21, tuition rose 110%, the ninth-highest among the state universities.

From 2005-21, tuition rose 111%, the eighth-highest increase among the 15 state universities.

In the 2021-22 school year, Saginaw Valley State University charged the lowest tuition among Michigan’s state universities at $11,130.

Tuition in the 2021-22 school year at the University of Michigan-Flint was $12,964, the third lowest among Michigan’s state universities.

From 2005 to 2021, tuition rose 101%, the third-lowest increase among the 15 public universities.

From 2005-21, tuition rose 119% for the fourth-highest increase among all state universities.

At $13,900 for the 2021-22 school year, Grand Valley State University was 10th highest among the 15 state universities.

From 2005 to 2021, tuition rose 105% — the 11th-highest increase among the 15 state universities.

Tuition at Western Michigan University in 2021 was $14,081, ranking in at the eighth highest among the 15 state universities. It did not implement an increase in 2020.

The University of Michigan-Dearborn's tuition in 2021-22 was $14,401, making it the ninth highest among Michigan’s 15 state universities.

From 2005-21, tuition rose 102%, the 12th-highest increase among Michigan’s state universities.

At $15,135 per year, Oakland University had the fifth-highest tuition among all state universities. It did not implement an increase in 2020-21.

From 2005-21, tuition rose 138%, for the largest increase of all state universities.

From 2005-21, tuition rose 126%, the second-highest increase among Michigan’s state universities.

Eastern Michigan University's 2021 tuition of $14,830 was the sixth-highest among Michigan’s state universities. The largest annual increase came in 2016 at $1,681. EMU did not implement an increase in 2010.

From 2005 to 2021, tuition rose 98%, the second-lowest increase of all state universities. It was one of two schools (University of Michigan-Ann Arbor) to not exceed 100% in that time period.

Michigan State University's tuition of $16,508 in 2021-22 was the third highest among all state universities. For the 2019 and 2020 school years, it did not implement an increase.

In 2020 67% of graduating seniors held some amount of student debt, with an average of $23,365 per student.

Tuition for Wayne State was $15,261 in the 2020-21 school year, the fourth highest among Michigan’s state universities. The school did not increase tuition in 2020.

From 2002 to 2020, the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor has had the largest non-medical-school staff among all state universities. In 2020, there were 15,525 full-time employees, which comprised 34% of all state university staff. Since 2002, the university has increased its staff by 33%, the third-highest increase among state universities.

From 2012 to 2020, the number of managers and administrators grew 18%, the second-highest increase among 15 state universities, behind UM-Dearborn. Instructional staff grew 12%, tied for the third-highest increase with UM-Dearborn.

Michigan Technological University staffed 1,312 full time employees in 2020, making it the ninth-largest among 15 state universities. Since 2002 staff has grown 11%, for seventh-highest increase, though in 2020 it made its largest cut, losing 74 FTEs.

From 2012 to 2020, managers and administrators decreased 10%, the sixth-largest reduction among 15 state universities. Professors and other instructional staff decreased by 2%, for the ninth-largest reduction.

From 2012 to 2020, managers and administrators rose 6%, the seventh-highest increase among 15 state universities. Professors and other instructional staff decreased by 9%, the seventh-largest reduction. It was one of three schools to increase management, but reduce instructional.

Northern Michigan University had a staff of 896 full time employees in 2020. It has the fifth-smallest staff among 15 state universities, and since 2002 has reduced it by 5%, for fifth-biggest decline.

From 2012 to 2020, managers and administrators decreased 4%, the seventh-largest reduction among 15 state universities. Professors and other instructional staff decreased by 21%, tied for the largest reduction with Ferris State University.

The smallest staff among 15 state universities by more than 100% the next, Lake Superior State University had 297 full time employees in 2020. Since 2002 it's reduced its staff by 15%, the third-biggest decline. 2020 was the first year in the last 12 that staff fell below 300 FTEs.

In 2020, 1,244 full time employees worked at Ferris State University, making it the 10th largest staff among the 15 state universities. Since 2002, staff has declined 6%, the fourth-highest reduction among all state colleges.

From 2012 to 2020, managers and administrators decreased 46%, the third-largest reduction among 15 state universities. Professors and other instructional staff decreased by 21%, the tied for the largest reduction with Lake Superior State U.

From 2012 to 2020, managers and administrators stayed even at 94, the only school to do so, making it eighth-'largest' increase among 15 state universities. Professors and other instructional staff decreased by 10%, for the sixth-largest reduction.

In 2020 Saginaw Valley State University staffed 701 full time employees, the second-smallest staff among 15 state universities. Since 2002 it has increased staff 9% for eighth-largest increase.

From 2012 to 2020, the number of managers and other administrators grew 16%, the third-highest increase among the 15 state universities. Professors and other instructional staff decreased by 5%, for the eighth-largest reduction. It was one of three schools to increase management, but decrease instructional staff.

In 2020, the University of Michigan-Flint had 707 full-time employees It had the third-smallest staff among Michigan’s 15 state universities. Since 2002, its staff has grown by 26%, the fourth-largest increase.

From 2012 to 2020, managers and administrators decreased 63%, the largest reduction among 15 state universities. Professors and other instructional staff decreased by 16%, for the third-largest reduction.

2,205 full time employees worked at Central Michigan University in 2020, making it the sixth-largest non-medical-school staff among 15 state universities. Since 2002, staffing has shrunk 3% for the 6th-largest reduction.

2,489 full-time employees worked at Grand Valley State University in 2020, making it the fourth-largest staff among the 15 state universities. Since 2002 its grown 59%, for the highest increase.

From 2012 to 2020, managers and administrators decreased 52%, the second-largest reduction among 15 state universities. Professors and other instructional staff increased by 3%, for the fifth-highest increase. It was the only school to reduce management, but increase instructional.

From 2012 to 2020, managers and administrators decreased 16%, the fourth-largest reduction among 15 state universities. Professors and other instructional staff decreased by 13%, for the fifth-largest reduction.

Western Michigan University staffed 2,417 full time non-medical-school employees in 2020 for fifth-largest among state universities. However, since 2020 it's decreased staff 30%, the largest reduction in that time period.

From 2012 to 2020, the number of managers and administrators grew 20%, the highest increase among the 15 state universities. Professors and other instructional staff grew 12%, tied for third-highest increase with the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

In 2020, the University of Michigan-Dearborn had 832 full-time employees, the fourth-smallest staff among Michigan’s 15 state universities. Since 2002, it has grown it by 25%, the fifth-largest increase.

From 2012 to 2020, the number of managers and administrators grew 6%, the sixth-highest increase among the 15 state universities. The number of professors and other instructional staff increased by 13%, for the highest increase among all state universities.

In 2020, Oakland University had 1,675 full-time non-medical-school employees, making it the seventh-largest among Michigan’s 15 state universities. Since 2002, staffing grew 34%, the second-highest increase, after UM-Ann Arbor.

From 2012 to 2020, the number of managers and administrators shrunk 14%, the fifth-largest reduction among 15 state universities. The number of professors and other instructional staff also decreased by 14%, the fourth-largest reduction.

EMU had 1,514 full-time employees in 2020, making it the eighth-largest among Michigan’s 15 state universities. Since 2002, its staff declined by 24%, the second-largest reduction among those universities.

From 2012 to 2020, managers and administrators grew 14%, the fourth-highest increase among 15 state universities. Professors and other instructional staff grew 13%, for the second-highest increase.

At 10,720 full time employees in 2020, Michigan State University had the second largest non-medical-school staff among state universities, behind UM, Ann Arbor. MSU's total staff comprises 24% of all state university employees and and has grown 18% since 2002, for sixth-highest increase among the universities.

From 2012 to 2020, the number of managers and administrators grew 12%, the fifth-highest increase among the 15 state universities. Professors and other instructional staff decreased by 1%, for the 10th-largest reduction. It was one of three schools to increase management but decrease instructional staff.

Wayne State University employed 3,429 full-time employees in 2020, the third-largest non-medical-school staff among Michigan’s state universities. Since 2002, its staff grew 4%, the ninth-highest increase.

Lake Superior State Universitiy has been the smallest school for the past 20 years, while Central Michigan has seen the largest decline since 2002, having shrunk 48%.

In 2022, UM-Ann Arbor had the largest enrollment and made up 20% of total enrollment at state universities. It also had the highest increase since 2002, at 36%. Lake Superior State University has been the smallest school for the past 20 years, while Central Michigan has seen the largest decline since 2002, having shrunk 48%

From 2002 to 2022, enrollment at Michigan's state public universities dropped a a total of 11%, from 287,067 to 256,536. Enrollment peaked in 2011 at 301,919. Ten of the 15 schools saw a decrease in enrollment over that 20 year period, five of which exceeded double digits . Only the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Michigan State University saw double-digit increases.

Statewide

From 2005-21, tuition rose 112%, the seventh-highest among all state universities.

In 2020, 70% of all graduating seniors had some amount of student debt, at an average of $37,903 per student.

In 2018, 71% of graduating seniors held some student debt, with an average of $28,259.

In 2020, 73% of graduating seniors held some student debt, with an average of $34,640.

In 2020, 69% of graduating seniors held some amount of student debt, at an average of $29,837 per student.

In 2020, 68% of graduating seniors held some student debt, with an average of $30,813 per student.

In 2020, 69% of graduating seniors held some student debt, for an average of $28,969.

In 2020, 73% of graduating seniors held some student debt, with the average at $34,858.

In 2020, 52% of graduating seniors held some amount of debt, with an average of $23,785 per student.

In 2020 56% of students had some amount of student debt, at an average of $26,899 per student.

In 2020, 65% of graduating seniors held some amount of student debt, with an average of $27,938 per student.

In 2020, 50% of graduating seniors held some student debt, at an average of $31,275 per student.

From 2005 to 2021, tuition rose 75%, the lowest increase among the state universities. UM and MSU were the only two schools not to exceed a 100% gain in that period.

From 2005-21, tuition rose 120%, the third-highest increase among Michigan’s state universities.

Click the icons to access enrollment, tuition and staffing data.

In 2021, Michigan Technological University had the highest tuition at $18,751 per year, while Saginaw Valley University had the lowest at $11,130.

Oakland University had the largest increase at 138%, from $6,361 in 2005 to $15,135 in 2021. UM-Ann Arbor had the state's second-highest tuition in 2021, but the smallest overall increase at 75%, from $9,798 in 2005, to $17,193 in 2021.

From 2005 to 2021, tuition at Michigan's 15 public universities has risen 109% on average. Only the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Michigan State University did not exceed a 100% increase in that time period.

Statewide

Lake Superior State employes the smallest staff, and Western Michigan University saw the highest reduction rate at 30%.

From 2002 to 2020, the number of full time employees at Michigan's 15 public state universities has risen an average of 15%, though six schools have individually reduced staff in that time period.

Statewide

The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, was the largest employer among all state universities, making up 34% of all state public university staff. Grand Valley State University had the largest increase in staff at 59%.

By the numbers

Michigan's 15 public state universities

By Scott Levin | slevin@mlive.com

Data sources

- Enrollment data: Michigan Assoc. of State Universities - Tuition data: House Fiscal Agency - Staffing data: National Center for Education Statistics