Median Earnings (1yr)
$64,371
62nd percentile
60th percentile in Michigan
Median Debt
$23,250
15% above national median

Analysis

A Michigan Statistics degree proves its worth quickly: graduates earning $64,371 in their first year see their income jump 53% to nearly $99,000 by year four—substantially outpacing the trajectory at peer institutions. With debt of just $23,250, new graduates face monthly loan payments around $240, leaving plenty of room for student loan repayment while building savings in those crucial early career years.

The numbers reveal consistent strength across benchmarks. This program outperforms the state median (ranking 60th percentile among Michigan statistics programs) while keeping debt below both state and national averages. That's particularly notable given U-M's selectivity and reputation—students get the prestige and network of a top-tier university without the debt burden that often comes with elite privates. The comparison to Michigan State, which reports identical first-year earnings, suggests comparable immediate outcomes across Michigan's flagship publics, though U-M's stronger four-year figure hints at better long-term trajectory.

For families weighing the 18% admission rate against ROI concerns, the math works. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.36 means graduates can realistically follow the standard advice of keeping total debt below their first year's salary, and the strong earnings growth suggests this program opens doors to advancement. If your child can handle the academics and wants a quantitative skillset with clear career prospects, this represents solid value.

Where University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all statistics bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How University of Michigan-Ann Arbor graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$64,371$98,758+53%
Carnegie Mellon University$93,111$142,883+53%
Duke University$97,197$113,854+17%
Michigan State University$63,649$81,993+29%
Grand Valley State University$43,668$65,601+50%

Compare to Similar Programs in Michigan

Statistics bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Michigan (13 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor$17,228$64,371$98,758$23,2500.36
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing$15,988$63,649$81,993$25,6250.40
Grand Valley State UniversityAllendale$14,628$43,668$65,601$27,0000.62
National Median—$59,718—$20,1500.34

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with statistics graduates

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Research Coordinators

Plan, direct, or coordinate clinical research projects. Direct the activities of workers engaged in clinical research projects to ensure compliance with protocols and overall clinical objectives. May evaluate and analyze clinical data.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Water Resource Specialists

Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Actuaries

Analyze statistical data, such as mortality, accident, sickness, disability, and retirement rates and construct probability tables to forecast risk and liability for payment of future benefits. May ascertain insurance rates required and cash reserves necessary to ensure payment of future benefits.

$125,770/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Data Scientists

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Intelligence Analysts

Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Clinical Data Managers

Apply knowledge of health care and database management to analyze clinical data, and to identify and report trends.

$112,590/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Mathematicians

Conduct research in fundamental mathematics or in application of mathematical techniques to science, management, and other fields. Solve problems in various fields using mathematical methods.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Statisticians

Develop or apply mathematical or statistical theory and methods to collect, organize, interpret, and summarize numerical data to provide usable information. May specialize in fields such as biostatistics, agricultural statistics, business statistics, or economic statistics. Includes mathematical and survey statisticians.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Biostatisticians

Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.

$104,350/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to mathematical concepts, statistics, and actuarial science and to the application of original and standardized mathematical techniques in solving specific problems and situations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Survey Researchers

Plan, develop, or conduct surveys. May analyze and interpret the meaning of survey data, determine survey objectives, or suggest or test question wording. Includes social scientists who primarily design questionnaires or supervise survey teams.

$63,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, approximately 18% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 49 graduates with reported earnings and 35 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.