Learning the true cost of attending a Michigan university can be a difficult web to untangle.
Higher education institutions post their sticker price for tuition, housing and fees. At public universities, the cost can vary wildly because in-state and out-of-state students fork over vastly different sums based on higher tuition rates for nonresidents. Thanks to financial aid, many families also never need to pay close to the list price.
According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of college tuition and fees at public four-year institutions has risen 179.2% over the last two decades. In Michigan, colleges and universities are required to limit tuition increases to receive a portion of their state operations funding and to qualify for some state scholarship programs. This year, under those rules, tuition may not increase by more than 4.5%.
All of that said, the path to paying for college always starts with the retail price. And this year, the tuition price tag is going up across the board. Here are the details for some of the state's largest universities:
Michigan State University
What's the new in-state tuition for undergraduates? $16,526 a year
How much did that increase? $470 or 2.7%
What about out-of-state undergraduate tuition? $43,910
How much did that increase? At the same flat rate for in-state students.
What about graduate students? Most graduate programs will see a 4% increase in tuition.
Are housing prices going up too? Yes, housing and dining rates for freshman will increase by nearly 7%, mirroring a similar hike in the previous school year.
University of Michigan
What's the new in-state tuition for undergraduates? $17,736 a year
How much did that increase? $508 or 2.9%
What about out-of-state undergraduate tuition? $60,946
How much did that increase? $2,874 or 4.9%
How about other required fees? The University Health Service fee will increase by 3.9%
What about graduate students? Most graduate programs will see a 4.9% increase in tuition and fees.
Are housing prices going up too? Yes, housing rates will increase by 6% — $831 per year— for an annual rate of $14,687.
Wayne State University
What's the new in-state tuition for undergraduates? $13,054 a year
How much did that increase? Tuition increase of 4.5% for undergraduate students. An undergraduate, lower-division student taking advantage of flat-rate tuition will see an increase of $281 per semester compared with last year.
What about out-of-state undergraduate tuition? $29,902
How much did that increase? Also 4.5%
How about other required fees? 4.5% increase
What about graduate students? Also 4.5%
Are housing prices going up too? Wayne State’s housing rates for 2024-25 will not increase.
Oakland University
What's the new in-state tuition for undergraduates? In-state undergraduate lower division students is $15,863 a year.
How much did that increase? 4.19%
What about out-of-state undergraduate tuition? $23,872.50
How much did that increase? 0%
How about other required fees? The university has a policy prohibiting additional fees.
What about graduate students? In-state graduate student tuition is $21,960, an increase of 4.99%.
Are housing prices going up too? The University approved a 3% housing increase with double room occupancy beginning at $10,662.
Grand Valley State University
What's the new in-state tuition for undergraduates? $15,139.98 a year for freshmen.
How much did that increase? The university's board approved tuition and fee increases of 3.5%.
What about out-of-state undergraduate tuition? $21,548.70
How much did that increase? 3.5%
Are housing prices going up too? Housing and dining costs will rise by 5.2% to $10,961.48
Eastern Michigan University
What's the new in-state tuition for undergraduates? $15,792 a year
How much did that increase? 4.5%
What about out-of-state undergraduate tuition? Same tuition rate as for in-state.
How much did that increase? 4.5%
How about other required fees? No increase.
What about graduate students? Tuition will increase 3%.
Are housing prices going up too? The housing increase was 3.55%; dining was 4.95%. (Officials said there are a variety of options depending on residence hall or apartment, starting from $5,346 annually.)
Central Michigan University
What's the new in-state tuition for undergraduates? $11,448 a year
How much did that increase? 4.15% (lower-level undergraduates)
What about out-of-state undergraduate tuition? There is no difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition.
How much did that increase? 4.15%
How about other required fees? There was no increase to the student service fee.
What about graduate students? 4.62% tuition increase for master's students and 4.31% for doctoral students.
Are housing prices going up too? Housing and food rates will increase an average of 4.8%.
Western Michigan University
What's the new in-state tuition for undergraduates? $15,252 a year
How much did that increase? 4.5%
How much did they increase for out-of-state undergraduate students? Also, 4.5%, to $19,033.50.
What about graduate students? 4.4% increase for annual tuition (In-state tuition with fees: $8,930; out-of-state: $12,920.50).
How about other required fees? $126, a 26% increase.
Are housing prices going up too? 5% increase for room and board to $11,681.
Mitchell Boatman at the Holland Sentinel and Matt Mencarini at the Lansing State Journal contributed to this report.
Contact Matthew Dolan: 313-223-4743 or msdolan@freepress.com. Follow him on X (previously known as Twitter) at @matthewsdolan
