Savvy students finding incredible value at UM-Flint's School of Management

Enrollment in business classes at the University of Michigan-Flint School of Management rose an average of 18% during the 2025-26 academic year. This increase follows a 2025 analysis by the Carnegie Foundation and American Council on Education that confirmed what most people already knew about UM-Flint: It provides students with greater access to higher education and better salaries than most mid-sized institutions; more so than the University of Toledo, Saginaw Valley State University and Oakland University, among others.

University	Access Measure	Earnings Measure
UM-Flint	1.03	1.73
Western Michigan University	0.99	1.42
Northern Michigan University	0.97	1.32
Grand Valley State University	0.94	1.32
University of Toledo	0.92	1.42
Oakland University	0.85	1.42
Saginaw Valley State University	0.73	1.48

UM-Flint helps underrepresented, economically disadvantaged students secure good-paying jobs, qualifying it to be named an Opportunity University in the Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education. These findings are echoed by the U.S. Department of Education.

UM-Flint graduates earn a median salary of $65,600, according to the department, which is 73% higher than the median household income in Flint. These data represent nearly half of former students, specifically those who received federal Pell Grants or student loans. Simply put, students have an opportunity to transform their standard of living by earning a degree from UM-Flint.

Students' investment

At $15,622 for 30 semester credits, excluding room and board, UM-Flint remained among the more affordable public universities in the state during the 2025-26 academic year. According to research by the Michigan Association of State Universities, only four of Michigan's 15 public universities charged first-time students less before upper-division tuition rates took effect.

Nearly all of Michigan's public universities charge upper-division students higher tuition, according to MASU. Generally, first- and second-year students are considered lower-division students, while third- and fourth-year students are considered upper-division students. UM-Flint defines upper-division students as those who have earned 55 or more credit hours.

Michigan Technological University charged its upper-division students an extra $4,200, or 21% more, during 2025-26. Oakland University and Wayne State University both charged 16% more, or an extra $2,700 and $2,500 per year, respectively.

UM-Flint charged upper-division students just $156 more annually, an important distinction for SOM students, many of whom transfer from community colleges and arrive with junior or senior standing. According to statewide comparisons, only three public universities in Michigan charged less. The affordability appears to be resonating: more than 1,000 transfer students enrolled for the fall 2025 semester, setting a new UM-Flint record.

Cost-cutting strategies

Many UM-Flint students use the Michigan Achievement Scholarship program to reduce their costs. This program supports recent high school graduates who demonstrate financial need, as determined by data collected on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Those who qualify have two paths to a U-M bachelor's degree: enrolling as first-time college students or transferring later.

Students looking to take advantage of the Michigan Achievement Scholarship can proceed directly to UM-Flint by enrolling within 15 months of finishing high school. Those who maintain eligibility receive up to $5,500 in tuition assistance annually for up to five years. That's more than one-third off tuition at UM-Flint, or a total savings of $27,500.

Students can take an indirect path to UM-Flint by enrolling at a local community college within 15 months of graduating from high school. This option, called the Community College Guarantee, eliminates 100% of tuition and mandatory fees. Students can then transfer their credits to UM-Flint, where they will apply toward a bachelor's degree.

Those who are 25 or older can take advantage of the Michigan Reconnect program, which also helps reduce tuition at local community colleges.

Transfer credits make for faster degrees

SOM's faculty and administrators have spent years negotiating formal agreements with 27 community colleges throughout Michigan. These agreements ensure that credits from those institutions will transfer and satisfy UM-Flint's admission requirements. This way, students can avoid classes that will not transfer and devise a plan to graduate as soon as possible.

More than 250 students transferred an average of 69 credits to SOM in 2025 alone. Together, they earned an average GPA of 3.5 during their first semester. They were more than ready to become Wolverines.

For many, the shortest road to an MBA also leads through Flint, thanks to the joint BBA/MBA program. This program allows students to earn undergraduate and graduate credits simultaneously. Those who take advantage can earn up to 15 graduate credits during their junior and senior years, reducing their overall tuition and time commitment.

Tuition assistance

For some, federal and state tuition programs are not enough. Thanks to the Go Blue Guarantee,  qualifying first-year and transfer students can receive free or reduced tuition and fees for up to eight semesters. To qualify, students must:

• Complete the FAFSA annually by March 1.
• Have a family income of $125,000 or less.
• Have assets of $125,000 or less.
• Qualify for in-state tuition.
• Pursue their first bachelor's degree.
• Enroll with a 3.5 GPA and maintain a 3.0 GPA or better.
• Enroll as a full-time student earning 12 credits or more during fall semester, winter semester or both.

More than 2,000 UM-Flint students qualified for the Go Blue Guarantee during the 2025-26 academic year. They and others have received $14 million in tuition support over the last four years, according to a U-M analysis, and that is just for starters.

UM-Flint's generous supporters have established more than 300 scholarships, some of which benefit multiple students simultaneously. Of these scholarships, 32 provide SOM students with nearly $300,000 in annual funding.

The payoff

A combination of low debt and high salaries enables SOM's graduates to achieve financial freedom quickly. Eight out of 10 SOM graduates find full-time employment within six months of graduation, according to alumni surveys. Those awarded bachelor's degrees earn an average of $64,900 a year, while MBA recipients earn an average of $99,000 a year. Put differently, these salaries amount to nearly $2.6 million and $4 million, respectively, over a 40-year career. That is a good investment by any measure, especially for those who qualify for financial assistance.

Learn more about SOM's academic offerings on the school's webpage.