Business Administration Degree in Detroit, MI — Salary & ROI 2026
Business Administration degree analysis for Detroit, MI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$50K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$77K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.3 yrs
in Detroit
Cost of Living
87
index (100 = avg)
Business Administration in Detroit, MI Overview
Detroit is one of Michigan's top college towns, with 43 institutions and a student population of 57,362. Public tuition averages $14,568/year here — near the national average for public universities. Business Administration enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Leadership and Strategic Planning. The adjusted starting salary in Detroit is approximately $50,460, growing to $76,560 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
43
Public Tuition
$14,568/yr
Private Tuition
$33,980/yr
Room & Board
$12,083/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,401/yr
Unemployment
6.4%
Graduation Rate
57%
Business Administration Salary in Detroit (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Detroit's cost of living index of 87 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Business Administration salary: $58,000 starting, $88,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Detroit adjustment factor: 0.87x based on the local cost of living index.
Business Administration ROI Calculator for Detroit
Estimate your return on investment for a Business Administration degree using local Detroit tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,568 | Private avg: $33,980
Detroit avg aid: $15,401/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$106,604
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$20,010
vs HS diploma in Detroit
ROI Payback Period
5.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Detroit
$458,896
Lifetime earnings premium ($565,500) minus total education cost ($106,604)
Student Loan Payoff for Business Administration in Detroit
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Detroit for Business Administration
Wayne State University
public
$14,568/yr
$58,272 total
University of Detroit Mercy
private
$33,980/yr
$135,920 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Wayne County Community College
$4,296/yr
Top Employers for Business Administration in Detroit
Detroit offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Business Administration graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Detroit Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Business Administration Job Titles
Business Administration in Nearby Michigan Cities
Grand Rapids, MI
$51K starting · COL 88
10 colleges
Warren, MI
$51K starting · COL 88.5
6 colleges
Sterling Heights, MI
$54K starting · COL 92.8
5 colleges
Ann Arbor, MI
$49K starting · COL 85
14 colleges
Lansing, MI
$49K starting · COL 85
6 colleges
Dearborn, MI
$52K starting · COL 90.5
5 colleges
Clinton Township, MI
$56K starting · COL 96.2
4 colleges
Canton Township, MI
$54K starting · COL 93.5
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Detroit
Business Analytics
$68K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$61K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$57K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$44K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$44K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$44K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$54K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$44K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration Degree in Detroit — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Business Administration ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Detroit.