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Pharmaceutical Sciences Degree in Detroit, MI — Salary & ROI 2026

Pharmaceutical Sciences degree analysis for Detroit, MI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$44K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$83K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

8.2 yrs

in Detroit

Cost of Living

87

index (100 = avg)

Pharmaceutical Sciences 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. Pharmaceutical Sciences enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Pharmacology and Drug Formulation. The adjusted starting salary in Detroit is approximately $43,500, growing to $82,650 by mid-career.

Category

STEM

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%

Pharmaceutical Sciences Salary in Detroit (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Detroit's cost of living index of 87 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$43,500($-6,500 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$82,650($-12,350 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$104,400($-15,600 vs national)

Note: National average Pharmaceutical Sciences salary: $50,000 starting, $95,000 mid-career, $120,000 senior level.Detroit adjustment factor: 0.87x based on the local cost of living index.

Pharmaceutical Sciences ROI Calculator for Detroit

Estimate your return on investment for a Pharmaceutical Sciences 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

$13,050

vs HS diploma in Detroit

ROI Payback Period

8.2 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Detroit

$502,396

Lifetime earnings premium ($609,000) minus total education cost ($106,604)

Student Loan Payoff for Pharmaceutical Sciences in Detroit

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$106,604
Monthly Payment$1,210
Total Interest$38,652
% of Monthly Income33%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$106,604
Monthly Payment$2,086
Total Interest$18,546
Interest Savings$20,106

Colleges in Detroit for Pharmaceutical Sciences

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 Pharmaceutical Sciences in Detroit

Detroit offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Pharmaceutical Sciences graduates. National top employers in this field include:

PfizerMerckJohnson & JohnsonAbbVieEli Lilly

Key Detroit Hiring Sectors for STEM

Tech companies

Research labs

Government agencies

Startups

Consulting firms

Common Pharmaceutical Sciences Job Titles

Pharmaceutical ScientistRegulatory Affairs SpecialistClinical Research Associate

Pharmaceutical Sciences 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 Pharmaceutical Sciences ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Detroit.

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