25 Best colleges for Development Studies in Michigan

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Michigan ranked based on their research performance in Development Studies. A graph of 2.32M citations received by 64K academic papers made by 25 universities in Michigan was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor

For Development Studies

#2 in the United States

#2 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

2. Michigan State University

East Lansing

For Development Studies

#21 in the United States

#23 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

3. Wayne State University

Detroit

For Development Studies

#88 in the United States

#100 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

4. Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo

For Development Studies

#143 in the United States

#163 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $11,048
Enrollment: 16,744

5. Oakland University

Rochester Hills

For Development Studies

#196 in the United States

#223 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1130
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $12,988

6. Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant

For Development Studies

#239 in the United States

#269 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1080
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 96%

7. Eastern Michigan University

Ypsilanti

For Development Studies

#247 in the United States

#279 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

8. Michigan Technological University

Houghton

For Development Studies

#253 in the United States

#285 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

9. Grand Valley State University

Allendale

For Development Studies

#279 in the United States

#312 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1065
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 94%

10. University of Detroit Mercy

Detroit

For Development Studies

#425 in the United States

#467 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $16,790

11. Andrews University

Berrien Springs

For Development Studies

#523 in the United States

#572 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $24,728

12. Saginaw Valley State University

University Center

For Development Studies

#551 in the United States

#604 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 99%

13. Calvin College

Grand Rapids

For Development Studies

#586 in the United States

#641 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1207
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $25,231

14. Hope College

Holland

For Development Studies

#608 in the United States

#664 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $30,700

15. Northern Michigan University

Marquette

For Development Studies

#681 in the United States

#744 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $12,012
Enrollment: 7,409

16. Kettering University

Flint

For Development Studies

#699 in the United States

#762 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $35,609

17. Lawrence Technological University

Southfield

For Development Studies

#706 in the United States

#769 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Net Price: $34,083
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,877

18. Ferris State University

Big Rapids

For Development Studies

#723 in the United States

#786 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1005
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 99%

19. Albion College

Albion

For Development Studies

#742 in the United States

#806 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $16,719
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $53,298

20. Kalamazoo College

Kalamazoo

For Development Studies

#858 in the United States

#927 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $26,956

21. Madonna University

Livonia

For Development Studies

#970 in the United States

#1041 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 980
Net Price: $18,373
Receiving Aid: 98%

22. Alma College

Alma

For Development Studies

#1066 in the United States

#1140 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Net Price: $22,094
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $41,618

23. Northwood University

Midland

For Development Studies

#1127 in the United States

#1203 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Net Price: $25,549
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $23,349

24. Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor

For Development Studies

#1169 in the United States

#1245 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1125
Net Price: $21,067
Receiving Aid: 100%

25. Siena Heights University

Adrian

For Development Studies

#1173 in the United States

#1249 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 940
Average ACT: 20
Net Price: $17,520

Closest to Michigan states to learn Development Studies

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Wisconsin	27	15
Indiana	26	41
Ohio	44	20
Illinois	53	10
Iowa	15	43
Minnesota	24	13
West Virginia	9	101
Pennsylvania	83	8
Kentucky	21	57
New York	110	6
Missouri	25	47
Tennessee	24	38
District of Columbia	9	40
Virginia	29	42
Maryland	24	3
Vermont	7	128
New Jersey	21	26
Connecticut	19	12
North Carolina	33	9
New Hampshire	10	63
Massachusetts	58	1
South Dakota	8	325
Rhode Island	9	45
Arkansas	13	141
North Dakota	5	232
Nebraska	9	93
South Carolina	20	62
Kansas	9	73
Georgia	34	35
Alabama	19	67
Maine	9	234
Mississippi	10	181
Oklahoma	13	116
Louisiana	21	92
Colorado	17	50
Florida	37	31
Montana	4	185
Texas	63	25
New Mexico	6	89
Utah	9	44
Idaho	4	215
Arizona	7	28
Nevada	5	145
Washington	20	5
Oregon	17	64
California	98	4
Puerto Rico	9	574
Alaska	3	309
Hawaii	5	109

Economics subfields in Michigan

Actuarial Science7

Agricultural Economics5

Econometrics and Mathematical Economics13

Environmental Economics5

Finance21

International Economics5

International Relations and Diplomacy6

International Trade7

Investment Banking and Stock trading8

Political Economy8