Chamberlain University-Michigan
Troy, Michigan · Private For-Profit · 85.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 88/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Chamberlain University-Michigan scores 88 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale - a high score driven almost entirely by nursing-specific outcomes for a small for-profit campus in Troy. The headline numbers are strong: $69,800 median 6-year earnings, a 4.4-year payback period, 100% reported completion rate, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.300. These figures reflect Chamberlain's singular focus: the school reports only one program in the Scorecard, Registered Nursing. However, the 88 score requires important context. The repayment rate is only 66.5% - low for a school with such strong reported earnings, and a signal that a meaningful share of graduates (or non-completers) struggle with loan repayment. The net price of $28,045 substantially exceeds sticker tuition of $20,785, which is unusual and suggests add-on costs, program fees, or a student body receiving limited institutional aid. Median debt for nursing graduates is $39,146 - elevated for a nursing program and producing a C+ program grade despite strong earnings. The 49.9% Pell rate indicates Chamberlain Michigan serves many lower-income students. The reported 100% completion rate, like University of Fort Lauderdale's, requires cautious interpretation - Chamberlain's national network and cohort-based structure likely produces a more reliable figure than a tiny institution, but it still warrants scrutiny. The 88 ROI score accurately reflects the earnings-to-cost ratio for nursing graduates who complete; it does not fully reflect the repayment-rate concern or the elevated debt burden.
The median graduate earns $92,405 ten years after entry - well above the national median of roughly $55,000 for 4-year college graduates.
Chamberlain University-Michigan
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $20,785/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,785/yr |
| Average net price | $28,045/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $112,180 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $92,405 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $69,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,919 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $222 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 100.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 629 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $20,785/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $28,045/year, or roughly $112,180 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $27,832/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay N/A/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $20,919 in federal loans, which works out to about $222 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $92,405 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.30, comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $27,832 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $28,665 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $28,065 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | N/A |
| $110,001+ | N/A |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $27,832 per year - roughly $111,000 over four years. This is a heavy financial burden for lower-income students pursuing nursing at a for-profit institution. The 50% Pell rate means many Chamberlain students come from this bracket. Year-one nursing earnings of $83k can manage the resulting debt, but the 66.5% repayment rate indicates a meaningful share of students do not achieve the median outcome. Lower-income students should compare Chamberlain's total cost against public nursing programs in Michigan.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $28,665 (30001-48000 bracket) to $28,065 (48001-75000 bracket) per year - nearly identical across brackets, suggesting minimal aid variation. Four-year costs of approximately $112,000 at net price are substantial for a single-purpose nursing credential. The 4.4-year payback at the median reflects strong nursing earnings. Middle-income students should verify that their expected aid package aligns with Scorecard averages.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Net price data for the $75,001+ brackets is not reported in the Scorecard. The school may serve fewer students from these income brackets given its student population profile. Higher-income families considering Chamberlain for nursing should note that the strong ROI score is nursing-specific and that comparable outcomes may be achievable at lower cost through public Michigan nursing programs.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at Chamberlain University-Michigan with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $96,132 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing (122 graduates) earns $83,188 year-one and $96,132 at year four (C+ grade, debt-to-earnings 0.471, median debt $39,146). Year-one earnings of $83k are strong for Michigan nursing - reflective of the Detroit metro healthcare market. The C+ grade rather than B reflects the elevated median debt of $39,146, which is high even for nursing. Net price of $28,045 per year produces substantial borrowing. Students comparing Chamberlain to Wayne State's BSN program (lower cost, comparable placement) should carefully model total borrowing and monthly payments before enrolling at Chamberlain.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 66.5% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 69.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Chamberlain University-Michigan’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2017-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 85.7% |
| Enrollment | 629 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 49.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,978 |
At 85.7%, Chamberlain Michigan is broadly accessible. No SAT or ACT data is reported. The school's admission process is focused on prerequisite coursework and program readiness rather than standardized test scores. Prospective students should compare Chamberlain's nursing outcomes, cost, and NCLEX pass rates against Wayne State University, Michigan State's accelerated BSN, and community college LPN-to-RN bridge programs before committing to the for-profit model.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Chamberlain Michigan's Scorecard peers are primarily other Chamberlain campuses (Virginia, Arizona, Nevada). Chamberlain University is a national for-profit nursing chain; individual campus outcomes largely mirror the nursing labor market in each metro area. For Michigan nursing students, Wayne State University, Ferris State, and Oakland University offer BSN programs at substantially lower cost. The 88 ROI score reflects genuine nursing market demand in the Detroit area, but prospective students should evaluate whether the for-profit premium over public alternatives is justified by specific Chamberlain advantages (schedule flexibility, clinical partnerships, NCLEX outcomes) that the Scorecard does not measure.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chamberlain University-Michigan (this school) | 88 | $28,045 | $92,405 |
| Neumont College of Computer Science | 89 | $35,205 | $97,827 |
| Chamberlain University-Virginia | 86 | $33,199 | $92,405 |
| West Coast University-Miami | 76 | $32,539 | $102,672 |
| Chamberlain University-Arizona | 74 | $40,096 | $92,405 |
| Chamberlain University-Nevada | 74 | $27,073 | $92,405 |
Who Thrives Here
Chamberlain Michigan admits 85.7% of applicants and reports no SAT or ACT data to the Scorecard. Enrollment is 629. The school is a for-profit nursing institution operating as part of the national Chamberlain University system. The 50% Pell rate indicates a student body with significant financial need. Students choosing Chamberlain should understand they are selecting a single-purpose for-profit nursing program with high per-student cost ($28,045 net price) relative to community college or public university nursing alternatives in Michigan.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Chamberlain University-Michigan pays off. You'd pay about $28,045 a year after aid ($112,180 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $92,405 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 4.4 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 100.0% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings. What to keep an eye on: concerning loan repayment rates.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. A median $20,919 owed against $92,405 in annual earnings is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
Chamberlain University-Michigan: Common Questions
Is Chamberlain University-Michigan worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Chamberlain University-Michigan pays off. It scores 88/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $28,045 a year after aid ($112,180 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $92,405 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.4 years to earn back.
How much does Chamberlain University-Michigan cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $28,045 a year, or roughly $112,180 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Chamberlain University-Michigan graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $92,405 ten years after enrolling, roughly $50,605 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Chamberlain University-Michigan?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.4 years for Chamberlain University-Michigan. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do Chamberlain University-Michigan graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $20,919, against $92,405 in typical earnings a decade out. That is very manageable - comfortably inside the advisor rule of thumb that total debt should stay under a year of salary.
What is the graduation rate at Chamberlain University-Michigan?
The six-year graduation rate is 100.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.