Accounting Schools in Michigan

Michigan Accounting Schools

Michigan State Board of AccountancyPO Box 30018
Lansing, MI 48909-7518
Phone: 517-241-9288
Fax: 517-373-3085
Email: bcslic@michigan.gov (cpaes-mi@nasba.org – CPA related questions)

Accounting coursework in Michigan focuses on training students not only in the expertise, but also in the real-world experience necessary to become an accounting professional. Michigan schools are known for perseverance in helping graduates to find gainful employment within the accounting field. Of course, the best way that an accounting school can prepare a student for a career is with balanced coursework. In Michigan, generalized accounting curriculum includes studies in:

  • business law
  • tax accounting
  • social sciences
  • payroll accounting
  • government
  • fund management
  • investment accounting

Accounting students can then choose to specialize according to their talents and interests.

Total Accounting Schools: 82
Total Accounting Students: 47,529
Average Tuition: $11,196
Average Scholarship Package: $4,457
Average Grant Amount: $7,121
Average Classroom Size: 19 Students
Online Accounting Programs: 74
Average Online Tuition: $10,524
Online Undergraduate Programs: 71
Online Graduate Programs: 41
Top Accounting Schools:University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Calvin College
Michigan Technological University
Largest Accounting School:Michigan State University
• 8,354 Students Currently Attending
Cheapest Accounting School:Oakland Community College
• $2,247 Annual Tuition Charges
School With Largest Financial Aid Packages:University of Detroit Mercy
• $19,415 Average Financial Aid Award

Salary and Job Outlook for Accountants in Michigan

Michigan’s accountants earned an average salary of $68,980 as of May 2020. Some of the highest earners in the state (90th percentile), which largely represent those in leadership and senior-level positions and those who have achieved graduate degrees and the CPA designation, earned about $115,150 during this time.

The Midland metro region came out on top for its pay of accountants as of May 2020, reporting an average salary of $87,500 and a top salary (90th percentile) of about $154,570. Accountants in the sprawling Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area enjoyed an average salary of $73,00 during this time – about $5,000 more than the state average. Note that the salaries featured here represent only base salaries and not total compensation packages that tend to be higher due to the addition of salary incentives like bonuses and stock options.

While the accounting field in Michigan is projected to see modest growth of just 1% between 2018 and 2028, the state expects to see about 3,510 annual job openings for this profession during this ten-year period leading to 2028 due to a combination of new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.

Many individuals in Michigan decide to embark on the path of a public accountant. Not only is the position in high demand, it also prepares accountants for work in higher-paying positions. Public accountants can work for businesses or individuals under an experienced manager. Entry-level accountants prepare profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and other helpful financial reports. They examine costs, trends, avenues for increasing profits and current commitments to create a picture of future gains and losses. They are expected to pay attention to tax strategies and the utilization of resources to orchestrate positive growth for clients.

Accountants also have the ability to become comptrollers. Comptrollers work as financial guardians for a company or organization, watching incoming and outgoing expenses in order to maximize profits and decrease expenses. A related career path is forensic accounting, in which the accountant investigates criminal financial actions and insurance fraud for private companies or public law enforcement agencies. Forensic accounting is not for the faint of heart; these accountants are often called upon to testify in criminal trials. Whichever path an accounting student chooses to follow, Michigan accounting schools help prepare their students for a long, successful career.

May 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market data for accountants and auditors represents state data, not school-specific information.

Job growth projections for 2018-2028 sourced from the U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored O*Net database represents state data, not school-specific information.

Conditions in your area may vary. Data Accessed May 2021.