Michigan: What the Numbers Actually Say
Ann Arbor gets treated as the safety school for people aiming at the coasts, and the numbers quietly refuse the role. A hundred and nine thousand applications. A graduation rate that matches several Ivies. And for a Michigan family earning under $30,000, a year here costs about a thousand dollars — the most aggressive low-income pricing of any public school on this site.
Michigan admitted 16.4% of 109,112 applicants — one of the three largest applicant pools in the country. The average net price after aid is $13,138, 93% of students graduate within six years, and the median graduate earns $83,648 ten years after enrolling.
At a glance
| University of Michigan | US median | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Ann Arbor, MI | |
| Undergraduates | 35,358 | |
| Acceptance rate | 16.4% | |
| Applicants / admits | 109,112 / 17,915 | |
| Middle 50% SAT | 1370–1530 | |
| Middle 50% ACT | 32–34 | |
| Student–faculty ratio | 15:1 | |
| Average net price after aid | $13,138 | $20,150 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $83,648 | $53,038 |
| Median debt at graduation | $19,500 | $23,000 |
US medians are across every college reporting the figure to the College Scorecard — roughly 1,700 for net price and 1,800 for earnings.
Admissions: what Michigan says it weighs
Michigan drew 109,112 applications and admitted 17,915 — 16.4%. Its early round is Early Action: non-binding, with nothing restricting where else you apply.
| Application factor | University of Michigan says | How common that is |
|---|---|---|
| Academic GPA | Very important | 91% of schools say the same |
| Rigor of secondary school record | Very important | 87% of schools say the same |
| Application Essay | Important | 26% of schools say the same |
| Character/personal qualities | Important | only 22% of schools say the same |
| First generation | Important | only 7% of schools say the same |
| Recommendation(s) | Important | 28% of schools say the same |
| Standardized test scores | Important | 37% of schools say the same |
| Extracurricular activities | Considered | 37% of schools say the same |
| Geographical residence | Considered | 34% of schools say the same |
| Level of applicant's interest | Considered | 45% of schools say the same |
| State residency | Considered | 34% of schools say the same |
| Talent/ability | Considered | 48% of schools say the same |
| Volunteer work | Considered | 66% of schools say the same |
| Work experience | Considered | 69% of schools say the same |
| Alumni/ae relation | Not considered | 54% of schools say the same |
| Class rank | Not considered | only 18% of schools say the same |
| Interview | Not considered | 43% of schools say the same |
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Not considered | 89% of schools say the same |
The school’s own ratings from its Common Data Set filing, set against the 362 filings in our dataset. Bold rows are ratings fewer than a quarter of schools share — the places this school’s process is genuinely unusual. Declared weight is not submission policy; requirements change year to year and should be checked directly.
Two rows stand out. Michigan does not consider class rank — a position only 18% of schools take, and a meaningful one at a school this large, where thousands of applicants come from schools that rank. And it rates first-generation status important, which only 7% of schools declare. Character and essays sit high on the scale; alumni ties and demonstrated interest are merely considered.
The admitted middle 50% runs 690–750 on SAT reading and 680–780 on maths, with 55% of enrolled first-years having submitted an SAT score — a share that describes the class, not the current submission rules.
Cost: the sharpest low-income pricing among public flagships
The average net price after aid is $13,138 — cheaper than 80.7% of American colleges. Michigan reports meeting 91% of demonstrated need.
| Family income | University of Michigan | US median |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $1,043 / year | $15,238 |
| $30,000 – $48,000 | $1,878 / year | $15,431 |
| $48,000 – $75,000 | $4,895 / year | $17,510 |
| $75,000 – $110,000 | $10,869 / year | $21,308 |
| Over $110,000 | $26,517 / year | $25,893 |
Average net price actually paid by aided US students at each income level, from the College Scorecard. Sticker price is what almost nobody at these income levels pays.
These averages blend Michigan residents with far higher-paying out-of-state students, so they overstate the typical in-state price and understate the out-of-state one.
That first row is the story: about $1,043 a year for a family earning under $30,000 — effectively free. The trade-off shows at graduation: 31% of students borrow and the median debt is $19,500 — high for a public flagship, reflecting the blend of out-of-state students paying close to private-school prices.
Outcomes
Median earnings, 10 years after entry · US median $53,038
Earnings of students from the lowest-income third · US median $42,600
Average net price after aid · US median $20,150
Median debt at graduation · US median $23,000
Bar length is the share of US colleges this school beats on each measure; the tick marks the national median. Price and debt are inverted, so a longer bar is always the better outcome. Source: College Scorecard.
97% of first-years return and 93% graduate within six years — public-flagship numbers that match several private schools a quarter the size. Median earnings reach $83,648, and students from the lowest-income third of families are earning a mean $75,000 a decade after they started.
The scale: 35,358 undergraduates — the largest student body on this site — on a 15:1 student–faculty ratio, with 51.2% of course sections under 20 students. 96% of first-years live on campus, and Greek life takes in 11% of men and 16% of women.
Frequently asked questions
What is Michigan’s acceptance rate?
16.4% for the 2025–26 Common Data Set cycle, from 109,112 applications — one of the three largest pools of any US university. 17,915 students were admitted.
How much does Michigan actually cost?
An average $13,138 a year after aid. A Michigan family earning under $30,000 pays about $1,043 — effectively free — and from $75,000 to $110,000 about $10,869. Out-of-state students pay substantially more than these blended averages show.
Does class rank matter at Michigan?
No — Michigan reports that it does not consider class rank at all, a position only 18% of schools take. GPA, course rigour, essays and character carry the file.
What SAT scores do you need for Michigan?
The admitted middle 50% scored 690–750 on reading and 680–780 on maths, with an average high-school GPA of 3.9. About 55% of enrolled first-years submitted a score.
Is Michigan worth it for out-of-state students?
The outcomes are real either way — $83,648 median earnings ten years after entry and a 93% graduation rate — but out-of-state pricing approaches private levels, and the $19,500 median debt is high for a public university. For Michigan residents the value is exceptional; from out of state it is a genuine weigh-up.
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