Butler vs. Michigan

Deciding between Butler University and University of Michigan Ann Arbor? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Butler University
University of Michigan Ann Arbor

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Butler Indianapolis, IN
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Setting
  • Butler Large City
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Butler 5,746
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Type
  • Butler Private 4 Year
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Butler #209
  • Michigan #48
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Butler -
  • Michigan -
  • Status
  • Butler Non-profit
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Butler
  • Michigan

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Butler $47,560
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Room & Board
  • Butler $16,430
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Average Net Price
  • Butler $38,438
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Butler $27,790
  • Michigan $25,099
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Butler 97%
  • Michigan 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Butler 9,471
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Admitted
  • Butler 8,058
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Butler 85.1%
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Butler 12.9%
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Butler 1260
  • Michigan 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Butler 28
  • Michigan 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Butler 3.92
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Butler A
  • Michigan A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Butler Difficult
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Butler
  • Michigan Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Butler 26/31
  • Michigan 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Butler 1160/1350
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Butler Test optional
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Butler Aug 1, 2027
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Butler 11:1
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Butler
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Butler 72%
  • Michigan 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Butler $68,400
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Butler 84%
  • Michigan 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Butler $27,000
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Butler $279
  • Michigan $207

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Butler 38%
  • Michigan 47%
  • % Women
  • Butler 62%
  • Michigan 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Butler Very Low
  • Michigan Medium
  • HBCU
  • Butler No
  • Michigan No
  • % White
  • Butler 82%
  • Michigan 62%
  • % Asian
  • Butler 3%
  • Michigan 13%
  • % Black
  • Butler 4%
  • Michigan 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Butler 4%
  • Michigan 5%
  • % Native American
  • Butler 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Butler 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Butler 2%
  • Michigan 3%
  • % International
  • Butler 1%
  • Michigan 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Butler 4%
  • Michigan 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Butler 51%
  • Michigan 52%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Butler 48%
  • Michigan 43%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Butler Yes
  • Michigan Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Butler Yes
  • Michigan No
  • Meal Plan
  • Butler Yes
  • Michigan Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Butler No
  • Michigan Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Butler No
  • Michigan Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Butler University in Indianapolis, IN with University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than Butler based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 5,746 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Butler University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); University of Michigan Ann Arbor is in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting).
  • Butler University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Butler University 11:1; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1.

Butler vs. Michigan Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Butler or Michigan? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Michigan Ann Arbor than Butler ($17,574 vs. $38,438).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 6.7% lower than at Butler University ($15,328 vs. $16,430).
  • Butler University is 168.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan (about $29,824 more per year; $47,560.00 vs. $17,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 28.1% higher at Michigan than at Butler University (about $13,386 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $47,560.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Butler University than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (97% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Butler University students is 10.7% larger than aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students ($27,790 vs. $25,099).

Butler vs. Michigan Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Butler or Michigan? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Michigan and Butler.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 190 points higher than at Butler (1260).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at Butler).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 1160/1350; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Butler University 26/31; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Butler - Test optional; Michigan - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Butler Aug 1, 2027; Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Butler students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Michigan (3.88).
  • Butler has a higher acceptance rate (85.1%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Butler vs. 47.3% at Michigan.

Butler vs. Michigan Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Butler and Michigan? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Butler University's (72%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than Butler graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $68,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $6,897 lower median loan debt than Butler graduates ($20,103 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Butler graduates ($207 vs. $279).
  • More Butler graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 78%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.