IU vs. Michigan

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington 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.

Indiana University Bloomington
University of Michigan Ann Arbor

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • Michigan #48
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • Michigan -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • Michigan

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • Michigan $25,099
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • Michigan 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • Michigan 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • Michigan 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • Michigan A
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • Michigan Very High
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • Michigan 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • Michigan 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • Michigan 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • Michigan $207

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • Michigan 47%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • Michigan 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • Michigan Medium
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • Michigan No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • Michigan 62%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • Michigan 13%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • Michigan 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • Michigan 5%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • Michigan 3%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • Michigan 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • Michigan 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • Michigan 52%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • Michigan 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, 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 IU based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 48,424 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); University of Michigan Ann Arbor is in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1.

IU vs. Michigan Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington than Michigan ($17,270 vs. $17,574).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 8.8% lower than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor ($13,984 vs. $15,328).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 46% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $5,592 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 45.5% higher at Michigan than at Indiana University Bloomington (about $19,055 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $41,891.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana University Bloomington than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (73% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 139.3% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($25,099 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. Michigan Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU 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 IU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 160 points higher than at IU (1290).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at IU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; Michigan - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at IU (3.74).
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 47.3% at Michigan.

IU vs. Michigan Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington's (72%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $18,200 more per year than IU graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $56,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $2,397 lower median loan debt than IU graduates ($20,103 vs. $22,500).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IU graduates ($207 vs. $232).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 72%)

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.