Northwestern vs. Michigan

Deciding between Northwestern 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.

Northwestern University
University of Michigan Ann Arbor

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northwestern Evanston, IL
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Setting
  • Northwestern Small City
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Northwestern 23,856
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Type
  • Northwestern Private 4 Year
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northwestern #15
  • Michigan #48
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northwestern -
  • Michigan -
  • Status
  • Northwestern Non-profit
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northwestern
  • Michigan

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northwestern $68,322
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northwestern $68,322
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Room & Board
  • Northwestern $21,126
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Average Net Price
  • Northwestern $26,830
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northwestern $64,429
  • Michigan $25,099
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northwestern 53%
  • Michigan 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northwestern 49,474
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Admitted
  • Northwestern 3,806
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northwestern 7.7%
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Northwestern 55.3%
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northwestern 1540
  • Michigan 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northwestern 34
  • Michigan 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northwestern 3.92
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northwestern A
  • Michigan A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northwestern Elite
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northwestern Extreme
  • Michigan Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Northwestern 33/35
  • Michigan 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Northwestern 1510/1570
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northwestern Test optional
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northwestern Jan 1, 2027
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northwestern 6:1
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northwestern
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Communication (14%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northwestern 94%
  • Michigan 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northwestern $89,800
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northwestern 87%
  • Michigan 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northwestern $19,378
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northwestern $200
  • Michigan $207

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northwestern 45%
  • Michigan 47%
  • % Women
  • Northwestern 55%
  • Michigan 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northwestern High
  • Michigan Medium
  • HBCU
  • Northwestern No
  • Michigan No
  • % White
  • Northwestern 50%
  • Michigan 62%
  • % Asian
  • Northwestern 17%
  • Michigan 13%
  • % Black
  • Northwestern 6%
  • Michigan 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northwestern 12%
  • Michigan 5%
  • % Native American
  • Northwestern 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northwestern 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northwestern 5%
  • Michigan 3%
  • % International
  • Northwestern 8%
  • Michigan 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northwestern 2%
  • Michigan 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northwestern 19%
  • Michigan 52%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northwestern 66%
  • Michigan 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern University in Evanston, IL 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 Northwestern based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 23,856 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northwestern University is located in Evanston, IL (Small City setting); University of Michigan Ann Arbor is in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting).
  • Northwestern 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: Northwestern University 6:1; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1.

Northwestern vs. Michigan Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern 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 Northwestern ($17,574 vs. $26,830).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 27.4% lower than at Northwestern University ($15,328 vs. $21,126).
  • Northwestern University is 285.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan (about $50,586 more per year; $68,322.00 vs. $17,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.1% higher at Northwestern than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (about $7,376 more per year; $68,322.00 vs. $60,946.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Michigan Ann Arbor than at Northwestern University (59% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 156.7% larger than aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students ($64,429 vs. $25,099).

Northwestern vs. Michigan Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern 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 Northwestern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northwestern University (1540) is 90 points higher than at Michigan (1450).
  • Incoming Northwestern students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Michigan).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern University 1510/1570; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern University 33/35; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northwestern - Test optional; Michigan - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northwestern Jan 1, 2027; Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Michigan (3.88).
  • Michigan has a higher acceptance rate (15.6%) than Northwestern (7.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.3% at Northwestern vs. 47.3% at Michigan.

Northwestern vs. Michigan Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northwestern 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).

  • Northwestern University's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than University of Michigan Ann Arbor's (90%).
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn a median of about $15,400 more per year than Michigan graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $74,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwestern University graduates have a $725 lower median loan debt than Michigan graduates ($19,378 vs. $20,103).
  • Among borrowers, Northwestern graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan graduates ($200 vs. $207).
  • More Northwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (87% 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.