UC Berkeley vs. Michigan

Deciding between University of California Berkeley 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.

University of California Berkeley
University of Michigan Ann Arbor

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Setting
  • UC Berkeley Midsize City
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Berkeley 45,882
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Type
  • UC Berkeley Public 4 Year
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC Berkeley #65
  • Michigan #48
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC Berkeley -
  • Michigan -
  • Status
  • UC Berkeley Non-profit
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC Berkeley
  • Michigan

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC Berkeley $16,347
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC Berkeley $50,547
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Room & Board
  • UC Berkeley $23,750
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Average Net Price
  • UC Berkeley $16,538
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC Berkeley $29,608
  • Michigan $25,099
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC Berkeley 53%
  • Michigan 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC Berkeley 124,242
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Admitted
  • UC Berkeley 13,639
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC Berkeley 11%
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Berkeley 1420
  • Michigan 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Berkeley 32
  • Michigan 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC Berkeley 3.87
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC Berkeley A
  • Michigan A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Berkeley Elite
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • Michigan Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UC Berkeley 30/35
  • Michigan 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • UC Berkeley 1310/1530
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Berkeley Test-free
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC Berkeley 18:1
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC Berkeley
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC Berkeley 90%
  • Michigan 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC Berkeley $74,700
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC Berkeley 79%
  • Michigan 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC Berkeley $14,200
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC Berkeley $146
  • Michigan $207

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • Michigan 47%
  • % Women
  • UC Berkeley 54%
  • Michigan 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • Michigan Medium
  • HBCU
  • UC Berkeley No
  • Michigan No
  • % White
  • UC Berkeley 27%
  • Michigan 62%
  • % Asian
  • UC Berkeley 35%
  • Michigan 13%
  • % Black
  • UC Berkeley 2%
  • Michigan 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • Michigan 5%
  • % Native American
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC Berkeley 5%
  • Michigan 3%
  • % International
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • Michigan 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC Berkeley 3%
  • Michigan 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC Berkeley 84%
  • Michigan 52%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC Berkeley 9%
  • Michigan 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Berkeley in Berkeley, CA 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 UC Berkeley based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 45,882 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); University of Michigan Ann Arbor is in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of California Berkeley 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: University of California Berkeley 18:1; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1.

UC Berkeley vs. Michigan Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley 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 California Berkeley than Michigan ($16,538 vs. $17,574).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 35.5% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($15,328 vs. $23,750).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 8.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Berkeley (about $1,389 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $16,347.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.6% higher at Michigan than at University of California Berkeley (about $10,399 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $50,547.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Michigan Ann Arbor than at University of California Berkeley (59% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 18% larger than aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students ($29,608 vs. $25,099).

UC Berkeley vs. Michigan Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Berkeley 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 UC Berkeley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 30 points higher than at UC Berkeley (1420).
  • Incoming UC Berkeley students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at Michigan (32).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 1310/1530; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 30/35; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Berkeley - Test-free; Michigan - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026; Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UC Berkeley (3.87).
  • Michigan has a higher acceptance rate (15.6%) than UC Berkeley (11%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 47.3% at Michigan.

UC Berkeley vs. Michigan Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Berkeley 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).

  • The graduation rate at UC Berkeley is the same as at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (90% vs. 90%).
  • Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn a median of about $300 more per year than Michigan graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,700 vs. $74,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $5,903 lower median loan debt than Michigan graduates ($14,200 vs. $20,103).
  • Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan graduates ($146 vs. $207).
  • More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.