UCLA vs. Michigan

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles
University of Michigan Ann Arbor

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • Michigan #48
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • Michigan -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • Michigan

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • Michigan $25,099
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • Michigan 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • Michigan 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • Michigan 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • Michigan A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • Michigan Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • Michigan 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
  • Michigan Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • Michigan 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • Michigan 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • Michigan $207

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • Michigan 47%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • Michigan 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • Michigan Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • Michigan No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • Michigan 62%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • Michigan 13%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • Michigan 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • Michigan 5%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • Michigan 3%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • Michigan 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • Michigan 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • Michigan 52%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • Michigan 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, 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 UCLA based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 47,335 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); University of Michigan Ann Arbor is in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of California Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 20:1; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1.

UCLA vs. Michigan Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA 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 Los Angeles than Michigan ($14,512 vs. $17,574).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 16.6% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($15,328 vs. $18,369).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 16.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $2,533 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $15,203.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 23.4% higher at Michigan than at University of California Los Angeles (about $11,543 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $49,403.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Michigan Ann Arbor than at University of California Los Angeles (59% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 2.1% larger than aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students ($25,627 vs. $25,099).

UCLA vs. Michigan Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA 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 UCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 30 points higher than at UCLA (1420).
  • Incoming UCLA 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 Los Angeles 1300/1530; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); Michigan - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCLA 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 UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 47.3% at Michigan.

UCLA vs. Michigan Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA 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 UCLA is the same as at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (90% vs. 90%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $3,700 more per year than UCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $70,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $3,803 lower median loan debt than Michigan graduates ($16,300 vs. $20,103).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan graduates ($168 vs. $207).
  • More UCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.