UCSD vs. Michigan

Deciding between University of California San Diego 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 San Diego
University of Michigan Ann Arbor

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Setting
  • UCSD Large City
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSD 44,256
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Type
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSD #87
  • Michigan #48
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSD -
  • Michigan -
  • Status
  • UCSD Non-profit
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSD
  • Michigan

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSD $16,758
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSD $50,958
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Room & Board
  • UCSD $18,970
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSD $14,047
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSD $25,757
  • Michigan $25,099
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSD 59%
  • Michigan 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSD 134,450
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Admitted
  • UCSD 35,917
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSD 1380
  • Michigan 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSD 31
  • Michigan 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSD 3.82
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSD A-
  • Michigan A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSD High
  • Michigan Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UCSD 28/34
  • Michigan 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • UCSD 1270/1480
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSD Test-free
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSD 19:1
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSD 85%
  • Michigan 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSD $67,900
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSD 82%
  • Michigan 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSD $18,500
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSD $191
  • Michigan $207

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSD 47%
  • Michigan 47%
  • % Women
  • UCSD 53%
  • Michigan 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSD Very High
  • Michigan Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCSD No
  • Michigan No
  • % White
  • UCSD 21%
  • Michigan 62%
  • % Asian
  • UCSD 37%
  • Michigan 13%
  • % Black
  • UCSD 1%
  • Michigan 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSD 16%
  • Michigan 5%
  • % Native American
  • UCSD 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSD 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSD 5%
  • Michigan 3%
  • % International
  • UCSD 17%
  • Michigan 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSD 2%
  • Michigan 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSD 78%
  • Michigan 52%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSD 9%
  • Michigan 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, 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 UCSD based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 44,256 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); University of Michigan Ann Arbor is in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of California San Diego 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 San Diego 19:1; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1.

UCSD vs. Michigan Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD 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 San Diego than Michigan ($14,047 vs. $17,574).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 19.2% lower than at University of California San Diego ($15,328 vs. $18,970).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSD (about $978 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $16,758.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.6% higher at Michigan than at University of California San Diego (about $9,988 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $50,958.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at University of California San Diego as at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (59% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 2.6% larger than aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students ($25,757 vs. $25,099).

UCSD vs. Michigan Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSD 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 UCSD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 70 points higher than at UCSD (1380).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at UCSD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; Michigan - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026; Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UCSD (3.82).
  • UCSD has a higher acceptance rate (26.7%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 47.3% at Michigan.

UCSD vs. Michigan Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD 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 University of California San Diego's (85%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than UCSD graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $67,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $1,603 lower median loan debt than Michigan graduates ($18,500 vs. $20,103).
  • Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan graduates ($191 vs. $207).
  • More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.