Illinois vs. Michigan

Deciding between University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 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 Illinois Urbana Champaign
University of Michigan Ann Arbor

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Illinois Champaign, IL
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Setting
  • Illinois Small City
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Illinois 59,238
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Type
  • Illinois Public 4 Year
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Illinois #117
  • Michigan #48
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Illinois -
  • Michigan -
  • Status
  • Illinois Non-profit
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Illinois
  • Michigan

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Illinois $16,004
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Illinois $35,124
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Room & Board
  • Illinois $14,522
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Average Net Price
  • Illinois $13,973
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Illinois $19,299
  • Michigan $25,099
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Illinois 52%
  • Michigan 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Illinois 73,742
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Admitted
  • Illinois 31,247
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Illinois 42.4%
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Illinois 28.8%
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Illinois 1420
  • Michigan 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Illinois 32
  • Michigan 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Illinois 3.79
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Illinois A-
  • Michigan A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Illinois Exceptional
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Illinois Low
  • Michigan Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Illinois 30/34
  • Michigan 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Illinois 1310/1520
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Illinois Test optional
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Illinois Jan 5, 2027
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Illinois 20:1
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Illinois
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Illinois 82%
  • Michigan 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Illinois $66,500
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Illinois 78%
  • Michigan 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Illinois $20,500
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Illinois $211
  • Michigan $207

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Illinois 54%
  • Michigan 47%
  • % Women
  • Illinois 46%
  • Michigan 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Illinois High
  • Michigan Medium
  • HBCU
  • Illinois No
  • Michigan No
  • % White
  • Illinois 48%
  • Michigan 62%
  • % Asian
  • Illinois 17%
  • Michigan 13%
  • % Black
  • Illinois 6%
  • Michigan 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Illinois 10%
  • Michigan 5%
  • % Native American
  • Illinois 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Illinois 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Illinois 3%
  • Michigan 3%
  • % International
  • Illinois 16%
  • Michigan 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Illinois 1%
  • Michigan 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Illinois 71%
  • Michigan 52%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Illinois 14%
  • Michigan 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in Champaign, 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 Illinois Urbana Champaign is larger than Michigan based on total student enrollment (59,238 students vs. 52,855 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign is located in Champaign, IL (Small City setting); University of Michigan Ann Arbor is in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 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 Illinois Urbana Champaign 20:1; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1.

Illinois vs. Michigan Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Illinois 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 Illinois Urbana Champaign than Michigan ($13,973 vs. $17,574).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign are 5.3% lower than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor ($14,522 vs. $15,328).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 10.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Illinois (about $1,732 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $16,004.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 73.5% higher at Michigan than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (about $25,822 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $35,124.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Michigan Ann Arbor than at University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (59% vs. 52%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 30.1% larger than aid received by University of Illinois Urbana Champaign students ($25,099 vs. $19,299).

Illinois vs. Michigan Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Illinois 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 Illinois.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 30 points higher than at Illinois (1420).
  • Incoming Illinois 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 Illinois Urbana Champaign 1310/1520; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Illinois Urbana Champaign 30/34; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Illinois - Test optional; Michigan - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Illinois Jan 5, 2027; Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Illinois (3.79).
  • Illinois has a higher acceptance rate (42.4%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.8% at Illinois vs. 47.3% at Michigan.

Illinois vs. Michigan Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Illinois 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 Illinois Urbana Champaign's (82%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Illinois graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $66,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $397 lower median loan debt than Illinois graduates ($20,103 vs. $20,500).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Illinois graduates ($207 vs. $211).
  • More Illinois 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.