UMass vs. Michigan

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 Massachusetts Amherst
University of Michigan Ann Arbor

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UMass Amherst, MA
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Setting
  • UMass Town Fringe
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UMass 31,726
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Type
  • UMass Public 4 Year
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UMass #169
  • Michigan #48
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UMass -
  • Michigan -
  • Status
  • UMass Non-profit
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UMass
  • Michigan

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UMass $17,772
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UMass $40,449
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Room & Board
  • UMass $16,710
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Average Net Price
  • UMass $22,948
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UMass $13,110
  • Michigan $25,099
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UMass 81%
  • Michigan 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UMass 50,261
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Admitted
  • UMass 30,020
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UMass 59.7%
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UMass 17.9%
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UMass 1410
  • Michigan 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • UMass 31
  • Michigan 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • UMass 3.99
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UMass A
  • Michigan A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UMass Exceptional
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UMass Low
  • Michigan Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UMass 30/33
  • Michigan 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • UMass 1310/1500
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UMass Test optional
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UMass Jan 15, 2027
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UMass 17:1
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UMass
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UMass 67%
  • Michigan 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UMass $55,200
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UMass 76%
  • Michigan 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UMass $24,000
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UMass $248
  • Michigan $207

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UMass 48%
  • Michigan 47%
  • % Women
  • UMass 52%
  • Michigan 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UMass Medium
  • Michigan Medium
  • HBCU
  • UMass No
  • Michigan No
  • % White
  • UMass 67%
  • Michigan 62%
  • % Asian
  • UMass 9%
  • Michigan 13%
  • % Black
  • UMass 4%
  • Michigan 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UMass 5%
  • Michigan 5%
  • % Native American
  • UMass 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UMass 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UMass 3%
  • Michigan 3%
  • % International
  • UMass 4%
  • Michigan 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UMass 8%
  • Michigan 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UMass 69%
  • Michigan 52%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UMass 22%
  • Michigan 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Amherst in Amherst, MA 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 UMass based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 31,726 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting); University of Michigan Ann Arbor is in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst 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 Massachusetts Amherst 17:1; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1.

UMass vs. Michigan Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UMass 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 UMass ($17,574 vs. $22,948).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 8.3% lower than at University of Massachusetts Amherst ($15,328 vs. $16,710).
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan (about $36 more per year; $17,772.00 vs. $17,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 50.7% higher at Michigan than at University of Massachusetts Amherst (about $20,497 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $40,449.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Massachusetts Amherst than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (81% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 91.4% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Amherst students ($25,099 vs. $13,110).

UMass vs. Michigan Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UMass 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 UMass.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 40 points higher than at UMass (1410).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at UMass).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 1310/1500; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Amherst 30/33; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UMass - Test optional; Michigan - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UMass Jan 15, 2027; Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UMass students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.99) than students at Michigan (3.88).
  • UMass has a higher acceptance rate (59.7%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.9% at UMass vs. 47.3% at Michigan.

UMass vs. Michigan Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UMass 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 Massachusetts Amherst's (67%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $19,200 more per year than UMass graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $3,897 lower median loan debt than UMass graduates ($20,103 vs. $24,000).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $41 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UMass graduates ($207 vs. $248).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 76%)

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.