Michigan vs. Duke

Should I go to University of Michigan or Duke University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Michigan or Duke is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of Michigan vs. Duke University comparison
University of Michigan Duke University College 3 College 4
University of Michigan Duke University
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Overview

 Michigan Duke
Location Ann Arbor, MI Durham, NC
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 52,065 17,112
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #47 #3
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umich.edu duke.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Michigan Duke
Tuition (In State) $16,896 $63,450
Tuition (Out of State) $57,740 $63,450
Room & Board $13,856 $17,458
Avg Net Price $19,005 $23,422
Avg Grant Aid $22,005 $59,327
% Receiving Grant Aid 55% 41%

Admission

 Michigan Duke
Applied 87,632 46,365
Admitted 15,722 3,145
Acceptance Rate 17.9% 6.8%
Enrolled % 47.5% 55.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 3.94
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Elite
Applicant Competition Very High Extreme
ACT Range 31/34 34/35
SAT Range 1350/1530 1510/1570
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026 Jan 3, 2026

Academics

 Michigan Duke
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Engineering (15%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Human Services (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 Michigan Duke
Graduation Rate 90% 94%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $74,400 $108,900
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,103 $7,500
Median Loan Payment $207 $77

Diversity

 Michigan Duke
% Men 18% 27%
% Women 18% 35%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 46%
% Black 4% 10%
% Hispanic 5% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 7% 10%
% Unknown Race 6% 2%

Students

 Michigan Duke
% In-State 51% 12%
% Out-of-State 44% 74%

Campus

 Michigan Duke
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Michigan is larger than than Duke based on total student enrollment (52,065 students vs. 17,112 students)

Michigan vs. Duke Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or Duke?

  • Duke University is 275.5% more expensive to attend than Michigan for in-state tuition ($63,450.00 vs. $16,896.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.9% higher at Duke than University of Michigan ($63,450.00 vs. $57,740.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Michigan than Duke ($19,005 vs. $23,422)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan are 26% lower than costs at Duke University ($13,856 vs. $17,458)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Michigan than Duke University (55% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 169.6% larger than aid received University of Michigan ($59,327 vs. $22,005)

Michigan vs. Duke Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan or Duke? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Duke or Michigan .

  • The average SAT score at Duke University (1450) is 66 points higher than at Michigan (1384)
  • Incoming Duke students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Michigan (31)
  • Accepted freshman Duke students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Michigan (3.88)
  • Michigan has a higher acceptance rate (17.9%) than Duke (6.8%)

Michigan vs. Duke Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Michigan or Duke? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Duke and Michigan.

  • The graduation rate at Duke is higher than University of Michigan (94% vs. 90%)
  • Graduates from Duke University earn on average $34,500 more per year than Michigan graduates after ten years. ($108,900 vs. $74,400)
  • Duke University students graduate with a $12,603 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan graduates. ($7,500 vs. $20,103)
  • Duke graduates are paying $130 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan graduates. ($77 vs. $207)
  • More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 78%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/