Michigan vs. Lawrence

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Lawrence University? 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 Michigan Ann Arbor
Lawrence University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Lawrence Appleton, WI
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Lawrence Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Lawrence 1,417
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • Lawrence Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • Lawrence #202
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • Lawrence -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Lawrence Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • Lawrence

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Lawrence $56,982
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Lawrence $12,165
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Lawrence $27,161
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • Lawrence $42,688
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • Lawrence 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Lawrence 3,270
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Lawrence 2,091
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Lawrence 63.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Lawrence 16.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • Lawrence 1310
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • Lawrence 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Lawrence 3.52
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • Lawrence A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Lawrence Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • Lawrence Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • Lawrence 24/31
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Lawrence 1200/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Lawrence Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • Lawrence Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Lawrence 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Lawrence
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • Lawrence 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Lawrence $45,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • Lawrence 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Lawrence $27,350
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • Lawrence $282

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • Lawrence 48%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • Lawrence 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • Lawrence Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • Lawrence No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • Lawrence 70%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • Lawrence 5%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • Lawrence 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • Lawrence 7%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • Lawrence 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • Lawrence 4%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • Lawrence 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • Lawrence 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • Lawrence 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • Lawrence 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI with Lawrence University in Appleton, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than Lawrence based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 1,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); Lawrence University is in Appleton, WI (Small City setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Lawrence University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; Lawrence University 7:1.

Michigan vs. Lawrence Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or Lawrence? 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 Lawrence ($17,574 vs. $27,161).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lawrence University are 20.6% lower than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor ($12,165 vs. $15,328).
  • Lawrence University is 221.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan (about $39,246 more per year; $56,982.00 vs. $17,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at Michigan than at Lawrence University (about $3,964 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $56,982.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lawrence University than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (100% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lawrence University students is 70.1% larger than aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students ($42,688 vs. $25,099).

Michigan vs. Lawrence Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan or Lawrence? 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 Lawrence and Michigan.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 140 points higher than at Lawrence (1310).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 27 at Lawrence).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; Lawrence University 1200/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; Lawrence University 24/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; Lawrence - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027; Lawrence Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Lawrence (3.52).
  • Lawrence has a higher acceptance rate (63.9%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 16.8% at Lawrence.

Michigan vs. Lawrence Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and Lawrence? 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 Lawrence University's (77%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $28,800 more per year than Lawrence graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $45,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $7,247 lower median loan debt than Lawrence graduates ($20,103 vs. $27,350).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $75 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lawrence graduates ($207 vs. $282).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lawrence 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.