Michigan vs. NC State

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and North Carolina State University at Raleigh? 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
North Carolina State University at Raleigh

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • NC State Raleigh, NC
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • NC State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • NC State 38,464
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • NC State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • NC State #124
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • NC State -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • NC State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • NC State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • NC State $8,799
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • NC State $32,847
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • NC State $14,332
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • NC State $15,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • NC State $11,675
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • NC State 51%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • NC State 44,047
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • NC State 18,385
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • NC State 41.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • NC State 31.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • NC State 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • NC State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • NC State 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • NC State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • NC State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • NC State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • NC State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • NC State 1300/1470
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • NC State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • NC State Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • NC State 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • NC State
    • Engineering (22%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Agriculture (9%)
    • Social Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • NC State 72%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • NC State $57,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • NC State 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • NC State $20,782
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • NC State $214

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • NC State 50%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • NC State 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • NC State Low
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • NC State No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • NC State 74%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • NC State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • NC State 5%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • NC State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • NC State 4%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • NC State 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • NC State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • NC State 86%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • NC State 12%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI with North Carolina State University at Raleigh in Raleigh, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than NC State based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 38,464 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); North Carolina State University at Raleigh is in Raleigh, NC (Large City setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 15:1.

Michigan vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or NC State? 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh than Michigan ($15,522 vs. $17,574).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 6.5% lower than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor ($14,332 vs. $15,328).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 101.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than NC State (about $8,937 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $8,799.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 85.5% higher at Michigan than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (about $28,099 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $32,847.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Michigan Ann Arbor than at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (59% vs. 51%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 115% larger than aid received by North Carolina State University at Raleigh students ($25,099 vs. $11,675).

Michigan vs. NC State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 60 points higher than at NC State (1390).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at NC State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 1300/1470.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; North Carolina State University at Raleigh 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; NC State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027; NC State Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at NC State (3.83).
  • NC State has a higher acceptance rate (41.7%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 31.8% at NC State.

Michigan vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and NC State? 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 North Carolina State University at Raleigh's (72%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $17,200 more per year than NC State graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $57,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $679 lower median loan debt than NC State graduates ($20,103 vs. $20,782).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NC State graduates ($207 vs. $214).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NC State 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.