Michigan vs. Ohio State

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Ohio State University Main Campus? 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
Ohio State University Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Ohio State Columbus, OH
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Ohio State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Ohio State 61,443
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • Ohio State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • Ohio State #135
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • Ohio State -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Ohio State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • Ohio State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Ohio State $13,244
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Ohio State $40,022
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Ohio State $14,738
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Ohio State $19,783
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • Ohio State $13,151
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • Ohio State 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Ohio State 72,829
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Ohio State 44,116
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Ohio State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Ohio State 21.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • Ohio State 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • Ohio State 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Ohio State 3.76
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • Ohio State A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Ohio State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • Ohio State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • Ohio State 28/32
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Ohio State 1310/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Ohio State Required
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • Ohio State Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Ohio State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Ohio State
    • Business (18%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Work and Family Studies (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • Ohio State 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Ohio State $50,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • Ohio State 63%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Ohio State $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • Ohio State $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • Ohio State 48%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • Ohio State 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • Ohio State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • Ohio State No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • Ohio State 71%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • Ohio State 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • Ohio State 4%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • Ohio State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • Ohio State 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • Ohio State 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • Ohio State 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • Ohio State 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • Ohio State 28%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI with Ohio State University Main Campus in Columbus, OH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ohio State University Main Campus is larger than Michigan based on total student enrollment (61,443 students vs. 52,855 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); Ohio State University Main Campus is in Columbus, OH (Large City setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio State University Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; Ohio State University Main Campus 16:1.

Michigan vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or Ohio 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 University of Michigan Ann Arbor than Ohio State ($17,574 vs. $19,783).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio State University Main Campus are 3.8% lower than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor ($14,738 vs. $15,328).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 33.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ohio State (about $4,492 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $13,244.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 52.3% higher at Michigan than at Ohio State University Main Campus (about $20,924 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $40,022.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio State University Main Campus than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (70% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 90.9% larger than aid received by Ohio State University Main Campus students ($25,099 vs. $13,151).

Michigan vs. Ohio State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 50 points higher than at Ohio State (1400).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Ohio State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; Ohio State University Main Campus 1310/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; Ohio State University Main Campus 28/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; Ohio State - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027; Ohio State Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Ohio State (3.76).
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 21.8% at Ohio State.

Michigan vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and Ohio 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 Ohio State University Main Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $23,800 more per year than Ohio State graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $50,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $1,397 lower median loan debt than Ohio State graduates ($20,103 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ohio State graduates ($207 vs. $222).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 63%)

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.