Michigan vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Penn State 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
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than Penn State based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 50,737 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Michigan vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or Penn 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 Penn State ($17,574 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 5.6% lower than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor ($14,474 vs. $15,328).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 16.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan (about $2,908 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $17,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 45.8% higher at Michigan than at Penn State Main Campus (about $19,156 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Michigan Ann Arbor than at Penn State Main Campus (59% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 121.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($25,099 vs. $11,336).

Michigan vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 120 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Penn 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. 17.1% at Penn State.

Michigan vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and Penn 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 Penn State Main Campus's (87%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $19,100 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $6,715 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($20,103 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($207 vs. $277).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 69%)

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.