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Michigan State Wisconsin Ohio State Harvard Yale UCLA UNC Chapel Hill Penn UT Austin Duke Cornell Georgia Tech| University of Michigan | Princeton University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Michigan | Princeton | ||
| Location | Ann Arbor, MI | Princeton, NJ | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 52,065 | 8,922 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #47 | #1 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | umich.edu | princeton.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Michigan | Princeton | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $16,896 | $59,710 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $57,740 | $59,710 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,856 | $19,380 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,005 | $19,811 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $22,005 | $60,629 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 55% | 60% |
Admission |
Michigan | Princeton | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 87,632 | 39,644 | ||
| Admitted | 15,722 | 1,782 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 17.9% | 4.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 47.5% | 76.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.88 | 3.93 | ||
| 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 | 1500/1580 | ||
| 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 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Michigan | Princeton | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 5:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Michigan | Princeton | ||
| Graduation Rate | 90% | 96% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $74,400 | $113,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 83% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,103 | $7,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $207 | $77 |
Diversity |
Michigan | Princeton | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 18% | 21% | ||
| % Women | 18% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 45% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 8% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 7% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 6% | 2% |
Students |
Michigan | Princeton | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 51% | 16% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 44% | 71% | ||
Campus |
Michigan | Princeton | ||
| 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 Princeton based on total student enrollment (52,065 students vs. 8,922 students)
Michigan vs. Princeton Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Michigan or Princeton?
- Princeton University is 253.4% more expensive to attend than Michigan for in-state tuition ($59,710.00 vs. $16,896.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3.4% higher at Princeton than University of Michigan ($59,710.00 vs. $57,740.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Michigan than Princeton ($19,005 vs. $19,811)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan are 39.9% lower than costs at Princeton University ($13,856 vs. $19,380)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Princeton University than University of Michigan (60% vs. 55%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Princeton University students is 175.5% larger than aid received University of Michigan ($60,629 vs. $22,005)
Michigan vs. Princeton Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Michigan or Princeton? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Princeton or Michigan .
- The average SAT score at Princeton University (1490) is 106 points higher than at Michigan (1384)
- Incoming Princeton students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (34) than students at Michigan (31)
- Accepted freshman Princeton students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Michigan (3.88)
- Michigan has a higher acceptance rate (17.9%) than Princeton (4.5%)
Michigan vs. Princeton Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Michigan or Princeton? 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 Princeton and Michigan.
- The graduation rate at Princeton is higher than University of Michigan (96% vs. 90%)
- Graduates from Princeton University earn on average $39,500 more per year than Michigan graduates after ten years. ($113,900 vs. $74,400)
- Princeton University students graduate with a $12,603 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan graduates. ($7,500 vs. $20,103)
- Princeton graduates are paying $130 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan graduates. ($77 vs. $207)
- More Princeton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 78%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/