Michigan vs. Rutgers

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than Rutgers based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 52,269 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

Michigan vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers ($17,574 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 2.5% lower than at Rutgers University New Brunswick ($15,328 vs. $15,714).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan (about $193 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $17,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 62.8% higher at Michigan than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $23,505 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Michigan Ann Arbor than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (59% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 49.9% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($25,099 vs. $16,742).

Michigan vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 40 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

Michigan vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $2,112 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($20,103 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($207 vs. $229).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 68%)

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.