Michigan vs. UB

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and University at Buffalo? 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
University at Buffalo

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • UB Buffalo, NY
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • UB Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • UB 31,903
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • UB Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • UB #101
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • UB -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • UB Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • UB

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • UB $10,936
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • UB $31,536
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • UB $17,426
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • UB $20,529
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • UB $10,663
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • UB 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • UB 40,856
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • UB 30,308
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • UB 74.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • UB 14.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • UB 1300
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • UB 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • UB 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • UB A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • UB Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • UB Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • UB 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • UB 1210/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • UB Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • UB

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • UB 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • UB
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Communication (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • UB 71%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • UB $58,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • UB 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • UB $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • UB $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • UB 51%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • UB 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • UB High
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • UB No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • UB 48%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • UB 14%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • UB 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • UB 6%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • UB 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • UB 2%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • UB 16%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • UB 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • UB 88%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • UB 3%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI with University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than UB based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 31,903 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); University at Buffalo is in Buffalo, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University at Buffalo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; University at Buffalo 11:1.

Michigan vs. UB Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or UB? 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 UB ($17,574 vs. $20,529).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 12% lower than at University at Buffalo ($15,328 vs. $17,426).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 62.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UB (about $6,800 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $10,936.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 93.3% higher at Michigan than at University at Buffalo (about $29,410 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $31,536.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University at Buffalo than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (76% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 135.4% larger than aid received by University at Buffalo students ($25,099 vs. $10,663).

Michigan vs. UB Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 150 points higher than at UB (1300).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at UB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; University at Buffalo 1210/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; University at Buffalo 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; UB - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UB (3.75).
  • UB has a higher acceptance rate (74.2%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 14.1% at UB.

Michigan vs. UB Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and UB? 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 University at Buffalo's (71%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $16,000 more per year than UB graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $58,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University at Buffalo graduates have a $603 lower median loan debt than Michigan graduates ($19,500 vs. $20,103).
  • Among borrowers, UB graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan graduates ($201 vs. $207).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UB students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 70%)

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.