Michigan vs. UNC Chapel Hill

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill? 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 of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • UNC Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • UNC Chapel Hill Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • UNC Chapel Hill 32,438
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • UNC Chapel Hill Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • UNC Chapel Hill #59
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • UNC Chapel Hill -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • UNC Chapel Hill Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • UNC Chapel Hill

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • UNC Chapel Hill $8,994
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • UNC Chapel Hill $41,203
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • UNC Chapel Hill $13,804
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • UNC Chapel Hill $10,154
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • UNC Chapel Hill $17,814
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 38%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • UNC Chapel Hill 66,535
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10,209
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 15.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 45.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1460
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • UNC Chapel Hill 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • UNC Chapel Hill A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • UNC Chapel Hill Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • UNC Chapel Hill Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • UNC Chapel Hill 28/34
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1390/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • UNC Chapel Hill Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 89%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • UNC Chapel Hill $66,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • UNC Chapel Hill $16,479
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • UNC Chapel Hill $170

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 40%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • UNC Chapel Hill Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • UNC Chapel Hill No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 64%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 10%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 8%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 4%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 84%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • UNC Chapel Hill 11%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than UNC Chapel Hill based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 32,438 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in Chapel Hill, NC (Small City setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 15:1.

Michigan vs. UNC Chapel Hill Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or UNC Chapel Hill? 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill than Michigan ($10,154 vs. $17,574).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are 9.9% lower than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor ($13,804 vs. $15,328).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 97.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNC Chapel Hill (about $8,742 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $8,994.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 47.9% higher at Michigan than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (about $19,743 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $41,203.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Michigan Ann Arbor than at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (59% vs. 38%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 40.9% larger than aid received by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students ($25,099 vs. $17,814).

Michigan vs. UNC Chapel Hill Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan or UNC Chapel Hill? 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 UNC Chapel Hill and Michigan.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1460) is 10 points higher than at Michigan (1450).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at UNC Chapel Hill).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 1390/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 28/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; UNC Chapel Hill - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027; UNC Chapel Hill Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UNC Chapel Hill (3.83).
  • Michigan has a higher acceptance rate (15.6%) than UNC Chapel Hill (15.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 45.5% at UNC Chapel Hill.

Michigan vs. UNC Chapel Hill Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and UNC Chapel Hill? 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 of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's (89%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $8,300 more per year than UNC Chapel Hill graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $66,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduates have a $3,624 lower median loan debt than Michigan graduates ($16,479 vs. $20,103).
  • Among borrowers, UNC Chapel Hill graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan graduates ($170 vs. $207).
  • More UNC Chapel Hill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 78%)

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.