Michigan vs. U of R

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and University of Rochester? 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 Rochester

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • U of R Rochester, NY
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • U of R Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • U of R 11,946
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • U of R Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • U of R #56
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • U of R -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • U of R Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • U of R

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • U of R $67,080
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • U of R $67,080
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • U of R $19,792
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • U of R $40,462
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • U of R $45,500
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • U of R 72%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • U of R 21,384
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • U of R 8,570
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • U of R 40.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • U of R 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • U of R 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • U of R 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • U of R 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A-
  • U of R A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • U of R Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • U of R Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • U of R 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • U of R 1410/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • U of R Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • U of R Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • U of R 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • U of R
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • U of R 83%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • U of R $71,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • U of R 79%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • U of R $24,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • U of R $253

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 49%
  • U of R 47%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 51%
  • U of R 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • U of R High
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • U of R No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • U of R 48%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • U of R 11%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • U of R 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • U of R 7%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • U of R 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • U of R 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • U of R 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • U of R 18%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • U of R 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • U of R 30%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • U of R 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than U of R based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 11,946 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); University of Rochester is in Rochester, NY (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rochester is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; University of Rochester 9:1.

Michigan vs. U of R Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or U of R? 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 U of R ($17,574 vs. $40,462).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 22.6% lower than at University of Rochester ($15,328 vs. $19,792).
  • University of Rochester is 278.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan (about $49,344 more per year; $67,080.00 vs. $17,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.1% higher at U of R than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (about $6,134 more per year; $67,080.00 vs. $60,946.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rochester than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (72% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rochester students is 81.3% larger than aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students ($45,500 vs. $25,099).

Michigan vs. U of R Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan or U of R? 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 U of R and Michigan.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Rochester (1480) is 30 points higher than at Michigan (1450).
  • Incoming Michigan students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at U of R (32).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; University of Rochester 1410/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; University of Rochester 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); U of R - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027; U of R Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at U of R (3.75).
  • U of R has a higher acceptance rate (40.1%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 15.4% at U of R.

Michigan vs. U of R Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and U of R? 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 Rochester's (83%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than U of R graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $71,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $4,397 lower median loan debt than U of R graduates ($20,103 vs. $24,500).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than U of R graduates ($207 vs. $253).
  • More U of R graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (79% 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.