Michigan vs. UVA

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and University of Virginia Main Campus? 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 Virginia Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • UVA Charlottesville, VA
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • UVA Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • UVA 26,409
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • UVA Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • UVA #58
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • UVA -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • UVA Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • UVA

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • UVA $21,803
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • UVA $59,512
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • UVA $14,800
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • UVA $18,427
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • UVA $28,715
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • UVA 39%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • UVA 58,951
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • UVA 9,909
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • UVA 16.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • UVA 40%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • UVA 1480
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • UVA 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • UVA 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • UVA A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • UVA Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • UVA Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • UVA 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • UVA 1410/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • UVA Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • UVA

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • UVA 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • UVA
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • UVA 94%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • UVA $77,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • UVA 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • UVA $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • UVA $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • UVA 45%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • UVA 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • UVA Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • UVA No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • UVA 60%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • UVA 13%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • UVA 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • UVA 6%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • UVA 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • UVA 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • UVA 5%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • UVA 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • UVA 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • UVA 66%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • UVA 29%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI with University of Virginia Main Campus in Charlottesville, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than UVA based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 26,409 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); University of Virginia Main Campus is in Charlottesville, VA (Small City setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Virginia Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; University of Virginia Main Campus 15:1.

Michigan vs. UVA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or UVA? 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 UVA ($17,574 vs. $18,427).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Virginia Main Campus are 3.4% lower than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor ($14,800 vs. $15,328).
  • University of Virginia Main Campus is 22.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan (about $4,067 more per year; $21,803.00 vs. $17,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.4% higher at Michigan than at University of Virginia Main Campus (about $1,434 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $59,512.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Michigan Ann Arbor than at University of Virginia Main Campus (59% vs. 39%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Virginia Main Campus students is 14.4% larger than aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students ($28,715 vs. $25,099).

Michigan vs. UVA Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Virginia Main Campus (1480) is 30 points higher than at Michigan (1450).
  • Incoming UVA students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (33 vs. 32 at Michigan).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; University of Virginia Main Campus 1410/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; University of Virginia Main Campus 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; UVA - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UVA (3.85).
  • UVA has a higher acceptance rate (16.8%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 40% at UVA.

Michigan vs. UVA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and UVA? 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 Virginia Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than University of Michigan Ann Arbor's (90%).
  • Graduates from University of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than Michigan graduates about ten years after starting college ($77,200 vs. $74,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Virginia Main Campus graduates have a $603 lower median loan debt than Michigan graduates ($19,500 vs. $20,103).
  • Among borrowers, UVA graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan graduates ($201 vs. $207).
  • More UVA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.