Michigan vs. UW-Seattle

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and University of Washington Seattle 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 Washington Seattle Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • UW-Seattle Seattle, WA
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • UW-Seattle Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • UW-Seattle 56,997
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • UW-Seattle Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • UW-Seattle #90
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • UW-Seattle -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • UW-Seattle Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • UW-Seattle

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • UW-Seattle $12,973
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • UW-Seattle $43,209
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • UW-Seattle $18,405
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • UW-Seattle $11,784
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • UW-Seattle $16,156
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • UW-Seattle 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • UW-Seattle 69,166
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • UW-Seattle 27,076
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • UW-Seattle 39.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • UW-Seattle 26.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • UW-Seattle 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • UW-Seattle 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • UW-Seattle 3.82
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • UW-Seattle A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • UW-Seattle Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • UW-Seattle High
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • UW-Seattle 27/33
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • UW-Seattle 1200/1453
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • UW-Seattle Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • UW-Seattle Nov 16, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • UW-Seattle 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • UW-Seattle
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • UW-Seattle 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • UW-Seattle $65,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • UW-Seattle 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • UW-Seattle $15,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • UW-Seattle $155

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • UW-Seattle 52%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • UW-Seattle 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • UW-Seattle Very High
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • UW-Seattle No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • UW-Seattle 42%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • UW-Seattle 24%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • UW-Seattle 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • UW-Seattle 7%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • UW-Seattle 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • UW-Seattle 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • UW-Seattle 7%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • UW-Seattle 15%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • UW-Seattle 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • UW-Seattle 64%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • UW-Seattle 24%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Washington Seattle Campus is larger than Michigan based on total student enrollment (56,997 students vs. 52,855 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); University of Washington Seattle Campus is in Seattle, WA (Large City setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Washington Seattle Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; University of Washington Seattle Campus 20:1.

Michigan vs. UW-Seattle Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or UW-Seattle? 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 Washington Seattle Campus than Michigan ($11,784 vs. $17,574).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 16.7% lower than at University of Washington Seattle Campus ($15,328 vs. $18,405).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 36.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UW-Seattle (about $4,763 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $12,973.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 41% higher at Michigan than at University of Washington Seattle Campus (about $17,737 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $43,209.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Michigan Ann Arbor than at University of Washington Seattle Campus (59% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 55.4% larger than aid received by University of Washington Seattle Campus students ($25,099 vs. $16,156).

Michigan vs. UW-Seattle Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan or UW-Seattle? 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 UW-Seattle and Michigan.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 120 points higher than at UW-Seattle (1330).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at UW-Seattle).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; University of Washington Seattle Campus 1200/1453.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; University of Washington Seattle Campus 27/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; UW-Seattle - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027; UW-Seattle Nov 16, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UW-Seattle (3.82).
  • UW-Seattle has a higher acceptance rate (39.1%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 26.6% at UW-Seattle.

Michigan vs. UW-Seattle Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and UW-Seattle? 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 Washington Seattle Campus's (80%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than UW-Seattle graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $65,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Washington Seattle Campus graduates have a $5,103 lower median loan debt than Michigan graduates ($15,000 vs. $20,103).
  • Among borrowers, UW-Seattle graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan graduates ($155 vs. $207).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UW-Seattle students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 76%)

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.