Michigan vs. WSU

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Wayne State University? 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
Wayne State University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • WSU Detroit, MI
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • WSU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • WSU 23,803
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • WSU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • WSU #551
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • WSU -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • WSU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • WSU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • WSU $15,190
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • WSU $32,037
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • WSU $14,252
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • WSU $14,416
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • WSU $12,953
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • WSU 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • WSU 16,981
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • WSU 13,781
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • WSU 81.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • WSU 22.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • WSU 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • WSU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • WSU 3.42
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • WSU B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • WSU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • WSU
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • WSU 23/29
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • WSU 1060/1270
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • WSU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • WSU Aug 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • WSU 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • WSU
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Biology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • WSU 26%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • WSU $51,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • WSU 38%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • WSU $22,258
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • WSU $230

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • WSU 40%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • WSU 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • WSU High
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • WSU No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • WSU 57%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • WSU 8%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • WSU 19%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • WSU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • WSU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • WSU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • WSU 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • WSU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • WSU 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • WSU 95%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • WSU 2%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than WSU based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 23,803 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); Wayne State University is in Detroit, MI (Large City setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wayne State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; Wayne State University 14:1.

Michigan vs. WSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or WSU? 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 Wayne State University than Michigan ($14,416 vs. $17,574).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wayne State University are 7% lower than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor ($14,252 vs. $15,328).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 16.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than WSU (about $2,546 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $15,190.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 90.2% higher at Michigan than at Wayne State University (about $28,909 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $32,037.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wayne State University than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (98% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 93.8% larger than aid received by Wayne State University students ($25,099 vs. $12,953).

Michigan vs. WSU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 280 points higher than at WSU (1170).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 26 at WSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; Wayne State University 1060/1270.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; Wayne State University 23/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; WSU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027; WSU Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at WSU (3.42).
  • WSU has a higher acceptance rate (81.2%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 22.4% at WSU.

Michigan vs. WSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and WSU? 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 Wayne State University's (26%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $23,400 more per year than WSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $2,155 lower median loan debt than WSU graduates ($20,103 vs. $22,258).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WSU graduates ($207 vs. $230).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 38%)

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.