Notre Dame vs. Michigan

Deciding between University of Notre Dame and University of Michigan Ann Arbor? 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 Notre Dame
University of Michigan Ann Arbor

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Notre Dame Notre Dame, IN
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Setting
  • Notre Dame Rural Fringe
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Notre Dame 13,042
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Type
  • Notre Dame Private 4 Year
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Notre Dame #27
  • Michigan #48
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Notre Dame Roman Catholic
  • Michigan -
  • Status
  • Notre Dame Non-profit
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Notre Dame
  • Michigan

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Notre Dame $65,025
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Room & Board
  • Notre Dame $17,900
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Average Net Price
  • Notre Dame $29,300
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame $53,971
  • Michigan $25,099
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Notre Dame 61%
  • Michigan 59%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Notre Dame 29,942
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Admitted
  • Notre Dame 3,374
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Notre Dame 11.3%
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Notre Dame 61.7%
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Notre Dame 1510
  • Michigan 1450
  • Typical ACT score
  • Notre Dame 34
  • Michigan 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Notre Dame 3.91
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Notre Dame A
  • Michigan A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Notre Dame Elite
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Notre Dame Very High
  • Michigan Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Notre Dame 33/35
  • Michigan 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Notre Dame 1455/1560
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Notre Dame Test optional
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Notre Dame 8:1
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Notre Dame
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Notre Dame 96%
  • Michigan 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Notre Dame $89,800
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Notre Dame 92%
  • Michigan 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Notre Dame $21,500
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Notre Dame $222
  • Michigan $207

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Notre Dame 52%
  • Michigan 47%
  • % Women
  • Notre Dame 48%
  • Michigan 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Notre Dame Medium
  • Michigan Medium
  • HBCU
  • Notre Dame No
  • Michigan No
  • % White
  • Notre Dame 69%
  • Michigan 62%
  • % Asian
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Michigan 13%
  • % Black
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Michigan 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Notre Dame 11%
  • Michigan 5%
  • % Native American
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Notre Dame 0%
  • Michigan 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Notre Dame 4%
  • Michigan 3%
  • % International
  • Notre Dame 6%
  • Michigan 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Notre Dame 1%
  • Michigan 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Notre Dame 8%
  • Michigan 52%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Notre Dame 82%
  • Michigan 43%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than Notre Dame based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 13,042 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); University of Michigan Ann Arbor is in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting).
  • University of Notre Dame is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Notre Dame 8:1; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1.

Notre Dame vs. Michigan Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Notre Dame or Michigan? 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 Notre Dame ($17,574 vs. $29,300).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 14.4% lower than at University of Notre Dame ($15,328 vs. $17,900).
  • University of Notre Dame is 266.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan (about $47,289 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $17,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.7% higher at Notre Dame than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (about $4,079 more per year; $65,025.00 vs. $60,946.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Notre Dame than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (61% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Notre Dame students is 115% larger than aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students ($53,971 vs. $25,099).

Notre Dame vs. Michigan Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Notre Dame (1510) is 60 points higher than at Michigan (1450).
  • Incoming Notre Dame students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Michigan).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 1455/1560; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Notre Dame 33/35; University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Notre Dame - Test optional; Michigan - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Notre Dame Jan 1, 2027; Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Notre Dame students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Michigan (3.88).
  • Michigan has a higher acceptance rate (15.6%) than Notre Dame (11.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 61.7% at Notre Dame vs. 47.3% at Michigan.

Notre Dame vs. Michigan Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Notre Dame and Michigan? 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 Notre Dame's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than University of Michigan Ann Arbor's (90%).
  • Graduates from University of Notre Dame earn a median of about $15,400 more per year than Michigan graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $74,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $1,397 lower median loan debt than Notre Dame graduates ($20,103 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Notre Dame graduates ($207 vs. $222).
  • More Notre Dame graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (92% 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.