UC Berkeley vs. Michigan

Should I go to University of California Berkeley or University of Michigan? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if UC Berkeley or Michigan is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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University of California Berkeley vs. University of Michigan comparison
University of California Berkeley University of Michigan College 3 College 4
University of California Berkeley University of Michigan
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Overview

 UC Berkeley Michigan
Location Berkeley, CA Ann Arbor, MI
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 45,307 51,225
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #63 #50
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website berkeley.edu umich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 UC Berkeley Michigan
Tuition (In State) $11,564 $16,404
Tuition (Out of State) $41,636 $55,002
Room & Board $21,402 $13,171
Avg Net Price $19,257 $19,318
Avg Grant Aid $21,669 $15,121
% Receiving Grant Aid 52% 67%

Admission

 UC Berkeley Michigan
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 128,209 84,289
Admitted 14,523 14,914
Acceptance Rate 11.3% 17.7%
Enrolled % 46.3% 47.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.87 3.88
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Very High
ACT Range 30/35 31/34
SAT Range 1310/1530 1350/1530
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2024 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 UC Berkeley Michigan
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Biology (13%)
  • Engineering (10%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Engineering (15%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

Outcomes

 UC Berkeley Michigan
Graduation Rate 90% 90%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $74,700 $74,400
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,200 $20,103
Median Loan Payment $146 $207

Diversity

 UC Berkeley Michigan
% Men 46% 48%
% Women 54% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 27% 62%
% Black 2% 4%
% Hispanic 14% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 14% 7%
% Unknown Race 3% 6%

Students

 UC Berkeley Michigan
% In-State 78% 51%
% Out-of-State 11% 44%

Campus

 UC Berkeley Michigan
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Michigan is larger than than UC Berkeley based on total student enrollment (51,225 students vs. 45,307 students)

UC Berkeley vs. Michigan Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley or Michigan?

  • University of Michigan is 41.9% more expensive to attend than UC Berkeley for in-state tuition ($16,404.00 vs. $11,564.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.1% higher at Michigan than University of California Berkeley ($55,002.00 vs. $41,636.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Berkeley than Michigan ($19,257 vs. $19,318)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan are 62.5% lower than costs at University of California Berkeley ($13,171 vs. $21,402)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Michigan than University of California Berkeley (67% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 43.3% larger than aid received University of Michigan ($21,669 vs. $15,121)

UC Berkeley vs. Michigan Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Berkeley or Michigan? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Michigan or UC Berkeley .

  • The average SAT score at University of California Berkeley (1397) is 13 points higher than at Michigan (1384)
  • Incoming UC Berkeley students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Michigan (31)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at UC Berkeley (3.87)
  • Michigan has a higher acceptance rate (17.7%) than UC Berkeley (11.3%)

UC Berkeley vs. Michigan Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, UC Berkeley or Michigan? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Michigan and UC Berkeley.

  • The graduation rate at UC Berkeley is the same as at University of Michigan (90% vs. 90%)
  • Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn on average $300 more per year than Michigan graduates after ten years. ($74,700 vs. $74,400)
  • University of California Berkeley students graduate with a $5,903 lower median federal student loan debt than Michigan graduates. ($14,200 vs. $20,103)
  • UC Berkeley graduates are paying $61 less per month on federal student loans than Michigan graduates. ($146 vs. $207)
  • More UC Berkeley 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/