Michigan vs. William & Mary

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and William & Mary? 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
William & Mary

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • William & Mary Williamsburg, VA
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • William & Mary Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • William & Mary 9,818
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • William & Mary Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • William & Mary #63
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • William & Mary -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • William & Mary Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • William & Mary

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • William & Mary $25,914
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • William & Mary $51,038
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • William & Mary $16,182
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • William & Mary $19,686
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • William & Mary $23,144
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • William & Mary 43%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • William & Mary 17,798
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • William & Mary 6,064
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • William & Mary 34.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • William & Mary 26.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • William & Mary 1470
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • William & Mary 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • William & Mary 3.85
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • William & Mary A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • William & Mary Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • William & Mary High
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • William & Mary 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • William & Mary 1400/1530
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • William & Mary Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • William & Mary Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • William & Mary 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • William & Mary
    • Social Sciences (24%)
    • Business (11%)
    • General Studies (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • History (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • William & Mary 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • William & Mary $68,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • William & Mary 85%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • William & Mary $19,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • William & Mary $201

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • William & Mary 41%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • William & Mary 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • William & Mary High
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • William & Mary No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • William & Mary 59%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • William & Mary 8%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • William & Mary 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • William & Mary 9%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • William & Mary 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • William & Mary 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • William & Mary 4%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • William & Mary 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • William & Mary 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • William & Mary 59%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • William & Mary 37%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI with William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than William & Mary based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 9,818 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); William & Mary is in Williamsburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. William & Mary is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; William & Mary 12:1.

Michigan vs. William & Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary ($17,574 vs. $19,686).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 5.3% lower than at William & Mary ($15,328 vs. $16,182).
  • William & Mary is 46.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan (about $8,178 more per year; $25,914.00 vs. $17,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.4% higher at Michigan than at William & Mary (about $9,908 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $51,038.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Michigan Ann Arbor than at William & Mary (59% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 8.4% larger than aid received by William & Mary students ($25,099 vs. $23,144).

Michigan vs. William & Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Michigan or William & Mary? 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 William & Mary and Michigan.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at William & Mary (1470) is 20 points higher than at Michigan (1450).
  • Incoming William & Mary 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; William & Mary 1400/1530.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; William & Mary 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; William & Mary - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027; William & Mary Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at William & Mary (3.85).
  • William & Mary has a higher acceptance rate (34.1%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 26.6% at William & Mary.

Michigan vs. William & Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and William & Mary? 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).

  • William & Mary's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than University of Michigan Ann Arbor's (90%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $5,700 more per year than William & Mary graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $68,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, William & Mary graduates have a $603 lower median loan debt than Michigan graduates ($19,500 vs. $20,103).
  • Among borrowers, William & Mary graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Michigan graduates ($201 vs. $207).
  • More William & Mary graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.