Michigan vs. Oberlin

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Oberlin College? 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
Oberlin College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Oberlin Oberlin, OH
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Oberlin Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Oberlin 2,909
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • Oberlin Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • Oberlin #153
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • Oberlin -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Oberlin Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • Oberlin

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Oberlin $67,366
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Oberlin $19,510
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Oberlin $51,624
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • Oberlin $35,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • Oberlin 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Oberlin 10,536
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Oberlin 3,601
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Oberlin 34.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Oberlin 19.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • Oberlin 1440
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • Oberlin 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Oberlin 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • Oberlin A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Oberlin Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • Oberlin High
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • Oberlin 31/34
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Oberlin 1360/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Oberlin Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • Oberlin Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Oberlin 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Oberlin
    • Visual and Performing Arts (26%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • Oberlin 88%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Oberlin $43,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • Oberlin 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Oberlin $26,579
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • Oberlin $274

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • Oberlin 41%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • Oberlin 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • Oberlin Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • Oberlin No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • Oberlin 68%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • Oberlin 4%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • Oberlin 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • Oberlin 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • Oberlin 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • Oberlin 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • Oberlin 6%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • Oberlin 82%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than Oberlin based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 2,909 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); Oberlin College is in Oberlin, OH (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Oberlin College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; Oberlin College 9:1.

Michigan vs. Oberlin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or Oberlin? 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 Oberlin ($17,574 vs. $51,624).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 21.4% lower than at Oberlin College ($15,328 vs. $19,510).
  • Oberlin College is 279.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan (about $49,630 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $17,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.5% higher at Oberlin than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (about $6,420 more per year; $67,366.00 vs. $60,946.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Oberlin College than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (99% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Oberlin College students is 42.6% larger than aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students ($35,780 vs. $25,099).

Michigan vs. Oberlin Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 10 points higher than at Oberlin (1440).
  • Incoming Michigan students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at Oberlin (32).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; Oberlin College 1360/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; Oberlin College 31/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; Oberlin - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027; Oberlin Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Oberlin (3.67).
  • Oberlin has a higher acceptance rate (34.2%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 19.5% at Oberlin.

Michigan vs. Oberlin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and Oberlin? 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 Oberlin College's (88%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $30,500 more per year than Oberlin graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $6,476 lower median loan debt than Oberlin graduates ($20,103 vs. $26,579).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Oberlin graduates ($207 vs. $274).
  • More Oberlin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.