Michigan vs. ONU

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Ohio Northern 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
Ohio Northern University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • ONU Ada, OH
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • ONU Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • ONU 3,140
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • ONU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • ONU #228
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • ONU United Methodist
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • ONU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • ONU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • ONU $39,800
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • ONU $39,800
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • ONU $14,604
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • ONU $25,941
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • ONU $27,696
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • ONU 97%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • ONU 4,640
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • ONU 3,452
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • ONU 74.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • ONU 19.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • ONU 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • ONU 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • ONU 3.78
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • ONU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • ONU Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • ONU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • ONU 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • ONU 1175/1400
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • ONU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • ONU Aug 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • ONU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • ONU
    • Business (19%)
    • Engineering (16%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Education (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • ONU 65%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • ONU $71,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • ONU 82%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • ONU $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • ONU $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • ONU 53%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • ONU 47%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • ONU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • ONU No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • ONU 84%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • ONU 1%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • ONU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • ONU 1%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • ONU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • ONU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • ONU 4%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • ONU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • ONU 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • ONU 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • ONU 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than ONU based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 3,140 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); Ohio Northern University is in Ada, OH (Distant Town setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Ohio Northern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; Ohio Northern University 13:1.

Michigan vs. ONU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or ONU? 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 ONU ($17,574 vs. $25,941).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ohio Northern University are 4.7% lower than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor ($14,604 vs. $15,328).
  • Ohio Northern University is 124.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan (about $22,064 more per year; $39,800.00 vs. $17,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 53.1% higher at Michigan than at Ohio Northern University (about $21,146 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $39,800.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Ohio Northern University than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (97% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Northern University students is 10.3% larger than aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students ($27,696 vs. $25,099).

Michigan vs. ONU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 160 points higher than at ONU (1290).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 26 at ONU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; Ohio Northern University 1175/1400.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; Ohio Northern University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; ONU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027; ONU Aug 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at ONU (3.78).
  • ONU has a higher acceptance rate (74.4%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 19.9% at ONU.

Michigan vs. ONU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and ONU? 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 Ohio Northern University's (65%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than ONU graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $71,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $6,897 lower median loan debt than ONU graduates ($20,103 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ONU graduates ($207 vs. $279).
  • More ONU 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.