Michigan vs. Ohio State

Should I go to University of Michigan or Ohio State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Michigan or Ohio State 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 Michigan vs. Ohio State University comparison
University of Michigan Ohio State University College 3 College 4
University of Michigan Ohio State University
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Overview

 Michigan Ohio State
Location Ann Arbor, MI Columbus, OH
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 51,225 60,540
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #50 #134
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umich.edu osu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Michigan Ohio State
Tuition (In State) $16,404 $11,525
Tuition (Out of State) $55,002 $35,762
Room & Board $13,171 $14,006
Avg Net Price $19,318 $19,582
Avg Grant Aid $15,121 $10,993
% Receiving Grant Aid 67% 74%

Admission

 Michigan Ohio State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 84,289 65,189
Admitted 14,914 34,370
Acceptance Rate 17.7% 52.7%
Enrolled % 47.3% 23.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 3.76
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 31/34 29/32
SAT Range 1350/1530 1310/1480
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2025 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

 Michigan Ohio State
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Engineering (15%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)

Outcomes

 Michigan Ohio State
Graduation Rate 90% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $74,400 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,103 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $207 $222

Diversity

 Michigan Ohio State
% Men 48% 48%
% Women 52% 52%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 71%
% Black 4% 6%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 7% 7%
% Unknown Race 6% 3%

Students

 Michigan Ohio State
% In-State 51% 66%
% Out-of-State 44% 23%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Ohio State University is larger than than Michigan based on total student enrollment (60,540 students vs. 51,225 students)

Michigan vs. Ohio State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or Ohio State?

  • University of Michigan is 42.3% more expensive to attend than Ohio State for in-state tuition ($16,404.00 vs. $11,525.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 53.8% higher at Michigan than Ohio State University ($55,002.00 vs. $35,762.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Michigan than Ohio State ($19,318 vs. $19,582)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan are 6.3% lower than costs at Ohio State University ($13,171 vs. $14,006)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ohio State University than University of Michigan (74% vs. 67%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan students is 37.6% larger than aid received Ohio State University ($15,121 vs. $10,993)

Michigan vs. Ohio State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at University of Michigan (1384) is 89 points higher than at Ohio State (1295)
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Ohio State (29)
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Ohio State (3.76)
  • Ohio State has a higher acceptance rate (52.7%) than Michigan (17.7%)

Michigan vs. Ohio State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Michigan or Ohio State? 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 Ohio State and Michigan.

  • The graduation rate at Michigan is higher than Ohio State University (90% vs. 80%)
  • Graduates from University of Michigan earn on average $23,800 more per year than Ohio State graduates after ten years. ($74,400 vs. $50,600)
  • University of Michigan students graduate with a $1,397 lower median federal student loan debt than Ohio State graduates. ($20,103 vs. $21,500)
  • Michigan graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Ohio State graduates. ($207 vs. $222)
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ohio State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/