Michigan vs. OWU

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

 Michigan OWU
Location Ann Arbor, MI Delaware, OH
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 52,065 1,452
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #47 #369
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website umich.edu owu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Michigan OWU
Tuition (In State) $16,896 $51,771
Tuition (Out of State) $57,740 $51,771
Room & Board $13,856 $14,226
Avg Net Price $19,005 $23,826
Avg Grant Aid $22,005 $42,496
% Receiving Grant Aid 55% 100%

Admission

 Michigan OWU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 87,632 5,708
Admitted 15,722 2,892
Acceptance Rate 17.9% 50.7%
Enrolled % 47.5% 14.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.88 3.54
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 31/34 25/31
SAT Range 1350/1530 1105/1350
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, 2026 Mar 1, 2026

Academics

 Michigan OWU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Engineering (15%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (8%)

Outcomes

 Michigan OWU
Graduation Rate 90% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $74,400 $49,600
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,103 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $207 $279

Diversity

 Michigan OWU
% Men 18% 0%
% Women 18% 0%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 62% 70%
% Black 4% 8%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 5%
% International 7% 6%
% Unknown Race 6% 3%

Students

 Michigan OWU
% In-State 51% 66%
% Out-of-State 44% 27%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of Michigan is larger than than OWU based on total student enrollment (52,065 students vs. 1,452 students)

Michigan vs. OWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or OWU?

  • Ohio Wesleyan University is 206.4% more expensive to attend than Michigan for in-state tuition ($51,771.00 vs. $16,896.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.5% higher at Michigan than Ohio Wesleyan University ($57,740.00 vs. $51,771.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Michigan than OWU ($19,005 vs. $23,826)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan are 2.7% lower than costs at Ohio Wesleyan University ($13,856 vs. $14,226)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Ohio Wesleyan University than University of Michigan (100% vs. 55%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Ohio Wesleyan University students is 93.1% larger than aid received University of Michigan ($42,496 vs. $22,005)

Michigan vs. OWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at OWU (3.54)
  • OWU has a higher acceptance rate (50.7%) than Michigan (17.9%)

Michigan vs. OWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Michigan or OWU? 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 OWU and Michigan.

  • The graduation rate at Michigan is higher than Ohio Wesleyan University (90% vs. 61%)
  • Graduates from University of Michigan earn on average $24,800 more per year than OWU graduates after ten years. ($74,400 vs. $49,600)
  • University of Michigan students graduate with a $6,897 lower median federal student loan debt than OWU graduates. ($20,103 vs. $27,000)
  • Michigan graduates are paying $72 less per month on federal student loans than OWU graduates. ($207 vs. $279)
  • More OWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 78%)

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