Michigan vs. RIT

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Rochester Institute of Technology? 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
Rochester Institute of Technology

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • RIT Rochester, NY
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • RIT Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • RIT 17,098
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • RIT Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • RIT #175
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • RIT -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • RIT Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • RIT

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • RIT $59,274
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • RIT $59,274
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • RIT $16,142
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • RIT $39,534
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • RIT $35,077
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • RIT 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • RIT 27,911
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • RIT 18,682
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • RIT 66.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • RIT 16.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • RIT 1380
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • RIT 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • RIT 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • RIT A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • RIT Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • RIT Low
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • RIT 29/33
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • RIT 1300/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • RIT Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • RIT Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • RIT 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • RIT
    • Visual and Performing Arts (16%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (14%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Engineering Technology (11%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • RIT 64%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • RIT $64,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • RIT 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • RIT $28,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • RIT $289

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • RIT 64%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • RIT 36%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • RIT Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • RIT No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • RIT 66%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • RIT 8%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • RIT 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • RIT 7%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • RIT 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • RIT 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • RIT 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • RIT 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • RIT 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • RIT 44%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • RIT 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI with Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than RIT based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 17,098 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); Rochester Institute of Technology is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rochester Institute of Technology is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; Rochester Institute of Technology 13:1.

Michigan vs. RIT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or RIT ? 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 RIT ($17,574 vs. $39,534).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are 5% lower than at Rochester Institute of Technology ($15,328 vs. $16,142).
  • Rochester Institute of Technology is 234.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Michigan (about $41,538 more per year; $59,274.00 vs. $17,736.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at Michigan than at Rochester Institute of Technology (about $1,672 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $59,274.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rochester Institute of Technology than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (98% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rochester Institute of Technology students is 39.8% larger than aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students ($35,077 vs. $25,099).

Michigan vs. RIT Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 70 points higher than at RIT (1380).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 31 at RIT ).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; Rochester Institute of Technology 1300/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; Rochester Institute of Technology 29/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; RIT - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027; RIT Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at RIT (3.7).
  • RIT has a higher acceptance rate (66.9%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 16.3% at RIT .

Michigan vs. RIT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and RIT ? 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 Rochester Institute of Technology's (64%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than RIT graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $64,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $7,897 lower median loan debt than RIT graduates ($20,103 vs. $28,000).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $82 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than RIT graduates ($207 vs. $289).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIT students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 75%)

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.