Michigan vs. Minnesota

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and University of Minnesota Twin Cities? 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
University of Minnesota Twin Cities

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • Minnesota Minneapolis, MN
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • Minnesota Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • Minnesota 56,666
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • Minnesota Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • Minnesota #159
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • Minnesota -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • Minnesota Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • Minnesota $17,214
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • Minnesota $38,362
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • Minnesota $13,856
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • Minnesota $17,209
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • Minnesota $12,552
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • Minnesota 65%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • Minnesota 41,496
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • Minnesota 33,091
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • Minnesota 79.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • Minnesota 22.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • Minnesota 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • Minnesota 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • Minnesota 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • Minnesota A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • Minnesota Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • Minnesota
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • Minnesota 26/31
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • Minnesota 1300/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • Minnesota Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • Minnesota Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • Minnesota 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Minnesota
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • Minnesota 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • Minnesota $58,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • Minnesota 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • Minnesota $20,185
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • Minnesota $208

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • Minnesota 44%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • Minnesota 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • Minnesota Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • Minnesota No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • Minnesota 70%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • Minnesota 9%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • Minnesota 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • Minnesota 4%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • Minnesota 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • Minnesota 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • Minnesota 4%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • Minnesota 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • Minnesota 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • Minnesota 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • Minnesota 27%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Michigan Ann Arbor in Ann Arbor, MI with University of Minnesota Twin Cities in Minneapolis, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Minnesota Twin Cities is larger than Michigan based on total student enrollment (56,666 students vs. 52,855 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); University of Minnesota Twin Cities is in Minneapolis, MN (Large City setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; University of Minnesota Twin Cities 17:1.

Michigan vs. Minnesota Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or Minnesota? 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 Minnesota Twin Cities than Michigan ($17,209 vs. $17,574).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Minnesota Twin Cities are 9.6% lower than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor ($13,856 vs. $15,328).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Minnesota (about $522 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $17,214.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 58.9% higher at Michigan than at University of Minnesota Twin Cities (about $22,584 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $38,362.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Minnesota Twin Cities than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (65% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 100% larger than aid received by University of Minnesota Twin Cities students ($25,099 vs. $12,552).

Michigan vs. Minnesota Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 50 points higher than at Minnesota (1400).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at Minnesota).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; University of Minnesota Twin Cities 1300/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; University of Minnesota Twin Cities 26/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; Minnesota - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027; Minnesota Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at Minnesota (3.75).
  • Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (79.7%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 22.3% at Minnesota.

Michigan vs. Minnesota Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and Minnesota? 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 University of Minnesota Twin Cities's (70%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $16,200 more per year than Minnesota graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $58,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $82 lower median loan debt than Minnesota graduates ($20,103 vs. $20,185).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Minnesota graduates ($207 vs. $208).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Minnesota students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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.