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Minnesota Michigan State Ohio State Illinois UCLA UNC Chapel Hill UT Austin Georgia Tech UW-Seattle UVA Purdue Maryland| University of Michigan | University of Wisconsin Madison | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Michigan | Wisconsin | ||
| Location | Ann Arbor, MI | Madison, WI | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 52,065 | 49,605 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #47 | #110 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | umich.edu | wisc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Michigan | Wisconsin | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $16,896 | $9,644 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $57,740 | $39,042 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,856 | $13,500 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,005 | $14,216 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $22,005 | $11,350 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 55% | 49% |
Admission |
Michigan | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 87,632 | 63,505 | ||
| Admitted | 15,722 | 27,529 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 17.9% | 43.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 47.5% | 28.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.88 | 3.88 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 28/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1350/1530 | 1360/1510 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2026 |
Academics |
Michigan | Wisconsin | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Michigan | Wisconsin | ||
| Graduation Rate | 90% | 82% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $74,400 | $64,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,103 | $22,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $207 | $230 |
Diversity |
Michigan | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 18% | 12% | ||
| % Women | 18% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 62% | 76% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 7% | 8% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 6% | 0% |
Students |
Michigan | Wisconsin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 51% | 48% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 44% | 44% | ||
Campus |
Michigan | Wisconsin | ||
| 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
- University of Michigan is larger than than Wisconsin based on total student enrollment (52,065 students vs. 49,605 students)
Michigan vs. Wisconsin Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Michigan or Wisconsin?
- University of Michigan is 75.2% more expensive to attend than Wisconsin for in-state tuition ($16,896.00 vs. $9,644.00)
- Out of state tuition is 47.9% higher at Michigan than University of Wisconsin Madison ($57,740.00 vs. $39,042.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Madison than Michigan ($14,216 vs. $19,005)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Madison are 2.6% lower than costs at University of Michigan ($13,500 vs. $13,856)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Michigan than University of Wisconsin Madison (55% vs. 49%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan students is 93.9% larger than aid received University of Wisconsin Madison ($22,005 vs. $11,350)
Michigan vs. Wisconsin Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Michigan or Wisconsin? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wisconsin or Michigan .
- The average SAT score at University of Michigan (1384) is 84 points higher than at Wisconsin (1300)
- Incoming Michigan students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at Wisconsin (29)
- Accepted freshman Michigan students have at the same average high school GPA (3.88) as students at Wisconsin (3.88)
- Wisconsin has a higher acceptance rate (43.3%) than Michigan (17.9%)
Michigan vs. Wisconsin Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Michigan or Wisconsin? 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 Wisconsin and Michigan.
- The graduation rate at Michigan is higher than University of Wisconsin Madison (90% vs. 82%)
- Graduates from University of Michigan earn on average $9,600 more per year than Wisconsin graduates after ten years. ($74,400 vs. $64,800)
- University of Michigan students graduate with a $2,147 lower median federal student loan debt than Wisconsin graduates. ($20,103 vs. $22,250)
- Michigan graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Wisconsin graduates. ($207 vs. $230)
- More Wisconsin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Michigan students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 78%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/