Michigan vs. WMU

Deciding between University of Michigan Ann Arbor and Western Michigan University? 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
Western Michigan University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Michigan Ann Arbor, MI
  • WMU Kalamazoo, MI
  • Setting
  • Michigan Midsize City
  • WMU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Michigan 52,855
  • WMU 16,744
  • Type
  • Michigan Public 4 Year
  • WMU Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Michigan #48
  • WMU #643
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Michigan -
  • WMU -
  • Status
  • Michigan Non-profit
  • WMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Michigan
  • WMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Michigan $17,736
  • WMU $15,252
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Michigan $60,946
  • WMU $19,034
  • Room & Board
  • Michigan $15,328
  • WMU $12,174
  • Average Net Price
  • Michigan $17,574
  • WMU $17,331
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Michigan $25,099
  • WMU $11,048
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Michigan 59%
  • WMU 94%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Michigan 98,310
  • WMU 21,701
  • Admitted
  • Michigan 15,373
  • WMU 18,359
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Michigan 15.6%
  • WMU 84.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Michigan 47.3%
  • WMU 13.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Michigan 1450
  • WMU 1110
  • Typical ACT score
  • Michigan 32
  • WMU 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • Michigan 3.88
  • WMU 3.5
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Michigan A
  • WMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Michigan Exceptional
  • WMU Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • Michigan Very High
  • WMU
  • ACT Range
  • Michigan 31/34
  • WMU 20/27
  • SAT Range
  • Michigan 1360/1530
  • WMU 990/1220
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Michigan Test optional
  • WMU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Michigan Feb 1, 2027
  • WMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Michigan 11:1
  • WMU 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Michigan
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Biology (8%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • WMU
    • Business (22%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
    • Engineering (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Michigan 90%
  • WMU 56%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Michigan $74,400
  • WMU $48,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Michigan 78%
  • WMU 54%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Michigan $20,103
  • WMU $26,633
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Michigan $207
  • WMU $275

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Michigan 47%
  • WMU 46%
  • % Women
  • Michigan 53%
  • WMU 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Michigan Medium
  • WMU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Michigan No
  • WMU No
  • % White
  • Michigan 62%
  • WMU 72%
  • % Asian
  • Michigan 13%
  • WMU 2%
  • % Black
  • Michigan 4%
  • WMU 12%
  • % Hispanic
  • Michigan 5%
  • WMU 5%
  • % Native American
  • Michigan 0%
  • WMU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Michigan 0%
  • WMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Michigan 3%
  • WMU 3%
  • % International
  • Michigan 7%
  • WMU 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Michigan 6%
  • WMU 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Michigan 52%
  • WMU 78%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Michigan 43%
  • WMU 21%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Michigan Ann Arbor is larger than WMU based on total student enrollment (52,855 students vs. 16,744 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, MI (Midsize City setting); Western Michigan University is in Kalamazoo, MI (Small City setting).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 11:1; Western Michigan University 16:1.

Michigan vs. WMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Michigan or WMU? 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 Western Michigan University than Michigan ($17,331 vs. $17,574).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 20.6% lower than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor ($12,174 vs. $15,328).
  • University of Michigan Ann Arbor is 16.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than WMU (about $2,484 more per year; $17,736.00 vs. $15,252.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 220.2% higher at Michigan than at Western Michigan University (about $41,912 more per year; $60,946.00 vs. $19,034.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Michigan University than at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (94% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Michigan Ann Arbor students is 127.2% larger than aid received by Western Michigan University students ($25,099 vs. $11,048).

Michigan vs. WMU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Michigan Ann Arbor (1450) is 340 points higher than at WMU (1110).
  • Incoming Michigan students have a 9 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 23 at WMU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 1360/1530; Western Michigan University 990/1220.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Michigan Ann Arbor 31/34; Western Michigan University 20/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Michigan - Test optional; WMU - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Michigan Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Michigan students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.88) than students at WMU (3.5).
  • WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) than Michigan (15.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.3% at Michigan vs. 13.5% at WMU.

Michigan vs. WMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Michigan and WMU? 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 Western Michigan University's (56%).
  • Graduates from University of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of about $25,500 more per year than WMU graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,400 vs. $48,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates have a $6,530 lower median loan debt than WMU graduates ($20,103 vs. $26,633).
  • Among borrowers, Michigan graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WMU graduates ($207 vs. $275).
  • More Michigan graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 54%)

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.