University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Ann Arbor, Michigan · Public · Highly selective · CDS 2025-2026
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor admits roughly one in four applicants, with an overall admission rate of 18%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT around 1473. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $14,832 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.
What parents should know about University of Michigan-Ann Arbor right now
The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor enrolls more than 53,000 students, including over 35,000 undergraduates across 19 schools and colleges that offer more than 280 degree programs. With a 2025 endowment of $21.2 billion and a 2026 operating budget of $15.6 billion, Michigan has the financial scale of a private research university while keeping a public mission. The Ross School of Business, the College of Engineering, and the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus are nationally recognized, and Michigan is a founding member of the Association of American Universities. The most parent-relevant recent development is the expansion of the Go Blue Guarantee. Beginning fall 2025, in-state Ann Arbor undergraduates from families with annual incomes up to $125,000 and assets up to $125,000 qualify for free tuition and mandatory fees for up to four years. Transfer, incoming, and continuing first-bachelor's-degree students are eligible if they meet the income and asset thresholds and the priority financial aid deadline. The Dearborn and Flint campuses also offer Go Blue Guarantee tuition coverage but require a 3.5 GPA. Families should note that the Ann Arbor program covers tuition and required fees, not housing or food, so they should still budget for room and board in any net-price comparison.
What GPA does my child need for University of Michigan-Ann Arbor?
Most admitted students at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.
What does University of Michigan-Ann Arbor weight in admissions?
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Standardized test scores
- • Application essay
- • Recommendations
- • Character/personal qualities
- • First generation status
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Geographical residence
- • State residency
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Level of applicant's interest
- • Class rank
- • Interview
- • Alumni/ae relation
- • Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores University of Michigan-Ann Arbor typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 680–780, with an EBRW midpoint near —. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34. Scores below the 25th-percentile mark are accepted occasionally, but the realistic submission target for most families is the school's middle-50 floor or higher.
| 25th percentile | 1370 |
| 50th percentile | 1470 |
| 75th percentile | 1530 |
| % submitting SAT | 55% |
| 25th percentile | 32 |
| 50th percentile | 33 |
| 75th percentile | 34 |
| % submitting ACT | 18% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Recommended
How much does University of Michigan-Ann Arbor actually cost?
Published tuition is $17,228 for in-state students and $58,072 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,856 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $14,832 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.
| In-state tuition | $17,864 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $63,480 |
| Room and board | $1,000 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $14,832 |
| Application fee | $75 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
| Regular deadline | 2/1 |
| Notification date | 1/31 (early action); regular decisions starting early February, no later than early April |
| Reply deadline | May 1 or within 2 weeks if notified thereafter |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | 11/1 |
Will my child graduate from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor?
Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.
Other colleges in Michigan parents ask about
How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Michigan-Ann Arbor recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.
Common questions parents ask about University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
What GPA do I need for University of Michigan-Ann Arbor?
Most admitted students at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor present unweighted GPAs in the 3.85–4.0 range with five or more AP or honors courses across high school.
What SAT or ACT score does University of Michigan-Ann Arbor typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 680–780, with an EBRW midpoint near —. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34.
How much does University of Michigan-Ann Arbor actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor after grants and scholarships is $14,832 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.
Is University of Michigan-Ann Arbor realistic for my child?
Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.
Data sourced from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.