UMich: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, Michigan · Public · Highly selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Action
- 109,112
- Applicants
- 17,915
- Admitted16%
- 8,178
- Enrolled
- 46%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Highly selective16% admittedRanked #25 in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #6 (tie), Business Programs #4 (tie), Computer Science #11 (tie), Nursing #6 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (see the source), read on 2026-10-21. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is UMich a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places UMich against it in about a minute. No account needed.
UMich is a public university in Ann Arbor, Michigan that admits about 16% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $13,138 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Computer and Information Sciences, General, Research and Experimental Psychology and Economics, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 93% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 3.7 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
UMich 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, UMich admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 16%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT around 1470. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $13,138 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about UMich 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 UMich?
94% of enrolled students at UMich had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.9, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare UMich with the other schools on your list
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What does UMich weight in admissions?
UMich reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
2- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
Important
5- Standardized test scores
- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
Considered
7- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
- Level of applicant's interest
Not Considered
4- Class rank
- Interview
- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
SAT and ACT scores UMich typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 680–780. 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.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on UMich's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does UMich actually cost?
Published tuition is $17,736 for in-state students and $60,946 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $15,328 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $13,138 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 18% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $17,864 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $63,480 |
| Room and board | $1,000 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $13,138 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 91% |
| Average need-based grant | $30,307 |
| Average merit award, no financial need1,261 first-year students received one | $4,587 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 31% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $29,244 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $75 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for UMich
| 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 | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from UMich?
These predict outcomes at UMich better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at UMich
The most popular undergraduate programs at UMich, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer and Information Sciences, General, Research and Experimental Psychology and Economics. Across all programs, UMich confers roughly 4,077 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Computer and Information Sciences, General program report a median income of about $153,297 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 1,070 | $153,297 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 714 | $63,419 |
| Economics | 618 | $108,627 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 598 | $140,827 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 275 | $101,514 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 272 | $65,675 |
| Biology, General | 267 | $61,737 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 263 | $73,196 |
Is UMich safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), UMich disclosed 125 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.7 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 29 violent offenses and 73 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at UMich?
About 26% of undergraduates at UMich live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 11% of men join a fraternity and 16% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Michigan parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for UMich
Common questions parents ask about UMich
What GPA do I need for UMich?
94% of enrolled students at UMich had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.9, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does UMich typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 680–780. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 31–34.
How much does UMich actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at UMich after grants and scholarships is $13,138 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $17,736 and $60,946 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is UMich realistic for my child?
UMich admits 16% of applicants, so 680–780 SAT Math is target range and below 680 is a reach. Then check the $13,138 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at UMich?
UMich accepts about 16% of applicants out of roughly 109,112 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is UMich test-optional?
Yes. UMich is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at UMich?
About 93% of students at UMich graduate within six years. 97% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does UMich look for in applicants?
UMich rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is UMich a public or private school, and where is it located?
UMich is a public institution located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
What are the most popular majors at UMich?
The largest undergraduate majors at UMich by annual graduates are Computer and Information Sciences, General, Research and Experimental Psychology and Economics. The school awards about 4,077 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is UMich safe? What is its campus crime rate?
UMich reported 125 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 3.7 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at UMich?
At UMich, 26% of undergraduates live on campus, 11% of men are in fraternities, 16% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers