UMich: the complete school report for parents
UMich puts the most weight on course rigor and GPA. The academic record does most of the work. It does not consider legacy, the interview and class rank, so family connections carry no weight. With a 16.4% admit rate and 94% of enrolled students at a 3.75 GPA or above, the transcript is the entry ticket and scores are optional but help when they are strong. Transfer applicants are admitted at 35.0% against 16.4% for first-years, so the transfer route is materially wider.
UMich is officially University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Admissions figures below come from its 2025-2026 Common Data Set (see the source), with the admission-factor grid re-read from that file on 2026-10-21.
Is UMich a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places UMich against the figures above. No account needed.
What does UMich actually weigh in admissions?
UMich rates 2 of the 18 factors "Very Important": course rigor, GPA. It does not consider 4 of them at all. Every college reports these weights in section C7 of its Common Data Set; below is UMich's 2025-2026 answer, read from the grid in its own file.
| Factor | How UMich rates it |
|---|---|
| course rigor | Very Important |
| GPA | Very Important |
| test scores | Important |
| the essay | Important |
| extracurricular activities | Considered |
| recommendations | Important |
| personal qualities | Important |
| talent | Considered |
| class rank | Not Considered |
| demonstrated interest | Considered |
| the interview | Not Considered |
| legacy | Not Considered |
| first-generation status | Important |
| geography | Considered |
| state residency | Considered |
| volunteer work | Considered |
| work experience | Considered |
| religious affiliation | Not Considered |
Does UMich consider how hard my child’s courses were?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors. The senior-year schedule should keep its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten.
Does UMich consider GPA?
Yes. It is one of the most important factors.
Does UMich consider SAT or ACT scores?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UMich consider the application essay?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UMich consider extracurricular activities?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UMich consider recommendation letters?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UMich consider character and personal qualities?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UMich consider a special talent or ability?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UMich consider class rank?
No. UMich does not consider it. A school that does not rank its students is not a disadvantage.
Does UMich consider demonstrated interest?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UMich consider an interview?
No. UMich does not consider it. There is no interview to prepare for.
Does UMich consider legacy status?
No. UMich does not consider it. A parent or grandparent who attended gives no advantage.
Does UMich consider being first-generation?
Yes. It is an important factor.
Does UMich consider where we live?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UMich consider state residency?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UMich consider volunteer work?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UMich consider work experience?
Yes, but only as a secondary factor.
Does UMich consider religious affiliation?
No. UMich does not consider it.
What GPA do admitted students actually have?
94% of enrolled students had a 3.75 GPA or above. The average was 3.9 on a 4 scale, reported for 97.8% of the entering class. This is the school’s own distribution, not an estimate from its admit rate.
| High school GPA | Share of enrolled students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 38.8% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 55.1% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 4.8% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 0.7% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 0.4% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.2% |
| 2.00–2.49 | 0% |
What is the UMich waitlist really like?
UMich offered a place on its waiting list to 24,447 applicants and 18,435 accepted one. 1,663 were ultimately admitted. That is 9.0% of those who waited.
Is transferring in easier than applying as a freshman?
UMich admitted 35.0% of 6,845 transfer applicants, against 16.4% of first-year applicants. For a student who does not get in at eighteen, the transfer route is a genuinely wider door and worth planning for deliberately.
When do we apply, and does timing change the odds?
UMich reports its early rounds below.
| Regular application deadline | February 1 |
|---|---|
| Decisions released | January 31 |
| Reply / deposit deadline | May 1 |
| Early Decision offered | No |
| Early Action offered | Yes |
| Early Action deadline | November 1 |
| Application fee | $75 |
| Fee waiver available | Yes |
| Deferred admission offered | Yes |
What does my child need to take in high school?
UMich requires 16 academic units and recommends 23+. A college-preparatory program is recommended. A GED is accepted.
| Subject | Required | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| English | 4 years | 4 years |
| Mathematics | 3-4 years | 4 years |
| Science | 3-4 years | 4 years |
| of which lab science | 1 year | Not stated |
| Foreign language | 2 (for LSA) years | 4 years |
| History | 3 years | Not stated |
What will UMich actually cost us?
Families pay an average of $13,138 a year at UMich after grants and scholarships, against a published in-state tuition of $17,864. The published price is not what most families pay. The university reports meeting 91% of demonstrated need on average. It also gave 1,261 merit awards averaging $4,587 to first-years with no demonstrated need.
What families at each income level actually paid:
| Family income | Average net price per year |
|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $1,043 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $1,878 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $4,895 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $10,869 |
| Over $110,000 | $26,517 |
31% of UMich graduates borrow, leaving with an average of $29,244 in debt, which the federal data puts at about $207 a month in repayment. UMich’s net price calculator gives your own figure.
Does a degree from UMich pay off?
Graduates earn a median $83,648 ten years after entering, and $73,762 at six years. 88% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years. 79% are actively paying down their loans three years in.
Four-year net cost against that earnings premium:
| Family income | Four-year net cost | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $4,172 | 0.1 |
| $30,000–$48,000 | $7,512 | 0.2 |
| $48,000–$75,000 | $19,580 | 0.5 |
| $75,000–$110,000 | $43,476 | 1.1 |
| Over $110,000 | $106,068 | 2.7 |
A scale, not a forecast: it assumes aid and earnings hold steady.
$153,297 to $29,295, depending on the major. Median earnings five years out at UMich:
| Major | Median earnings, 5 years | Graduates a year |
|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $153,297 | 1,070 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $140,827 | 598 |
| Information Science/Studies | $125,257 | 166 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $113,025 | 164 |
| Industrial Engineering | $109,239 | 170 |
| Economics | $108,627 | 618 |
| Mathematics | $107,395 | 212 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $101,514 | 275 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $81,553 | 174 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $51,802 | 153 |
| Music | $32,036 | 83 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $29,295 | 61 |
College Scorecard, by field of study; highest and lowest shown.
Will my child actually graduate?
97% of first-years return for a second year. 93% within six (Fall 2019 cohort). The rate holds up across income: 89.0% of Pell-grant recipients graduate within six years against 95.0% of everyone else, a gap of 6.0 points.
How big are the classes?
51% of class sections have fewer than 20 students, while 8% have 100 or more. The student-faculty ratio is 11:1, and 82% of faculty are full-time. Accredited by Higher Learning Commission.
What is life at UMich like?
35,358 undergraduates, 45% of first-years from out of state. 96% of freshmen live in university housing, falling to 26% across all undergraduates. Greek life is small: 11% of men join a fraternity and 16% of women a sorority. 21% of students are the first in their family to attend college, and the median family income is $77,145.
Michigan competes in the Big Ten Conference, and its athletics site lists 27 varsity programs, 13 for men and 14 for women. The teams are the Wolverines.
Source: Michigan Wolverines, official athletics site; Big Ten Conference
IIE Open Doors counted 3,966 University of Michigan students receiving credit for study abroad in 2023/24, the second most of any doctoral university.
Source: Open Doors 2025, U.S. Study Abroad Tables (IIE), Tables 8 and 9, 2023/24
How is UMich ranked, and how strong is the alumni network?
UMich is ranked #23 for Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027. Its full set of published positions, including the ones that are less flattering:
| Ranking | Position |
|---|---|
| Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 | #23 |
| Academic Ranking of World Universities (ShanghaiRanking) 2026 | #35 |
Shown in full, including the less flattering ones.
Source: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Times Higher Education World University Rankings; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026
What this means for your student
- Course rigor is rated Very Important here, so the senior-year schedule should hold its AP, IB or honors depth rather than lighten. UMich recommends 23+ academic units.
- 94% of enrolled students are at a 3.75 GPA or above, averaging 3.9. Below that line the rest of the application has to carry real weight.
- The waitlist is live but thin: 1,663 of 18,435 who waited were admitted, about 9%.
- If the first-year answer is no, the transfer route is genuinely wider here and worth planning for from the first semester of college.
- Its highest-earning major returns $153,297 five years out against $29,295 at the other end, a gap wider than the one between most schools.
- See where your student actually stands: calculate their GPA and compare it against the distribution above.
Common questions about UMich
What GPA do you 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.
Does the UMich waitlist move?
18,435 students accepted a place on the UMich waiting list and 1,663 were admitted in the 2025-2026 cycle.
What do UMich graduates earn?
UMich graduates earn a median $83,648 ten years after entering, and 88% out-earn a typical high school graduate within six years.
Other schools families compare with UMich
Where these numbers come from
Admissions figures: UMich’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set, published here, factor grid re-read from it on 2026-10-21. Earnings, debt, net price and graduation rates: College Scorecard (2022-2023). Unreported values show as “Not reported”.