University of Michigan
Michigan's 1817 flagship: a 19-school public research giant in Ann Arbor with elite engineering, business and nursing.
- Acceptance rate
- 16%
- First-years who entered in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set)
- Students
- 53,488
- 35,358 undergraduates
- International
- 15%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 15:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $67,096
- From · 2026-27
About U-M
The University of Michigan is the state's oldest university, founded in 1817. It is one of the largest research universities in the country, with 53,488 students in fall 2025, including 35,358 undergraduates, spread across 19 schools and colleges and a 3,177-acre campus.
Undergraduates apply directly to a specific school or college. The biggest are the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA), the College of Engineering and the Ross School of Business, and each sets its own curriculum and supplemental essay. U.S. News' 2027 edition places Ross No. 4 and Engineering No. 6 among undergraduate programs. Michigan also runs preferred-admission tracks that start you in LSA and then move you into a professional school, plus dual-degree options like Integrated Business and Engineering (IBEM).
Michigan suits students who want top-level academics and big-school energy: Big Ten athletics, Michigan Stadium (the largest stadium in the US), and more than 1,600 student organizations. Classes can be large, so it rewards students who seek out research, advisors and smaller communities rather than wait to be found.
Artes, Scientia, Veritas
“Arts, Knowledge, Truth” — university motto
Why students choose U-M
Ross School of Business ranks No. 4 among US undergraduate business programs in U.S. News' 2027 edition, with management, marketing and operations each ranked No. 2.
The College of Engineering ranks No. 6 nationally for undergraduate engineering, with six specialties in the top five.
Under the Go Blue Guarantee, qualifying Michigan residents from families earning up to $125,000 receive free tuition, and every aid applicant in that bracket pays an average of $0 in tuition after grants.
You can combine fields through preferred admission (for example, LSA to the School of Public Health from fall 2027) or the Integrated Business and Engineering (IBEM) dual degree.
Admissions
First-years who entered in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set)
About 1 in 6 applicants is admitted
17,915 admitted from 109,112 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
You apply to a specific school or college, and selectivity varies a lot between them. Some programs also require a portfolio (Art & Design, Architecture) or an audition (Music, Theatre & Dance).
Deadlines
- Early Decision Binding Next deadline · In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Decisions released by December 24; enrollment deposit due January 6. You, a parent or guardian, and your counselor all sign the ED Agreement. ED financial aid deadline is November 15.
- Early Action Non-binding In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Non-binding; decisions released by January 29; commitment by May 1.
- School of Music, Theatre & Dance In 56 daysDecember 1, 2026
Application deadline for SMTD applicants only.
- Regular Decision Non-binding In ~4 monthsFebruary 1, 2027
Decisions released by April 2; commitment by May 1.
Month and day come from U-M's Requirements & Deadlines page. The test-policy FAQ confirms February 1, 2027 as the Regular Decision deadline for the 2027 cycle.
How to apply
Common App ($75 fee, waivers available); U-M essays of 100-300 words and 100-550 words; high school transcript; School Report from your counselor; one teacher evaluation; optional SAT/ACT scores; English proficiency scores for non-native speakers
What admissions looks for
- Academic strength shown by cumulative GPA and a rigorous curriculum relative to what your school offers (AP, IB or honors where available).
- Your specific academic interests and fit with the school or college you apply to.
- What you have done outside class: leadership at school and in your community, service, awards, and serious training in music, art or dance.
- Curiosity and original thinking. U-M says it looks for students who push boundaries rather than accept status-quo answers.
- Context: reviewers weigh your personal circumstances, home community and high school, including socioeconomic background.
Tips for applying to U-M
- 1 Put the most work into the second U-M essay (up to 550 words) on why you want your specific school or college. Admissions suggests naming faculty, courses, research or programs.
- 2 Decide on testing before you submit. If you answer 'No' to the SAT/ACT question for ED or EA, you cannot add a score later for that round.
- 3 Early Decision, introduced for fall 2026 entry, is binding, and decisions come by December 24. Use Early Action if you want an early answer without committing.
- 4 For portfolio or audition programs (Stamps, Taubman, SMTD), plan around the extra requirements and the earlier December 1 SMTD deadline.
- 5 Don't overload on APs to impress. U-M says excessive AP participation is neither required nor encouraged.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for University of Michigan
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
U-M meets 100% of demonstrated need for eligible Michigan residents, and the Go Blue Guarantee covers tuition and fees for qualifying in-state families. International students on temporary visas are not eligible for financial aid and must pay the full cost of attendance.
- $40,194
- In-state lower-division total budget, 2026-27
- $88,394
- Out-of-state lower-division total budget, 2026-27
- 100% qualify for grant aid; average tuition after aid $0
- Michigan families earning $0-125K
- Average tuition after aid $967
- Michigan families earning $125K-150K
- About 70%
- In-state undergraduates receiving some aid
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (fall and winter terms, plus spring/summer half terms)
Ross BBA
No. 4 undergraduate business program in U.S. News' 2027 edition; five specialties in the national top five.
College of Engineering
No. 6 undergraduate engineering program; mechanical is No. 4 and aerospace is No. 5 (U.S. News 2027).
Integrated Business and Engineering (IBEM)
Dual-degree program across Ross and Engineering; from fall 2027 applicants can ask to be considered for either school if not selected.
School of Nursing BSN
Holds a No. 6 ranking among undergraduate nursing programs (U.S. News 2027).
Public Health preferred admission
New for fall 2027: start in LSA, complete prerequisites, then move to the School of Public Health for junior and senior years.
Research
- Michigan ranked third among US universities in research expenditures in 2021 (National Science Foundation data).
- After World War II the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project ran the Ford Nuclear Reactor and set up the nation's first academic program in nuclear science and engineering.
- Michigan Medicine runs three hospitals and more than 125 health clinics and centers; U.S. News named it the No. 1 hospital in Michigan in its 2023 rankings.
Schools & faculties
- College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
- College of Engineering
- Stephen M. Ross School of Business
- Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
- Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design
- School of Music, Theatre & Dance
- School of Information
- School of Nursing
- School of Public Health
- Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
- Law School
- Medical School
Student life
Life at Michigan revolves around Central Campus and the Diag, with North Campus home to engineering, music, art and architecture. In fall 2025, 96% of first-years lived in university housing. Saturdays in the fall mean football at Michigan Stadium, the Michigan Union and League anchor hundreds of student groups, and Ann Arbor's downtown sits right next to campus. The annual Hash Bash rally has run since 1972.
- 27 varsity teams compete as the Wolverines in NCAA Division I and the Big Ten Conference.
- Michigan Stadium is the largest stadium in the United States.
- Student life centres on the Michigan Union and Michigan League, and the university lists more than 1,600 student organizations.
- Maize and blue colors, the fight song 'The Victors' and the rally cry 'Let's Go Blue'.
Housing. Most first-years live on campus (96% in fall 2025), while most upperclassmen move to off-campus housing in Ann Arbor (74% of undergraduates live off campus).
Location
Ann Arbor is a mid-sized college town west of Detroit, where the university and its hospital system are the biggest presence. The main campus runs right into downtown, which is walkable and full of restaurants, bookstores and live music, and buses link Central, North and Medical campuses. Winters are cold and snowy, and falls are built around football weekends.
Nearest airport: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
Notable alumni
- GR Gerald R. Ford38th President of the United States
- LP Larry PageCo-founder of Google (Alphabet Inc.)
- AM Arthur MillerPlaywright, author of Death of a Salesman (BA 1938)
- JE James Earl JonesStage and screen actor (BA 1955)
- LL Lucy LiuActor and director (BA 1990)
- MW Mike WallaceJournalist, longtime 60 Minutes correspondent (BA 1939)
- JN Jessye NormanOpera singer (MM 1968)
- RW Raoul WallenbergSwedish diplomat who saved thousands of Hungarian Jews during the Holocaust; studied at Michigan in the 1930s
Frequently asked questions
What is the University of Michigan acceptance rate?
For students entering in fall 2025, Michigan admitted 17,915 of 109,112 first-year applicants, about 16.4%. Rates vary by school and college.
Is the University of Michigan test-optional for 2027?
Yes. Michigan remains test-optional for the 2027 cycle, and applicants who don't submit SAT or ACT scores are not disadvantaged. If you do submit, it superscores and accepts self-reported scores.
What SAT score do you need for Michigan?
The middle 50% of enrolled fall 2025 first-years who submitted the SAT scored 1370-1530; for the ACT it was 32-34.
Does Michigan have Early Decision?
Yes. Early Decision (binding) and Early Action (non-binding) are both due November 1, 2026. ED decisions come by December 24 and EA decisions by January 29.
Does Michigan give financial aid to international students?
No. International students on temporary visas are not eligible for U-M financial aid and must cover the full cost of attendance, about $88,394 for an out-of-state lower-division LSA student in 2026-27.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to U-M in the QS World University Rankings 2027.