University of Michigan acceptance rate and your odds of getting in
University of Michigan, a public university in Michigan, reports a 16% acceptance rate and sits in the highly selective band. In practice that means it turns away most applicants, so a strong application is judged against an applicant pool that is already self-selected.
Use this page to see what University of Michigan weighs, where it ranks among Michigan schools, and how a profile like yours is likely to land. Admitted students post a 75th-percentile SAT around 1520, a useful checkpoint for where your scores sit, though it is a reference range and not a cutoff.
What do students study at University of Michigan?
Bachelor's degrees awarded by field in 2023 (IPEDS completions). Each field has its own page with the school's numbers, the model's major adjustment, and peers offering it.
Will I get into University of Michigan?
Direct answers to what applicants ask about getting into University of Michigan, plus a free way to calculate your own odds.
What are my chances of getting into University of Michigan?
Your odds at University of Michigan are not the same as its 16% acceptance rate. Your real odds depend on how your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities compare to its admitted students. Run your profile through the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance percentage for University of Michigan in about three minutes, with no account needed to start.
Is University of Michigan hard to get into?
University of Michigan is highly selective: it turns away most applicants, with about a 16% acceptance rate. Strong academics are expected here, so the rest of your profile usually decides the outcome.
What GPA do you need to get into University of Michigan?
There is no hard GPA cutoff at University of Michigan, but most admitted students present roughly a 3.8 to 4.0 GPA with a rigorous course load. University of Michigan reads your GPA alongside the rigor of your courses, so a challenging schedule matters as much as the number itself.
Your chances at University of Michigan by GPA and SAT
Estimated chance of admission at University of Michigan for plain profiles, from the same model as the calculator. Unweighted GPA, 6 AP courses, Regular Decision, no legacy, athletic or first-generation hook. The last column is test-optional (no score sent).
What are my chances at University of Michigan with a 3.7 GPA and a 1450 SAT?
About 24% (Reach), by CollegeCalcAI's deterministic model, for an applicant with a 3.7 unweighted GPA and a 1450 SAT, the middle of University of Michigan's admitted range, applying Regular Decision without a hook. A 3.9 GPA with a 1530 SAT comes out near 31%. Courses, activities, essays and the application round move the number; the free calculator includes them.
Estimates, not guarantees. Get yours with your real courses and activities. Assistants and developers can fetch this table from the free API: /api/v1/colleges/university-of-michigan.
Early Decision, Early Action and the waitlist at University of Michigan
From University of Michigan's own 2025-26 Common Data Set (fall 2025 entering class): sections C1, C2, C21-C22 and D2.
Does University of Michigan have early decision?
No. University of Michigan reported no Early Decision plan in its 2025-26 Common Data Set. It does offer Early Action.
How many students get off the waitlist at University of Michigan?
1,663 for fall 2025. University of Michigan offered 24,447 applicants a waitlist spot, 18,435 accepted one, and 1,663 were admitted from it: 9% of those who stayed on (University of Michigan's 2025-26 Common Data Set).
What is the transfer acceptance rate at University of Michigan?
35%: 2,394 of 6,845 transfer applicants were admitted for fall 2025 (University of Michigan's 2025-26 Common Data Set).
Source: University of Michigan Common Data Set 2025-26. Every figure appears verbatim in the document. See how early rounds compare across colleges in the Early Decision rankings.
How to get into University of Michigan
Built from University of Michigan's admitted class and what it reports weighing. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled figures, not published cutoffs.
There is no formula that guarantees a spot at University of Michigan, but the applicants who get in tend to do the same four things. Here is what the numbers say each one looks like.
CollegeCalcAI's modeled typical admit at University of Michigan carries about a 3.82 core GPA and a 1480 SAT, in the most rigorous schedule available. Landing at or above it makes you competitive; the rest of the file decides.
The admitted middle 50% is 1360 to 1530 SAT (31 to 34 ACT). Submit a score at 1445 or higher; below 1360, apply test-optional if the policy allows.
University of Michigan rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores highest in its own Common Data Set. Put your depth there: and a transcript whose rigor rises through junior year.
Most public universities read early applicants first without a binding commitment. Apply by University of Michigan's early or priority deadline (confirm dates at umich.edu), and if you are out of state, know that residency changes both the bar and the price.
How many students apply to University of Michigan, and how many get in?
University of Michigan admitted 15,722 of the 87,632 students who applied for fall 2023, which works out to 17.9%. 7,466 enrolled. Roughly 47% of admitted students enrolled, a typical yield for a school in this range. University of Michigan enrolls about 34,177 undergraduates in total, 54% of them women, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 11 to 1.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS 2023 admissions and enrollment.
What SAT and ACT scores do you need for University of Michigan?
The middle 50% of admitted students at University of Michigan scored between 1360 and 1530 on the SAT (average 1465). On the ACT the middle 50% runs from 31 to 34. A score above 1530 puts you in the top quarter of admits and turns the test into an asset; a score below 1360 puts you in the bottom quarter, where the rest of the application has to carry more weight. University of Michigan is test-optional: scores are considered if you submit them but not required. Send a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one and let your transcript lead.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10.
What University of Michigan looks for
What University of Michigan weighs most heavily in its admissions review, informed by its reported Common Data Set.
The factors that carry the most weight at University of Michigan are rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores. At this level of selectivity, the difference between admits is rarely the transcript alone; essays, recommendations, and a coherent story matter. These ratings come from University of Michigan's reported Common Data Set, so the full chart below reflects what the school itself says it values, not a generic guess.
SAT score positioning at University of Michigan
How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability. Your full profile determines the real estimate.
How much does University of Michigan cost after financial aid?
University of Michigan's published cost of attendance, before any aid, is roughly $34,654 per year. Tuition and fees are $17,736 for MI residents and $60,946 for out-of-state students, a $43,210 gap that makes residency the single biggest lever on cost. What families actually pay is different: the average net price after grants and scholarships is $13,138 a year, and it ranges from $1,043 for families earning under $30,000 to $26,517 for families earning over $110,000. 18% of undergraduates receive a federal Pell Grant.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Net price is what students receiving aid paid after grants, by family income.
What do University of Michigan graduates earn, and how many graduate?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Michigan student who received federal aid earns $83,648 a year, up from $73,762 at six years. 93% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 97% return for a second year. Among graduates who borrowed, median federal debt at graduation is $19,500; 24% of undergraduates take federal loans.
Source: College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), release 2026-06-10. Earnings cover students who received federal aid.
How University of Michigan compares in Michigan
University of Michigan ranks #1 most selective of 32 schools in Michigan in our database.
Among the 32 Michigan schools we track, University of Michigan ranks the most selective by acceptance rate. Nothing else in the state is harder to get into; the next tier down includes Hillsdale College at 21%. As a public university, residency matters: in-state applicants generally see meaningfully better odds than the headline rate suggests.
Similar to University of Michigan
Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.
Applicants targeting University of Michigan often weigh University of North Carolina, University of Virginia, and Georgia Tech, which sit at a similar level. Running the same profile against each one in the free calculator is the fastest way to see where you are a reach, a match, or a likely.
Frequently asked questions
What is University of Michigan's acceptance rate?
University of Michigan admitted 15,722 of 87,632 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class, an acceptance rate of 17.9% (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS). 47% of admitted students enrolled.
What SAT score do you need for University of Michigan?
The middle 50% of admitted students scored 1360 to 1530 on the SAT and 31 to 34 on the ACT. A score above 1530 is in the top quarter of admits. University of Michigan is test-optional, so only submit a score that helps.
Is University of Michigan test-optional?
Yes. University of Michigan reports that test scores are considered but not required. Submit a score at or above the middle of the admitted range; otherwise apply without one.
How much does University of Michigan cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of Michigan, what students receiving aid paid after grants and scholarships, is $13,138 a year against a sticker price of about $34,654. Families earning under $30,000 paid about $1,043 on average.
What do University of Michigan graduates earn?
Median earnings ten years after entering University of Michigan are $83,648 a year among students who received federal aid, and 93% of students graduate within six years (College Scorecard).
What does University of Michigan value most in applicants?
Based on its admissions profile, University of Michigan weighs rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, and standardized test scores most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.
Does University of Michigan favor in-state applicants?
As a public university, University of Michigan generally admits in-state applicants at a higher rate than out-of-state applicants, so your home state affects your odds. CollegeCalcAI applies an in-state residency boost when you select your state.
How can I improve my chances at University of Michigan?
Focus on the highest-leverage parts of your application: course rigor and GPA trajectory first, then test scores, then a focused leadership or activity spike. CollegeCalcAI's Power-Ups quantify how much each change would move your odds at University of Michigan specifically.
What makes an application stand out at University of Michigan?
Beyond strong academics, University of Michigan rewards a clear, specific story: focused activities with real impact, essays in an authentic voice, and recommendations that corroborate it. Depth beats a long list of unrelated activities.
Acceptance rate, application counts, admitted test ranges, cost, and outcomes reflect publicly reported federal data (U.S. Department of Education: IPEDS 2023 and the College Scorecard) and each school's Common Data Set; figures are rounded and lag the current cycle by one to two years, so confirm deadlines and policies on the school's own site. The typical-admit GPA and SAT are CollegeCalcAI's modeled estimates. Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.