UW-Madison vs University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (UMich)

Envision yourself as a student, embarking on a journey of higher education. As you navigate the vast landscape of universities, two prominent institutions emerge: the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. While both share a reputation for academic excellence, they possess distinct characteristics that may influence your decision. Delve into our comprehensive comparison table to uncover the nuances that set these universities apart. Discover the differences in acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the unique strengths and offerings of each institution to determine which aligns best with your aspirations and goals.

	University of Michigan-Ann Arbor	University of Wisconsin-Madison
Overview
Location	Ann Arbor, Michigan	Madison, Wisconsin
Campus setting	City: Midsize	City: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Public	Public
Calendar system	Trimester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	97.0%	95.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	20.2%	60.4%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $75 Graduate: $75	Undergraduate: $60 Graduate: $75
SAT range	N/A	1320 - 1500
ACT range	N/A	26 - 32
Students submitting SAT score		15.0%
Students submitting ACT score		55.0%
Total number of applicants	79,743	53,781
Total number of admissions given out	16,071	32,459
Admitted students who chose to enroll	7,290	8,465
Yield rate	45.4%	26.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	In state: $32,272 Out of state: $69,326	In state: $27,418 Out of state: $55,306
Average net price	$19,205	$13,484
Tuition	In state: $15,850 Out of state: $52,904	In state: $9,273 Out of state: $37,161
Room & board	$12,592	Room/dormitory: $7,367 Meal plan: $4,100
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	59.0% Average amount $16,326	54.0% Average amount $10,932
Students receiving federal student loan	24.0% Average amount $5,311	26.0% Average amount $5,175
Students taking out private loans	3.0% Average amount $21,796	6.0% Average amount $16,550

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	32,282 Men 48.8% Women 51.2%	34,561 Men 47.5% Women 52.5%
Graduate students	17,996 Men 49.4% Women 50.6%	12,455 Men 46.6% Women 53.4%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Low
Out-of-state students	N/A	50.6%
International students	15.7%	13.8%
Campus local/setting	City: Midsize	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	11,629	9,226
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	Wisconsin Illinois Minnesota California New York

Academics
Popular study areas	Engineering Health Professions Business Public Administration and Social Service Computer and Information Science	Health Professions Business Social Sciences Engineering Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio	12:1	17:1
Institutional accreditation	Higher Learning Commission	Higher Learning Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	93.7%	89.2%
Dropout rate	5.7%	10.0%
Transferred out	N/A	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $185,139 Year 2: $178,741 Year 3: $197,723 Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $209,842 Year 2: $168,125 Year 3: $177,935 Law (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $146,285 Year 2: $139,927 Year 3: $151,208 Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $139,794 Year 2: $140,166 Year 3: $148,785 Dentistry (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $118,208 Year 2: $112,215 Year 3: $137,273 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $78,398 Year 2: $97,071 Year 3: $123,926 Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $100,643 Year 2: $94,281 Year 3: $117,745 Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $102,847 Year 2: $116,354 Year 3: $116,465 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $96,171 Year 2: $99,772 Year 3: $107,831 Engineering, Other (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $91,194 Year 2: $84,653 Year 3: $101,999	Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $107,256 Year 3: $131,458 Marketing (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $113,083 Year 2: $111,992 Year 3: $130,357 Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $112,390 Year 2: $113,091 Year 3: $124,360 Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $96,320 Year 2: $117,042 Year 3: $123,777 Engineering, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $110,338 Year 2: $106,421 Year 3: $111,424 Real Estate (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $115,339 Year 3: $104,219 Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (First Professional Degrees) Year 1: $115,387 Year 2: $100,213 Year 3: $103,937 Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $78,839 Year 2: $81,997 Year 3: $97,306 Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $85,538 Year 3: $94,093 Real Estate (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $69,730 Year 2: $73,949 Year 3: $91,306

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main differences in campus environment between UW-Madison and UMich?

UW-Madison offers a classic college town experience centered around State Street and the beautiful Lake Mendota. It's known for its vibrant social scene and strong connection to the city of Madison. UMich, located in Ann Arbor, provides a more self-contained campus environment with a distinct 'college town' feel, but with a slightly more urban influence due to its proximity to Detroit. Ann Arbor is often considered a more polished and planned city compared to Madison.
How do the academic reputations of UW-Madison and UMich compare?

Both UW-Madison and UMich are highly regarded public universities with strong academic reputations. UMich is generally considered slightly more prestigious overall, particularly in certain professional schools like business and law. UW-Madison excels in fields like engineering, agriculture, and life sciences. Both are consistently ranked among the top public universities in the US.
Which school is larger, and how does that affect the student experience?

UMich has a slightly larger undergraduate student body than UW-Madison. This can translate to larger class sizes, especially in introductory courses. However, both universities offer ample opportunities for smaller, more personalized learning experiences through honors programs, research opportunities, and smaller upper-level courses. The larger size at UMich might offer a wider range of clubs and activities.
What are the differences in tuition and cost of living between UW-Madison and UMich?

Generally, UW-Madison tends to be slightly more affordable for both in-state and out-of-state students compared to UMich. However, the difference can vary depending on specific programs and financial aid packages. The cost of living in Madison and Ann Arbor is relatively similar, although Ann Arbor might have slightly higher housing costs.
How do the athletic programs at UW-Madison and UMich compare?

Both UW-Madison (Badgers) and UMich (Wolverines) have strong athletic programs and are members of the Big Ten Conference. Both schools have a passionate fan base and compete at a high level in a variety of sports, particularly football and basketball. UMich has a slightly longer history of national championships in football, but both programs are consistently competitive.
What are the strengths of UW-Madison's academic programs?

UW-Madison is particularly strong in fields like engineering (especially chemical and industrial), agriculture, life sciences, communication arts, and education. It has a strong research focus and offers numerous opportunities for undergraduate research involvement.
What are the strengths of UMich's academic programs?

UMich is renowned for its programs in business, law, medicine, engineering (especially aerospace and mechanical), and social sciences. Its Ross School of Business and Law School are consistently ranked among the top in the nation.
How does the campus culture differ between UW-Madison and UMich?

UW-Madison is known for its more laid-back and spirited atmosphere, with a strong emphasis on student life and outdoor activities, especially around the lakes. UMich has a slightly more academically focused and pre-professional culture, although it also boasts a vibrant student life with a wide range of extracurricular activities.
What kind of career services and opportunities are available at each university?

Both UW-Madison and UMich offer comprehensive career services, including career counseling, resume workshops, internship placement assistance, and on-campus recruiting events. UMich's location closer to major metropolitan areas like Detroit and Chicago might provide slightly more opportunities in certain industries, while UW-Madison has strong connections to companies in the Midwest and beyond.
What are some unique traditions or landmarks associated with each university?

UW-Madison is known for its 'Jump Around' tradition at football games, the Memorial Union Terrace on Lake Mendota, and the State Street pedestrian mall. UMich is famous for 'The Big House' (Michigan Stadium), the Diag (central gathering place on campus), and the Arb (Nichols Arboretum).
How do the alumni networks of UW-Madison and UMich compare?

Both UW-Madison and UMich have extensive and active alumni networks around the world. These networks can be valuable resources for career networking, mentorship, and social connections. UMich's alumni network might be slightly larger and more geographically diverse due to its longer history and slightly larger graduating classes.
What are the typical class sizes at UW-Madison and UMich?

Both universities can have large introductory lecture classes, sometimes with hundreds of students. However, both also offer smaller discussion sections, labs, and upper-level courses with more personalized attention. UMich, being slightly larger, might have a slightly higher average class size, especially in introductory courses.

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