University of Michigan-Ann Arbor: Cost, Graduate Salary, Acceptance Rate and Return on Investment
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a public college in Ann Arbor, MI. Students pay about $13,138 a year in net price, and the median graduate earns $83,648 ten years after enrolling. By our Degree-ROI measure the degree pays back in about 2 years and adds $297,428 over a decade, ranking it #40 of 918 (top 5%) by value added.
What is University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's acceptance rate?
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor has an acceptance rate of 15.6%, which makes it highly selective. It is a public institution in Ann Arbor, MI enrolling about 34,177 students, with a 93.2% graduation rate.
How much does University of Michigan-Ann Arbor cost?
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor costs about $13,138 per year in average net price, what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships. Over four years, including typical borrowing, that totals roughly $72,052. Published sticker cost of attendance is $34,654 per year.
How much do University of Michigan-Ann Arbor graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of Michigan-Ann Arbor student earns $83,648 per year. That is $36,948 more than the $46,700 that the typical worker with only a high-school diploma earns.
Is University of Michigan-Ann Arbor worth it? Degree ROI and payback period
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor pays back its roughly $72,052 cost in about 2 years, then keeps returning the earnings premium. Over the first decade the degree adds about $297,428 net of cost, a 5.13x return on the money invested. That ranks it #40 of 918 (top 5%) by value added. Its top-tier value is driven mainly by a low net price and strong graduate earnings.
Top 10% value
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor graduation rate and student debt
93.2% of University of Michigan-Ann Arbor students complete their degree, and the median graduate leaves with $19,500 in federal student debt. That debt is about 23% of one year of median graduate earnings.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor by the numbers (vs the typical college)
How University of Michigan-Ann Arbor compares to the median four-year college in our snapshot. Percentile is its rank among the 918 colleges that report both earnings and cost (higher is better).
| Metric | This school | Median college | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg net price / yr | $13,138 | $20,299 | cheaper than 83% |
| Median earnings (10 yrs) | $83,648 | $54,768 | 93th |
| Graduation rate | 93.2% | 57.0% | 98th |
| Acceptance rate | 15.6% | 75.7% | more selective than 95% |
| 10-yr value added | $297,428 | -$28,192 | 96th |
| ROI multiple (per $1) | 5.13x | 0.73x | 98th |
| Payback period | 2 yrs | 8.8 yrs | faster than 97% |
How University of Michigan-Ann Arbor compares with its nearest rivals
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks #40 of 918 by ten-year value added. The five profiled colleges closest to it in that ranking are compared below on the same federal data: 1 of them costs less per year and 4 of them produce higher median earnings ten years after entry.
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a public college in Ann Arbor, MI with 34,177 undergraduates. Its published cost of attendance is $34,654 a year, but the average aided family pays $13,138, a 62% discount from the sticker price. The median borrower leaves owing $19,500, equal to 23% of one year of median earnings ten years out. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor admits 15.6% of applicants.
- The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (New York, NY; #39 of 918; 80.7% graduate) costs about the same per year ($13,269 net), and its graduates earn about the same ten years out ($83,847). Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art adds $5,966 more ten-year value than University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art pays back its cost in 1.8 years.
- Northwestern University (Evanston, IL; #41 of 918; 95.5% graduate) costs $16,029 more per year ($29,167 net), and its graduates earn $5,715 more ten years out ($89,363). University of Michigan-Ann Arbor adds $2,466 more ten-year value than Northwestern University. Northwestern University pays back its cost in 3.1 years.
- University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA; #38 of 918; 91.9% graduate) costs $19,602 more per year ($32,740 net), and its graduates earn $8,850 more ten years out ($92,498). University of Southern California adds $11,592 more ten-year value than University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. University of Southern California pays back its cost in 3.3 years.
- University of California-Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA; #42 of 918; 92.6% graduate) costs $590 less per year ($12,548 net), and its graduates earn $1,137 less ten years out ($82,511). University of Michigan-Ann Arbor adds $3,510 more ten-year value than University of California-Los Angeles. University of California-Los Angeles pays back its cost in 1.8 years.
- Northeastern University (Boston, MA; #37 of 918; 90.5% graduate) costs $17,777 more per year ($30,915 net), and its graduates earn $8,890 more ten years out ($92,538). Northeastern University adds $13,042 more ten-year value than University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Northeastern University pays back its cost in 3.2 years.
| College | Value rank | Net price / yr | Earnings (10 yrs) | Graduation | 10-yr value added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern University | #37 | $30,915 | $92,538 | 90.5% | $310,470 |
| University of Southern California | #38 | $32,740 | $92,498 | 91.9% | $309,020 |
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | #39 | $13,269 | $83,847 | 80.7% | $303,394 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | #40 | $13,138 | $83,648 | 93.2% | $297,428 |
| Northwestern University | #41 | $29,167 | $89,363 | 95.5% | $294,962 |
| University of California-Los Angeles | #42 | $12,548 | $82,511 | 92.6% | $293,918 |
Paying for University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Net price is what a family pays after grants, so the aid a student qualifies for moves every figure above. Our sister sites cover that side of the decision: the Pell Grant 2026-2027 guide sets out who qualifies and the maximum award, the education grants guide lists federal, state and institutional grants beyond Pell, and the best AI tools for students compares what is worth paying for once enrolled.
Frequently asked
Is University of Michigan-Ann Arbor worth the cost compared to other colleges?
By value added net of cost, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranks #40 of 918 (top 5%) of the 918 four-year colleges we rank, and returns about 5.13x the money invested over a decade.
Is University of Michigan-Ann Arbor expensive compared to other colleges?
Its $13,138 average net price is below the $20,299 median for the colleges in this snapshot, making it cheaper than 83% of them.
Do University of Michigan-Ann Arbor graduates earn more than average?
Median earnings of $83,648 ten years out are above the $54,768 median, higher than 93% of the colleges here.
How hard is it to get into University of Michigan-Ann Arbor compared to other colleges?
Its 15.6% acceptance rate is below the 75.7% median, making it more selective than 95% of the colleges in the snapshot.
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Federal data behind this page
What a programme costs, what its graduates earn, and what aid is available are published by federal statistical agencies rather than by any provider's marketing page, and the sources below are the primary ones. They are linked so a reader can check a figure here directly.
- College Scorecard publishes the federal cost, completion and post-enrolment earnings data used to compare programmes.
- National Center for Education Statistics is the federal statistical agency for education and the source most published figures trace back to.
- IPEDS holds the institution-level survey data behind enrolment, price and completion comparisons.
- Federal Student Aid states what aid exists, who qualifies, and what repayment actually obligates a borrower to.
- CFPB paying for college documents how education financing works and where its common traps are.
- US Department of Education sets the policy framework the accreditation and aid systems operate under.
- Department of Education laws and policy carries the rules that decide whether a provider or credential is recognised.
This page compares programmes on published data. Outcomes vary by student, and a reader's own aid package and circumstances decide what a programme actually costs them.