Quad

Head-to-head

Michigan
UVA

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Michigan has 1.9× as many undergrads as UVA

    Undergrads
  2. 2

    Michigan's yield is 6 pts higher than UVA's

    Yield rate
  3. 3

    Michigan's grants cover 27% of its full price on average, vs. 22% at UVA

    Aid generosity
  4. 4

    Michigan has 5 pts more first-gen students than UVA (21% vs. 16%)

    First-generation students
  5. 5

    UVA grads earn $3.2K more ten years out than Michigan's ($86,863 vs. $83,648)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  6. 6

    Michigan has 3 pts more Pell recipients than UVA (18% vs. 16%)

    Pell Grant recipients

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Who's hardest to get into

Michigan admits 16%, UVA 17%; Michigan's yield is higher, at 46%.

Acceptance rate
Michigan16%
UVA17%
Quad's selectivity
  • MichiganHighly selective
  • UVAHighly selective
SAT middle 50%Axis 1300–1600
Michigan
1370–1530
UVA
1410–1540
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • MichiganRigor and GPA very important94%
  • UVASchool record required

Who's on each campus

Michigan has 1.9× as many undergrads as UVA and has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Michigan34.2K
UVA17.6K
Pell Grant share
Michigan18%
UVA16%

Majors and faculty

Computer and Information Sciences leads at both; Michigan has 11 students per faculty member to UVA's 15.

Students per faculty member
Michigan11 to 1
UVA15 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • MichiganComputer and Information Sciences, General13%
  • UVAComputer and Information Sciences, General13%

What each costs

Michigan and UVA cost about the same a year on average; Michigan's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Michigan$39.5K
UVA$40.2K
Aid generosity
Michigan27%
UVA22%

What each pays off

UVA's former students earn more, a median $86.9K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 90% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
Michigan$83.6K
UVA$86.9K
Graduation rate
Michigan94%
UVA94%

How each has changed

Applications grew at both; both got more selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • MichiganGrowing+98%
  • UVAGrowing+90%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2019;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why