University of Michigan-Ann Arbor vs University of California-Berkeley

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and University of California-Berkeley are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: University of California-Berkeley is more selective with a 11.7% acceptance rate compared to University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's 17.9%.

Cost: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor offers a lower average net price at $14,832, which is $147 less than University of California-Berkeley ($14,979). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from University of California-Berkeley earn a median salary of $92,446 ten years after enrollment, which is $8,798 more than University of Michigan-Ann Arbor graduates ($83,648).

Graduation: University of California-Berkeley leads with a 93.5% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 97.6% vs 96.8%.

Campus Size: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is the larger campus with 33,488 total students, while University of California-Berkeley has 33,073.

Bottom Line: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor wins on affordability while University of California-Berkeley leads in career earnings. Your choice depends on whether upfront cost or long-term ROI matters more.