University of Michigan-Ann Arbor vs Ohio State University-Main Campus

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

Admissions: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is more selective with a 17.9% acceptance rate compared to Ohio State University-Main Campus's 50.8%. Average SAT scores are 1473 and 1407 respectively.

Cost: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor offers a lower average net price at $14,832, which is $3,460 less than Ohio State University-Main Campus ($18,292). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from University of Michigan-Ann Arbor earn a median salary of $83,648 ten years after enrollment, which is $23,239 more than Ohio State University-Main Campus graduates ($60,409).

Graduation: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor leads with a 93.2% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 97.6% vs 94.1%.

Campus Size: Ohio State University-Main Campus is the larger campus with 44,617 total students, while University of Michigan-Ann Arbor has 33,488.

Bottom Line: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.