Head to head · Michigan
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor costs less than Michigan State University at every income band federal data covers — between $2,029 and $11,834 less per year, depending on what you earn.
| Household income | Michigan State University | University of Michigan | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $7,068 | $1,043 | $6,025 |
| $30–48k | $10,830 | $1,878 | $8,952 |
| $48–75k | $16,521 | $4,895 | $11,626 |
| $75–110k | $22,703 | $10,869 | $11,834 |
| Over $110k | $28,546 | $26,517 | $2,029 |
Green marks the cheaper of the two at that income. "Net price" is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education — not a calculator's estimate. Public-school figures reflect in-state families; out-of-state families typically pay more.
Should your student retake the SAT? The honest math →
Think you make too much for aid? The real income cutoffs, measured →
Each year's reported net price grown 3.5% — the same method College Compass uses inside a family's plan.
Listed Michigan State University first, then University of Michigan. Acceptance rate is the school's overall published figure — your student's own odds depend on their transcript, scores, and high school.
Again Michigan State University first. The four-year graduation rate matters more than it looks: a fifth year is a fifth year of paying.
These are averages. Your family isn't average.
Run both against your student's real GPA, your income band, and your actual high school — odds with the math shown, and what four years would really cost you, side by side. First three schools free.
Michigan State University — every income band · University of Michigan-Ann Arbor — every income band · All Michigan public colleges