Today, we’ll look at how to get into University of Michigan. We’ll take an especially close look at University of Michigan SAT scores, University of Michigan ACT scores, and University of Michigan admissions criteria.
The University of Michigan is ranked number 24 among national universities in the USA. This puts it in roughly the top 1% of all schools nationwide. U Mich particularly prides itself in the high quality of classroom teaching and is ranked number 3 in the nation for top public schools. (Sources for these rankings: US News and World Report, official University of Michigan admissions stats.)
So how do you get in on the great education the University of Michigan has to offer? Let’s take a quick look at the school’s standards:
Below, I’ll give you a closer look at how to get into University of Michigan. We’ll explore the finer points of University Michigan SAT scores, University of Michigan ACT scores, and other aspects of how to get into University of Michigan.
As you saw above, the basic expectation for University of Michigan SAT scores is the 1380-1550 range on the new SAT. However, University of Michigan also publishes its expectations for scores far greater detail than that. Check out the intel in the table below.
| Type of SAT Score | SAT (whole test) | SAT Writing/Evidence-Based Reading | SAT Math |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score Range (middle 50%) | 1340-1530 | 660-740 | 680-790 |
As you may have noticed, these scores are very high, confined within the 92nd to 99th SAT score percentiles for the most part.
But if you’re afraid that you won’t be able to meet this very high middle 50% standard, don’t be. Remember, these scores are just for the middle 50%. You can have scores somewhat below this range and still get accepted. Also bear in mind that University of Michigan has no hard and fast, absolute rule about minimum SAT scores. Don’t get me wrong. You ideally want your score to be very close to the middle 50% or in/above that range. But the University of Michigan will also carefully consider other aspects of your application. Scores alone don’t make or break your chances.
Start your sat prep today." width="359" height="73" />
The University of Michigan admissions website also offers more details on ACT scores, posting middle 50% scores for each individual section of the test.
| Type of ACT Score | English | Math | Whole Test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score Range (middle 50%) | 32-35 | 29-34 | 31-34 |
If you want to make it into the middle 50% of accepted applicants, your composite ACT score percentile will need to be at least 95th (see the most recent official ACT report on percentiles). Individual section scores can be slightly lower than this, percentile-wise: the middle 50% score for Math starts in the 93rd percentile, with English starting in the 92nd percentile.
In general, your ACT Writing score is treated differently than your other ACT scores. For more details on how University of Michigan admissions uses ACT Writing scores, see the FAQ at the end of this post.
The University of Michigan’s acceptance rate, as mentioned above, is 23% for freshman applicants. But what about transfer applicants?
Applying as a transfer student improves your odds… greatly! Transfer students have an impressive 42% acceptance rate. So if at first you don’t get into University of Michigan as a freshman applicant, you can start at another school and try, try again.
Now that we’ve looked at the transfer student acceptance rate, let’s look at transfer applications and GPA. How does it compare to the freshman expectation of 3.9 GPA?
If you’re transferring in from a community college or another university, U Mich will hold you to different GPA standards. How to get into University of Michigan as a transfer student? Among other things, meet the school’s minimum transfer GPA requirement of 3.0.
Whether you’ll apply as a freshman or a transfer student, it’s good to keep track of your GPA. To calculate your GPA for your current school work, use Magoosh’s “How to Calculate Your GPA” guide.
So what does a typical University of Michigan freshman look like? What are the students like as people, and will you fit in? Read on to get a food look at the University of Michigan freshman profile.
Ultimately, University of Michigan students are from all over the United States. All 50 states are represented by the University of Michigan undergraduate student body. The states of Illinois, New York, and California send the most out-of-state students to U-Michigan. But by far, the biggest state of origin for University of Michigan is Michigan itself. More than 16,000 students in Michigan’s undergraduate student body are local.
U Mich has international students come from all around the international student body is diverse. The University of Michigan’s international students come from more than 100 different countries!
We’ve covered University of Michigan SAT scores, University of Michigan ACT scores, and the GPA/acceptance rate for University of Michigan. But what else do you need to know? Below are two additional key facts to consider.
When you apply to U Mich, you can either use the Common App website or the Coalition App website. For details and links to both websites, see the University of Michigan Admissions Requirements and Deadlines web page.
You’ll need one letter of recommendation from a teacher and either one letter of recommendation from a guidance counselor or a school report, depending on which website you choose for submitting your application. The University of Michigan requires these letters to be submitted online in a specific format. See this University of Michigan admissions web page for details. And before you approach teachers and other high school administrators for references, check out Magoosh’s article on how to ask for a letter of recommendation.
“Talk to recommenders who know you really well. Always prioritize the quality of the rec over technical things about who it’s coming from (ex: pick a sophomore teacher who knew you really well over a junior teacher whose class you got a better grade in).” — UMich338354 (’21), AdmitSee
You will need to submit an application essay to University of Michigan admissions. Like your other application materials, this essay will be submitted through the Common App form or through the Coalition App website. Both application systems have very similar essay requirements. So you may find Magoosh’s tutorial on the Common App essay to be helpful in either case.
Need some pointers on how to write a stellar essay for University of Michigan admissions? Lena from Transizion has got your back!
“UM aims to recruit the ‘most dynamic group of students possible.’ This means that, whatever kind of person or student you are, there is likely a place at UM for you – you just need to figure out the angle in which to approach your application. My advice to you is to aim to present yourself as an overall, well-rounded candidate while trying to stand out in one particular aspect of your application. Mention the “usual achievements” that are expected of any candidate – things like extracurriculars, your love of learning, reasons you want to be at UM – and choose one you excel at to highlight. Stand out, just enough, to catch the admission’s board eye as they slough through thousands of applications.”
We’ve covered a lot of ground today. But when it comes to helping you get into University of Michigan, I want to leave no stone unturned. Here is a roundup of other frequently asked questions about how to get into University of Michigan.
No. Although the essay portion of the SAT or ACT was required in the past, University of Michigan admissions stopped requiring this in 2018.
The term “Ivy League” is used in two senses. In its narrowest definition, an “Ivy League” university can only be one of the universities that is officially part of the Ivy League collegiate sports conference. (See this Wikipedia article for details.)
However, the term “Ivy League” is popularly used to refer to any university that is of very top quality. With its high national rank (top 1% of universities nationwide), the University of Michigan could be described as “Ivy League” in the popular sense.
As a general rule, Early Admissions Fall applicants to the University of Michigan receive decisions by the end of December. Regular Fall applications receive a response and decision by April. For the most up-to-date information on admissions response timelines, see this page on the University of Michigan Admissions website.
Because University of Michigan is a state school, tuition rates are subject to policy change each year. For the most up-to-date tuition schedules, see the official University of Michigan tuition and fees website.
The University of Michigan is an excellent public university with many excellent programs. While the expectations for University of Michigan SAT scores and University of Michigan ACT scores are high, U Mich also tries to be fair. A strong overall application will trump any individual scores. Still, it’s a good idea to aim for the highest SAT scores, ACT scores and GPA that you can. An application that is strong in every way can help you wind up on the right side of the University of Michigan’s acceptance rate.
David is a Test Prep Expert for Magoosh TOEFL and IELTS. Additionally, he’s helped students with TOEIC, PET, FCE, BULATS, Eiken, SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. David has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. His work at Magoosh has been cited in many scholarly articles, his Master’s Thesis is featured on the Reading with Pictures website, and he’s presented at the WITESOL (link to PDF) and NAFSA conferences. David has taught K-12 ESL in South Korea as well as undergraduate English and MBA-level business English at American universities. He has also trained English teachers in America, Italy, and Peru. Come join David and the Magoosh team on Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram, or connect with him via LinkedIn! View all posts
