Is Michigan test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1470 and hold it if it's under.

What is Michigan's acceptance rate?

16% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 15,373 of 98,310 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 90%, from 51,797 in 2015 to 98,310 in 2024, and Michigan's admit rate went from 26% to 16%.

What ACT score do you need for Michigan?

18% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 32–34, with a median of 33. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1370–1530 works out to about 30–35.

What GPA do you need for Michigan?

There's no published cutoff. First-year students averaged a 3.90 high school GPA, per the Common Data Set 2025–26. Colleges compute GPA differently, so compare it loosely.

How many students get off the waitlist at Michigan?

1,663 of the 18,435 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 9.0%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Michigan? (Middle 50%: 1370–1530)

First-year students at Michigan who sent an SAT scored 1370–1530, with a median of 1470 (Common Data Set 2025–26). Michigan admits 16% of applicants and is test optional.

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, MI

Where your score lands at Michigan

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1370–1530, median 1470

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Michigan is for you and whether to send your score.

Add Michigan to my list

Michigan by the numbers

Admit rate: 16%
Middle 50% SAT: 1370–1530
Median SAT: 1470
About on the ACT: 30–35
Sent an SAT: 55%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Michigan admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Michigan admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 90%, from 51,797 in 2015 to 98,310 in 2024, and Michigan's admit rate went from 26% to 16%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	98,310	15,373	16%
2023	87,632	15,722	18%
2022	84,289	14,914	18%
2021	79,743	16,071	20%
2020	65,021	16,974	26%
2019	64,972	14,883	23%
2018	64,917	14,818	23%
2017	59,886	15,871	27%
2016	55,504	15,871	29%
2015	51,797	13,611	26%

In fall 2024, 7,278 of the 15,373 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Michigan

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1320Far reachHold
1320–1460ReachHold
1470 and upReachSend

12001300140015001600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Michigan SAT sections, ACT and GPA

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	680	740	780
SAT Reading and Writing	690	730	750
SAT total	1370	1470	1530
ACT composite	32	33	34

Of enrolled first-year students, 55% sent an SAT and 18% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

Average high school GPA: 3.90; 98% of new students reported one

Michigan waitlist

Waitlist

24,447 applicants were offered a spot, 18,435 took it, and 1,663 were admitted from it.

9.0%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2025–26.

Michigan cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $13,138; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 93%
Median earnings: $83,648; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 35,748

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Sources

Michigan Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Michigan admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Michigan website
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1370–1530, and the median was 1470. At 1470 or higher you're above half of them. Michigan admits 16% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

Raise your score before you apply

The 15-minute starting check finds the question types costing you points, then plans each day up to your test date.

Start SAT free Check your whole list

Starting check

SAT Math · 1 of 5

Calculator allowed

A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$