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University of Washington is an elite public research university located in Seattle, Washington in the Seattle metropolitan area. It is a large university with about 30,000 undergraduate students and over 51,000 total enrolled students. Admissions is somewhat competitive as the University of Washington's acceptance rate is about 43%. Some major fields of study include Computer Science, Engineering, Business, Biological Sciences, and Social Sciences. The graduation rate at six years is 84%, and UW grads have a median starting salary of about INR 74,70,000 (after ten years of graduation, adjusted from $90,000 median salaries).
University of Michigan is a highly ranked public university based in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the Detroit metropolitan region. It is a large institution with an undergraduate student population of about 34,454 students, and an overall student population of around 52,855. Admissions is very competitive because Michigan has an acceptance rate of approximately 18%. Some common majors include Engineering, Business, Computer Science, Economics, and Health Sciences. The six-year graduation rate is 93%, and Michigan graduates receive a median starting salary of about INR 69,00,000 (converted from $83,650 median earnings ten years after graduation).
| University of Washington | University of Michigan | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 7.2 Out of 10 | 7.5 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 76 QS World University 2025 # 7 US News 2024 # 25 Times Higher Education 2024 | # 23 Times Higher Education 2026 # 45 QS World University 2026 # 16 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 25 for Engineering by US News 2024 # 12 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2024 # 13 for Medicine by US News 2024 | # 11 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 32 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 19 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -77 PG Programs -56 Doctorate Programs -1 | UG Programs -37 PG Programs -87 Doctorate Programs -31 |
| Acceptance Rate | 0.0 % | 16.0 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-120 IELTS-7 TOEFL-92 | GMAT-731 IELTS-6.5 PTE-68 TOEFL-88 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 35166 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 31473 [For PG Program] | Average Tuition Fees 49350 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 21389 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 21016 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Employability Ranking- #60 (QS); 93% engineering graduates placed within first placement cycle; Average salary- 78,172 USD; Top recruiters: The Boeing Company, University of Washington, Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp, Expedia Inc.; Highest paying degrees: Doctorate (118,000 USD), Ph.D. (112,000 USD), MBA(111,000 USD), Masters in Science (93,000 USD), BBA (85,000 USD). | Average salary is 79,000 USD per annum. Annual ROI is 9.5%. Popular employers are Ford Motor, General Motors, Quicken Loans, Amazon, etc. |
| application requirements | Coallition Essay | High School score/grade should be equivalent to 2.7 GPA. Indian student's transcripts must be sent by the Controller of the examinations. Fulfill other country-specific requirements. |
| Campuses and B-Schools | NA | Ross School of Business |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.4/10 Read 8 reviews | 8.5/10 Read 17 reviews |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | University of Washington | University of Michigan |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1861 | 1817 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 9.5:1 | 15:1:1 |
| Male:Female | 43% Male, 0% Female | 46% Male, 0% Female |
| Location Facts | Bordered by two lakes of Seattle, Cascade Range view on East, Olympic Mountain view on West, and Red square is the heart of campus. The university has been relocated twice in the past (1876 and 19th century). The main campus lies shores of Portage and Union Bays. | Michigan is considered one of the top 10 best craft beer states of the USA. It has the fourth highest per capita GDP growth rate of 2.5%. Manufactiring sector is the highest contributor. |
| Library | Largest collection in Pacific Northwest | Considered as one of the top 10 academic research libraries in North America; Over 14,283,067 volumes and 291,791 serials |
| Campus Life | Over 60 fraternities and sororities | Counselling & Psychological Services; International Centre; Office of Student Conflict Resolution; Office of Student Conflict Resolution; Services for Students with Disabilities; Student Legal Services; Campus Infoormation Centers |
| Hostel | - | #Room and Board - $21016 |
| Famous Alumni | Four Nobel laureates, eight Pulitzer prize winners. | Over 36 Pulitzer Prize winners and 8 Nobel laureates; Larry Page (Google Co-founder), Gerald Ford (late US President), Arther Miller (playwright), Theodore Roethke (poet), Martha Minow (former Dean of Harvard Law School) |
| City Life | From intramural clubs to adventure activities, nature abound city has a lot to offer. Various national parks, Heritage monuments | The Great Lakes State is one of the top cities to live in. It shares its border with Canada and has four out five Great Lakes. The high student population offers high cultural diversity. It is one of the cheapest midwestern states to live in. It has a food dominated nightlife with few night clubs and music locations. It has a growing tech startup community. The unemployment rate is 4.6 (2020). |
| Weather |
University of Washington University of Michigan
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Both the University of Michigan (UMich) and the University of Washington (UW) are preeminent public research universities, consistently ranked in the top 100 worldwide. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, UMich ranks around 45th, and UW is around 81st. In the Times Higher Education rankings, UMich is #22, and UW #25, which shows their solid global reputations and research impacts.
In subject areas, UMich is the best in Engineering, Business, Law, and Health Sciences, with top 10 positions in many American rankings. UW is strong in Medicine, Computer Science, Public Health, and Environmental Science, with global top 25 positions in many fields. Washington's strength is interdisciplinary research and professional programs, as well as its access to Seattle's healthcare and tech industry.
General Information
The University of Washington, established in 1861, is situated in Seattle, Washington, a principal technological and cultural center. It has a student body of about 55,620, 30,000 of whom are undergraduates. The University of Michigan, founded in 1817, is situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with a total enrollment of roughly 52,065, 34,454 of whom are undergraduates.
UW has an urban, industry-connected campus with robust industry connections. UMich has a traditional college-town atmosphere with a robust campus culture, many student groups, and nationally prominent athletic participation.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Both universities have competitive admissions. UW has an acceptance rate of approximately 43%, whereas UMich is much lower at 18%. UW is test-blind, whereas UMich is test-optional with average SAT scores of 1200–1453 at UW and 1350–1530 at UMich.
UMich applicants usually have better academic credentials, particularly for engineering and business programs. UW focuses on holistic review and accessibility, especially for in-state and international students.
Research Impact & Facilities
UW's research infrastructure comprises the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, UW Medicine, and the Clean Energy Institute, supported by more than $1.5 billion of annual research funding. It is one of the leading U.S. universities in federal grants and innovation.
UMich has $2.04 billion in research spending, placing it at #2 among public universities in research activity. Among its facilities are the Michigan Medicine campus, Ross School of Business, and College of Engineering, with 615 new inventions and 28 startups founded in 2024 alone. Michigan's research community covers health, tech, policy, and the arts.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both schools are public and provide financial aid. UW's in-state tuition rate is approximately $11,524, while out-of-state tuition is $40,878 with an average net price of $11,023. UMich's in-state tuition rate is $16,896, and out-of-state tuition is $57,740 with a higher average net price of $19,005.
UMich offers more generous financial aid, with 55% of its students getting grants averaging $22,005, versus UW's 43% getting $14,390. Michigan also has free tuition available for eligible in-state families that make less than $125,000, improving affordability.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
UW graduates have a median salary of $65,800 ten years post-graduation, with good placement in tech, healthcare, engineering, and public policy. Top employers are Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, underpinned by Seattle's vibrant job market.
UMich graduates have a higher median income of $74,400 and are strong in finance, consulting, law, engineering, and medicine. Companies such as Google, Ford, Deloitte, JP Morgan, and Accenture specifically hire Michigan graduates. UMich has more than 668,000 alumni worldwide, which makes it one of the largest and most active alumni networks in the U.S.
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