Explore alternatives based on outcomes, location, cost, and admission difficulty
Given University Of Michigan-Ann Arbor's 17.9% acceptance rate, most applicants—even those with strong academic credentials—will need backup options. The schools below offer comparable career outcomes with different admission profiles.
These schools offer higher acceptance rates while delivering comparable career outcomes.
For similar STEM and technical outcomes with better admission odds, consider Kettering University (79.1% acceptance, $94,823 median earnings) just 51 miles away in Michigan. Capitol Technology University in Maryland admits 77.9% of applicants while producing graduates earning $85,035. Missouri University of Science and Technology accepts 73.1% of applicants with graduates earning $82,957, nearly identical to University Of Michigan-Ann Arbor outcomes.
Strong options in the same region with comparable academic profiles.
Students preferring to stay in Michigan should consider Kettering University (79.1% acceptance, $94,823 earnings) in Flint, just 51 miles from Ann Arbor. Michigan State University (83.9% acceptance, $67,253 earnings) in East Lansing is 49 miles away and offers the large public university experience with more accessible admission. University of Detroit Mercy (80.1% acceptance, $71,030 earnings) provides a private option just 32 miles away.
Schools with comparable admission profiles — useful for building a balanced list.
Other highly competitive options include The Cooper Union (19.1% acceptance, $83,847 earnings) for engineering and art programs with nearly identical outcomes. Babson College (19.7% acceptance, $123,938 earnings) offers exceptional business outcomes with similar selectivity, though at significantly higher cost. These institutions compete for similar applicant pools and represent comparable admission challenges.
Elite universities with similar prestige and academic caliber
