University of Michigan Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

The University of Michigan (UMich) accepted 17,915 students out of 109,112 applicants for the Class of 2029, giving it an overall acceptance rate of 16.42%.

For the Class of 2030, UMich released Early Decision (ED) results in December 2025 and Early Action (EA) results in January 2026, with Regular Decision (RD) announcements expected by April 2026. UMich doesn’t publish separate ED, EA, or RD figures, so only overall acceptance rates are shared with the public after the admissions cycle ends.

In this blog, we’ll break down UMich’s latest available overall, early, regular, waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates, and track how they’ve shifted over time.

• University of Michigan Acceptance Rates
• University of Michigan Early Admissions Acceptance Rate
• University of Michigan Regular Decision Acceptance Rate
• University of Michigan Transfer Acceptance Rate
• University of Michigan Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

University of Michigan Acceptance Rates

UMich’s overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 rose to 16.42%, up from 15.64% for the Class of 2028. This increase was driven by a significant jump in applications, from 98,310 to 109,112, while admits also grew from 15,373 to 17,915.

That said, this latest increase goes against the broader trend. Over the past decade, UMich’s overall acceptance rate has been steadily declining. Here’s the full picture:

Note: All data has been compiled from UMich’s Common Data Set.

Since the Class of 2021, UMich’s acceptance rate has dropped significantly, from 26.50% down to 16.42% for the Class of 2029. A notable jump in applications began with the Class of 2025, rising sharply from 65,021 for the Class of 2024 to 79,743. This surge was likely driven by UMich adopting a “test-flexible” policy for the fall 2020 application cycle in response to COVID-19, which lowered barriers and encouraged more students to apply.

Application numbers continued to climb from there, reaching 98,310 for the Class of 2028 before breaking the 100,000 mark with 109,112 applications for the Class of 2029. This steady increase is likely tied to UMich’s decision to formally adopt a test-optional admissions policy, giving applicants the ongoing choice of whether to submit standardized test scores.

While applications have surged, the number of admitted students has remained relatively stable, ranging from about 14,000 to just under 18,000, which is what has driven the acceptance rate down over time.

University of Michigan Early Admissions Acceptance Rate

UMich does not disclose acceptance rate data by admissions round, so there’s no way to know the exact rates for ED or EA. Instead, the university reports only overall admissions figures, including total applicants, total admits, and the overall acceptance rate, which was 16.42% for the Class of 2029.

EA is the non-binding option for students who want earlier results. ED is a newer binding option introduced in the 2026 admissions cycle, where admitted students must withdraw other college applications. Even though ED decisions were released in December 2025, that data will likely not be made public either.

University Regent Sarah Hubbard said the ED program was introduced because “It will allow us to secure the best students that are interested in (the University).” If UMich is clearly your top choice, applying ED may be worth considering. However, while ED often has higher acceptance rates than RD, the applicant pool is typically extremely competitive.

University of Michigan Regular Decision Acceptance Rate

Like its early admissions rounds, UMich does not release RD-specific acceptance rate data. However, because RD applicants compete for fewer remaining spots after the early rounds, the RD pool tends to have lower acceptance rates.

University of Michigan Transfer Acceptance Rate

The most recent available UMich transfer data comes from Fall 2025, with an acceptance rate of 34.91%. Here’s how the numbers look:

Note: Fall 2025 transfer data is from UMich’s Student Profile, published by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

At 34.97%, UMich’s transfer acceptance rate is more than double its overall first-year rate of 16.42%. This is largely due to a significantly smaller applicant pool: only 6,845 transfer applicants compared to over 109,000 first-year applicants, making the transfer route considerably less competitive than first-year admissions.

As a public state university, UMich also benefits from the Michigan Transfer Agreement. This statewide initiative simplifies the transfer of general education credits from Michigan community colleges, making it a natural pathway for many in-state students.

University of Michigan Waitlist Acceptance Rate

The most recent waitlist data is from the Class of 2029, with a 9% acceptance rate. Here’s a closer look at the numbers:

Note: The total number of waitlisted applicants is estimated from confirmed and admitted figures sourced from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

At 9%, UMich’s waitlist acceptance rate is actually lower than the overall first-year rate of 16.42%. Of the 18,435 students who confirmed their place on the waitlist for the Class of 2029, only 1,663 were ultimately admitted, meaning a waitlist offer is far from a guaranteed spot.

This number can also shift year to year. UMich states that the number of waitlisted applicants varies, depending on the total number of applications received and the individual credentials each applicant brings.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is UMich’s current acceptance rate?

UMich’s current acceptance rate is 16.42% for the Class of 2029. Out of 109,112 applicants, 17,915 were admitted.

2. Is it easier to get into UMich through Early Action/Decision or Regular Decision?

UMich doesn’t release separate EA, ED, or RD acceptance rates, so a direct comparison isn’t possible. ED applicants may have a slight edge due to the binding commitment, but since UMich only reports overall figures, there’s no data to confirm definitively which round is easier.

3. How hard is it to transfer to UMich?

Less competitive than freshman admissions. UMich’s transfer acceptance rate for Fall 2025 was 34.97%, significantly higher than the overall freshman rate of 16.42%.

4. What are my chances of getting off UMich’s waitlist?

It depends on the year and UMich’s enrollment needs. For the Class of 2029, UMich admitted 1,663 students from the waitlist, resulting in a 9% waitlist acceptance rate. That number shifts every year based on how many students ultimately enroll.

5. Why is the University of Michigan’s acceptance rate low?

The University of Michigan’s acceptance rate reflects the growing gap between a surging applicant pool and a limited number of spots. Applications have nearly doubled over the past decade, driven in part by UMich adopting a test-optional policy in 2020, while the number of admitted students has remained relatively stable.

Takeaways

• The University of Michigan’s acceptance rate has generally declined over the past decade, from 26.50% for the Class of 2021 down to 16.42% for the Class of 2029, with the latest cycle being a slight uptick against the broader trend.
• UMich does not release separate ED or RD acceptance rates, so there’s no confirmed data on which round is more competitive.
• Both transfer and waitlist admissions vary year to year. UMich’s Fall 2025 transfer rate was 34.97%, while the waitlist acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was 9%.
• UMich only reports overall admissions figures after the full cycle ends, so round-by-round data is not publicly available.
• With UMich becoming increasingly selective, a well-prepared application matters more than ever. Working with an admissions expert can help you understand what UMich looks for, strengthen your application, and improve your chances in a competitive pool.