Top Public Universities in the US: Michigan or UC Berkeley?

Many of the top universities in the US are private. Examples of top private universities include MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Caltech and Princeton  

However, public universities are often a cheaper option, and there are some very strong public universities to choose from. Two of the highest-ranked public universities are the University of Michigan and the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). 

At fourth and 18th respectively in the QS World University Rankings: USA 2021, UC Berkeley and Michigan have very little to separate them. However, there are some key differences to distinguish them, in terms of location, subject specialisations and key strengths.  

Here’s a summary of how these two top public universities in the US compare: 

*Based on the broad subject areas in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021. 

QS World University Rankings: USA 2021 

In the QS World University Rankings: USA 2021, Michigan and UC Berkeley both perform well. UC Berkley is the higher ranked of the two, in fourth place. Not far behind is Michigan in 18th. 

The universities both earn high scores across each of the indicators, but each clearly has its own strengths.  

Both universities earn top 10 places for the quality of their research output, with UC Berkeley ranking third and Michigan placing in 10th. UC Berkeley also places eighth in the USA for employability. Michigan narrowly misses out of the top 10, ranking 13th for the indicator.  

Berkeley also comes out ahead in the measure of diversity and internationalisation (joint 13th in the USA, while Michigan is 51-100). However, both universities tie on learning experience in joint 38th place. 

Subject strengths 

Another factor worth considering when comparing these two top public universities in the US is their performance in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject.  

In the 2021 edition, both institutions perform well, with UC Berkeley appearing in the top 20 for all the five broad subject areas (achieving its best ranking for arts and humanities, at fourth in the world).  

Meanwhile, Michigan appears in the global top 40 for all five areas, achieving its highest score for social sciences and management (22nd).   

The table below shows how Michigan and UC Berkeley directly compare for all 46 disciplines covered in the 2021 subject rankings: 

Location & student community 

Michigan and Berkeley may be difficult to choose between in terms of academic quality, but they certainly offer very different experiences when it comes to location.  

Over on the west coast in California, Berkeley is part of the San Francisco Bay Area, close enough to provide views of the famous Golden Gate Bridge. A relatively small city, Berkeley boasts a healthy cultural scene, an even healthier appetite for good food, and a strong history of liberal politics. It’s only 13 miles (21km) away from San Francisco, making it ideally located for day trips. 

Over towards the eastern side of the US, the University of Michigan is in Ann Arbor, another relatively small city where the university plays a prominent role in sports and cultural events. There’s a reasonable range of arts, music and nightlife venues, as well as water sports on the river and plenty of nearby parks and nature reserves for more outdoorsy students to explore. 

The University of Michigan has the larger student population, with more than 48,000 students, while Berkeley has around 42,350. At both, undergraduates constitute the largest segment of the student community – almost 65% at Michigan and 72% at Berkeley. 

Tuition fees and living costs 

The tuition fees charged at both Michigan and Berkeley vary depending on several factors, including study level, subject and (most importantly) whether you come from within the state or not. This last distinction has the biggest impact. At US public universities, tuition fees are much lower for resident (in-state) students. 

To find out exactly what fees you could face, check the university website for the most recent fees information, broken down by course, semester and class enrolments.  

To give an idea of the figures, Berkeley’s undergraduate fees for 2019-2020 are $14,254 per year for students from within California, and $44,008 for students from outside the state (including international students). Graduate tuition fees vary depending on the program, and differentiate between state residents and everyone else. 

In Michigan, tuition fees are broken down into two parts: Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer. The latest estimates add up to a total of $15,945 per year for in-state undergraduates, $52,263 for out-of-state undergraduates, $24,772 for in-state graduate students, and $49,548 for out-of-state graduates. 

For an idea of overall costs – including tuition fees, accommodation, food, transport, health insurance and other expenses – Berkeley advises undergraduate students should budget around $39,550(in-state) and $69,304 out of state. Students can use the university’s net price calculator to get a better idea of their costs. 

Michigan’s total estimated undergraduate budgets for the same items add up to $31,484-$33,484 (in-state) and $67,802-$71,464 (out-of-state) – making this the more expensive option of the two. However, most students do not actually pay this much, especially those from within the US who qualify for various need-based financial aid schemes.  

Financial support 

Higher education in the US is never cheap, but it also doesn’t usually end up costing as much as advertised, as many students qualify for financial aid.  

US Michigan offers free tuition for students whose family income is below US$65,000, and a quarter of in-state undergraduates pay no tuition due to financial aid. 

About 50% of non-resident undergraduate students at Michigan and two-thirds of all undergraduates at Berkeley receive some form of financial aid. This includes scholarships, grants, subsidized loans and work-study aid (a federally subsidized scheme which helps students earn money through part-time work). 

However, most financial support schemes are open only to students from within the US. For international students, alternative sources of support may be available via international agencies such as the Aga Khan Foundation or Fulbright Program for Foreign Students.  

Graduate students may also be able to find part-time work within the university, as teaching or research assistants. Finding financial aid which you’re eligible for is likely to require some research, but get started by checking our list of scholarships to study in the US. 

Which of the US’s top public universities would you choose? Share your opinion in the comments below, and find out more about studying in the US with our complete guide.