Is Indiana University or the University of Michigan harder to get into?

The University of Michigan is harder to get into than Indiana University by a wide margin. In a simple comparison, Michigan is one of the more selective large public universities in the country, while Indiana University Bloomington is selective but notably more accessible overall.

For a student building a realistic college list, Michigan should usually be treated more like a reach or high-reach unless your academic profile is exceptionally strong. Strong grades in rigorous classes matter a lot there, and even very qualified applicants are not guaranteed admission. Indiana is still a respected Big Ten school, but it is much more attainable for a broader range of strong students.

The type of applicant drawn to Michigan is often someone aiming at a highly selective public university with intense competition across majors, especially in programs like engineering, business, and some other high-demand areas. The type of applicant drawn to Indiana may still be academically ambitious, but Indiana is more likely to offer a realistic admissions path while still providing a large-campus experience, strong academics, and well-known programs such as Kelley.

So if your question is only which one is tougher to get into, the answer is Michigan. Indiana can still be selective in certain schools or programs, but overall it is not in the same admissions tier as the University of Michigan.