Miami University and the University of Miami are two completely different schools. Miami University is a public research university in Oxford, Ohio, founded in 1809 and often called “Miami of Ohio”; the University of Miami is a private research university in Coral Gables, Florida, founded in 1925 and known as “The U”. They share a name only because Ohio’s Miami Valley and Florida’s city of Miami are both named Miami.
Here is how the two compare side by side, using fall 2024 figures from the federal College Navigator database.
Miami University vs University of Miami at a Glance
| Item | Miami University | University of Miami |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Oxford, Ohio | Coral Gables, Florida |
| Founded | 1809 | 1925 |
| Type | Public | Private not-for-profit |
| Enrollment (fall 2024) | 18,838 (16,816 undergraduate) | 19,852 (13,250 undergraduate) |
| Research class | R2 (high research activity) | R1 (very high research activity) |
| Admitted (fall 2024) | 75% | 19% |
| Tuition and fees (2024-2025) | $18,161 in state; $41,221 out of state | $62,616 |
| Average net price (2023-2024) | $28,229 | $45,397 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 16 to 1 | 11 to 1 |
| Six-year graduation rate (fall 2018 cohort) | 80% | 84% |
| Teams | RedHawks, NCAA Division I, Mid-American Conference | Hurricanes, NCAA Division I |
| Accreditor | Higher Learning Commission | SACSCOC |
What Is Miami University?
Miami University is a public university in the small town of Oxford, Ohio, and a member of the University System of Ohio. Founded in 1809, it is the second-oldest university in Ohio, and it takes its name from the Miami Valley, which was in turn named after the Myaamia people. It offers a liberal arts education with an emphasis on undergraduate studies across seven colleges and schools, and it runs regional campuses in Hamilton, Middletown and West Chester plus a European center in Luxembourg. It is nicknamed the “Mother of Fraternities” and the “Cradle of Coaches”. Its RedHawks compete in the Mid-American Conference and, in hockey, the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.
What Is the University of Miami?
The University of Miami is a private research university whose main campus is in Coral Gables, a suburb about 7 miles southwest of downtown Miami, Florida. It was founded in 1925 on land and money given by Coral Gables founder George E. Merrick. Today it has two colleges and eight schools, including the Miller School of Medicine and the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, and offers 154 undergraduate, 150 master’s and 70 doctoral programs. Its Hurricanes compete in NCAA Division I; the football team has won five national championships since 1983 and the baseball team four since 1982.
Why People Mix Them Up
- The name. Both are literally called “Miami”, and sports broadcasts often shorten both to “Miami”.
- Both are Division I with well-known football and hockey or baseball programs, so a “Miami” score can belong to either school.
- Both have roughly 19,000 to 20,000 students, so size does not separate them.
The quick tell: Miami University, often written Miami (OH), means Ohio; “University of Miami”, “UM” or “The U” means Florida.
Who Each School Suits
Miami University suits students who want a traditional public campus in a college town at a public price, especially Ohio residents paying $18,161 in tuition and fees, and who want strong undergraduate teaching and Greek life.
The University of Miami suits students aiming for a highly selective private research university (19% admitted) in a large metro area, with smaller classes and a big medical and marine-science research footprint, and who can manage a net price above $45,000 or qualify for substantial aid.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Miami University the same as the University of Miami? No. Miami University is in Oxford, Ohio; the University of Miami is in Coral Gables, Florida.
- Which is older? Miami University, founded in 1809. The University of Miami dates from 1925.
- Which is harder to get into? The University of Miami admitted 19% of applicants for fall 2024; Miami University admitted 75%.
- Which Miami is “Miami of Ohio”? Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.