Address: 503 Thompson Street, 48109 Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Engineering, Business (Ross School), Medicine
Established in 1817, U-M is one of the leading public research universities in the US. It is renowned for its comprehensive excellence across engineering, business (Ross School), medicine, law, arts, and social sciences.
The University of Michigan was founded in 1817, twenty years before Michigan became a state, and it moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor in 1837. It is one of the oldest and largest public research universities in the United States. It has about 51,000 students and 15,000 staff, and the Central Campus, North Campus and the medical centre spread across the city. The Diag, a central plaza with a large block M, is a gathering point, and the Law Quadrangle and the Hatcher Graduate Library are among the landmarks.
The university includes the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, the College of Engineering, the Ross School of Business, the Law School, the Medical School, the School of Information, the Ford School of Public Policy and many more units. The Institute for Social Research, founded in 1949, conducts well-known surveys, and the Ann Arbor campus has an extensive research budget. Cooperation with the automotive industry has been strong, and the Mcity test facility for connected and automated vehicles lies on North Campus.
Michigan played a role in several historic moments. In 1960 John F. Kennedy announced the idea of the Peace Corps on the steps of the Michigan Union. In 1954 Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine trial was evaluated by Thomas Francis at the university. Michigan Stadium, called the Big House, seats more than 100,000 spectators, and the Wolverines compete in the Big Ten Conference. The athletic tradition is a central part of student life.
Admission is by application, with different tuition for Michigan residents and for non-residents, who pay much more. Check the current tariff. Teaching is in English. Scholarships exist, although aid for international students is limited.
Ann Arbor is a lively college town about 60 kilometres west of Detroit, with many bookshops and restaurants. Students live in residence halls on campus or in rented housing around the city, and a free bus system serves the campuses.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Engineering, Life Sciences, Materials, Mechanical Engineering, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
A founding member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). Extensive research collaborations with industry (automotive, tech, healthcare) and government. One of the largest research expenditures among US public universities. Operates Mcity for autonomous vehicle testing.
Research:
A premier public research university with world-class research in engineering (automotive, aerospace, robotics), medicine, social sciences, law, business, and data science. Very high research activity and numerous research centers.
Famous Alumnis:
Larry Page, Gerald Ford, James Earl Jones, Madonna (attended briefly), Tom Brady, Michael Phelps, Arthur Miller
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
15300
Current students***:
51200
Foreign students***:
20%
Cumulative former students***:
605000
Pros
Top-ranked public university with comprehensive excellence across nearly all fields, very high research activity, strong school spirit and vast alumni network, vibrant college town of Ann Arbor.
Cons
Large student population, highly competitive admissions for many programs, Ann Arbor can be expensive, harsh winters.
Best For
Students seeking a world-class public education with exceptional research opportunities across a vast range of disciplines, in a quintessential college town with strong school spirit and global reach.
On content, University of Washington and this university are close, as both teach life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning; it is slightly larger, at about 60,500 students against roughly 51,200 here, and is also a public institution.
For students who like the materials, life sciences and data analytics focus of this university but want another option nearby, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign fits well: it has almost the same size, at about 57,200 students, and is also a public institution.
A good alternative in the same country is Columbia University, which likewise covers life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning; it runs the same bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba programmes, and covers project management and physics as well.
University of Wisconsin, Madison works in much the same fields, chiefly life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning, and it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba.
Rutgers University-New Brunswick shares the core fields of this university, namely materials, life sciences and data analytics; it runs the same bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba programmes, and has almost the same size, at about 50,000 students.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
The closest overseas parallel on life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning is The University of Edinburgh, located in the United Kingdom; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba, and covers robotics and physics as well.
Western University in Canada shares the mechanical engineering, materials and life sciences orientation of this institution, and it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba, and is slightly smaller, at about 43,000 students against roughly 51,200 here.
If this institution is on your list for life sciences, data analytics and AI and machine learning, University College London in the United Kingdom deserves a comparison, because it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba programmes.
McMaster University offers an international parallel to this institution, with materials, life sciences and data analytics as common ground; it is slightly smaller, at about 37,500 students against roughly 51,200 here, and is also a public institution.
For a study option in China with a comparable spread of mechanical engineering, materials and life sciences, Nanchang University is the reference point: it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's, doctoral and mba, and covers food science and chemistry as well.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is the University of Michigan?
In Ann Arbor, Michigan, about 60 kilometres west of Detroit.
When was it founded?
In 1817, and it moved from Detroit to Ann Arbor in 1837.
How large is it?
About 51,000 students and 15,000 staff.
What is the Diag?
A central plaza on the campus with a large block M.
What is Mcity?
A test facility for connected and automated vehicles on North Campus.
What did John F. Kennedy announce at Michigan?
The idea of the Peace Corps, on the steps of the Michigan Union in 1960.
What is the Big House?
Michigan Stadium, which seats more than 100,000 spectators.
What is the Ross School?
The university's school of business.
How does tuition differ?
Michigan residents pay less than non-residents. Check the current tariff.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
Innovation.world is not affiliated with this school/university. We recommend to contact them directly on their website for any special request.
To complete or correct any information here or share your opinion, please comment below or > send us a direct message <.
