The University of Michigan is consistently ranked among the top 20 universities in the world, and among the top 5 public institutions in the United States. Many of the University's 700 degree programs, and its professional schools, consistently score high in national rankings as well.

Founded in 1817, U-M has become a national and international model of a diverse and comprehensive public institution that supports excellence in research; provides outstanding undergraduate, graduate, and professional education; and serves people and organizations in the community, region, state, nation, and world through its many partnerships and collaborations.

The University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, a city of 120,000 that is known for its lively arts environment, fine dining, and excellent public schools. Ann Arbor was listed as #1 in Forbes magazine's 2014 listing of "Most Educated Cities in America."

The Ann Arbor campus enrolls 46,000 students and includes professional schools in Dentistry, Law, Medicine, and Pharmacy. Each year, U-M awards some 13,000 degrees. The University's instructional staff includes Pulitzer Prize, Guggenheim, Mac Arthur Fellowship, and Emmy Award winners.

Michigan is widely recognized as one of the leading research universities in the world. With its 19 top-ranked schools and annual research budget of more than one billion dollars, U-M is a national treasure trove of intellectual achievement and social impact.

U-M's research successes span nearly every field of science, engineering, medicine, the social sciences, and the humanities. The opportunities the University provides for connections across campus and beyond has played a critical role in this exceptional record of achievement.

The University's athletic heritage is as storied as its academic past. Michigan played in the first Rose Bowl in 1901, beginning the tradition of New Year's Day bowl games. In 1973, the U-M began offering varsity teams for women in basketball, field hockey, swimming and diving, tennis and volleyball. Today, the U-M competes in 27 varsity sports (13 men, 14 women). To date, Michigan athletic teams have claimed more than 50 national championships.