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The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor remains the largest and most sought-after public research institution in the state, with record total enrollment this fall of 53,488 students.

Total enrollment increased 1% from 2024, with undergraduate enrollment up nearly 3% from 34,454 undergraduate students last year to 35,358 students this year. 

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“U-M is recognized around the world for providing a life-changing education,” said Adele C. Brumfield, vice provost for enrollment management. “Through innovative partnerships, groundbreaking research, and deep community engagement, we’re expanding educational access and opportunity across Michigan and beyond.”

Among the 9,711 incoming undergraduate students, the university welcomed 8,178 first-year and 1,533 transfer students, a nearly 10% increase from last year. These students hail from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., five U.S. territories, and 62 countries.  

Most incoming students, however, are from the state of Michigan and represent 76 of 83 counties, with the majority, 67%, coming from southeast Michigan. The west side of the state and the mid-Michigan region account for 28% of incoming first-year students — proportions mirroring the state’s population. 

Graphic showing where incoming University of Michigan undergraduate students come from who hail from the state of Michigan.

With a record 115,957 applicants, interest in UM-Ann Arbor from first-year students continues to grow. The university had 109,112 first-year applicants, an increase of 11% over 2024, while transfer applicants remained stable, with 6,845 this year, compared to the 6,832 from the previous year.

Overall graduate and professional student enrollment declined slightly this year, from 18,401 students last year to 18,130 this fall. The enrolled cohort includes 9,515 master’s students, 5,814 Ph.D. students, and 2,562 students pursuing professional doctorates. There are also 239 non-degree seeking graduate and professional students. Among graduate and professional enrollees, 12,652 are domestic students, an increase of 1% from last year, and 5,478 are international students, a decrease of 7%.

“University of Michigan graduate and professional degree programs have seen strong growth over the past five years,” said Mike Solomon, vice provost for academic affairs – graduate studies and dean of Rackham Graduate School. “The university continues its leadership as a place where students can pursue advanced education and training for careers in a comprehensive range of disciplines and professions.”

A look at the fall 2025 incoming undergraduate class

“As a public institution, we strive to expand the boundaries of learning for everyone,” said Erica Sanders, assistant vice provost of enrollment management and executive director of undergraduate admissions. “Throughout the recruitment process, we encourage students from all backgrounds and all regions of Michigan and around the world to consider what a University of Michigan education will mean for their future, and we let them know that we have programs to support all students so they can fully immerse themselves in the U-M experience.”

OFFICE OF BUDGET AND PLANNING REPORTS

• Fall Enrollment
• First-year Class Profile
• Transfer Class Profile

Among the nearly 10,000 first-year and transfer students, more than 1,500 are the first in their family to attend a university. 

Enrollment among students whose families report less than $50,000 in annual income increased slightly this year to 1,057 students from 1,033 in 2024.

This year’s group of first-year and transfer students also continues to reflect the diversity that’s existed in the campus community in recent years. The 9,711 incoming students include 4,128 students of color, which is an 8% increase from last year. The number of Black or African American students increased 6% and the number of Hispanic and Latino students increased nearly 2%. Overall, the number of students of color has increased 36% from five years ago.

Despite challenges and delays for the international student population, the university saw a 3% increase in incoming international undergraduate students from 755 last year to 781 this year. 

U-M’s continued focus on affordability

The university continues to recognize the importance of being accessible and affordable to students through its commitment to financial aid.

The university annually distributes more than $1.55 billion in institutional, federal and state aid and is committed to meeting full demonstrated need for in-state students. This fall, preliminary data shows that more than $617.9 million in financial aid — including federal, state, institutional and private funds — was disbursed to more than 32,800 undergraduate and graduate students. 

With initiatives like the Go Blue Guarantee, which this year expanded to support students and families with assets and incomes under $125,000, annually, the university supports more than 4,900 undergraduate students.

“The university is committed to providing generous financial resources to allow more students to choose U-M and thrive once they’re here,” said Tammie L. Durham Luis, assistant vice provost of enrollment management and executive director of financial aid. “We work to ensure that prospective students and families know they are welcome and can succeed at U-M.”

U-M’s final enrollment data is based on data from the Sept. 16 fall census date.

The University of Michigan remains the No. 3 public university in the country for undergraduate education — a ranking it has held every year since 2019 — according to the U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges list. 

U-M moved up one spot from last year’s rankings to 20th overall among public and private institutions in the list released Sept. 23. The only other public institutions among the top 25 are the University of California, Berkeley at No. 15 and the University of California, Los Angeles at No. 17.

MORE INFORMATION

• U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges
• How U.S. News calculated its rankings

U.S. News evaluated more than 1,700 four-year, bachelor’s degree-granting institutions in compiling its annual list for 2026. The rankings are based on an overall score calculated from weighted measures across various categories including peer assessment, graduation rates, financial resources per student and faculty salaries.

U-M’s high rankings reflect the value of the university’s expertise across academic disciplines and its ability to leverage that excellence at scale to educate students and prepare the next generation of leaders.

U.S. News & World Reports’ measurements do not consider extracurricular offerings — including access to the arts, clinics, studios, athletics, recreational sports, clubs and civic organizations — which are an essential part of what makes a U-M experience special.

U.S. News also ranks undergraduate programs in business, computer science, economics, engineering, nursing and psychology. 

The Stephen M. Ross School of Business maintained a No. 4 ranking on the overall list of undergraduate business programs. Five specialties within the Ross School were ranked in the top five of their disciplines: management (No. 1), marketing (No. 1), production/operations management (No. 2), entrepreneurship (No. 3) and finance (No. 3).

The College of Engineering maintained a No. 5 ranking on the overall list of undergraduate engineering programs. Three specialties ranked in the top five in their disciplines: environmental/environmental health (No. 3), industrial/manufacturing/systems (No. 3) and aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical (No. 4).

The School of Nursing was ranked No. 6 on the overall list of undergraduate nursing programs, up three spots from last year’s ranking.

In addition, several U-M undergraduate programs were highly ranked among the more than 1,700 schools evaluated. U-M ranked:

• No. 5 for psychology.
• No. 6 for undergraduate research and creative projects.
• No. 12 for computer science.
• No. 14 for economics.
• No. 15 for teaching programs. 

U-M also maintained a No. 7 ranking on the U.S. News list of best colleges for veterans and earned a No. 13 ranking among its list of most innovative schools. 

UM-Dearborn was ranked No. 14 best Midwest regional university, up two spots from last year.

Philanthropic activity at the University of Michigan was strong in fiscal year 2025, with donors giving $886 million, up 13% from the previous fiscal year. This generous support made FY ’25 the university’s second-highest fundraising year ever.

Giving was buoyed by U-M’s launch in October of the most ambitious campaign in public higher education, Look to Michigan, with a $7 billion goal and mission to take on society’s most pressing challenges. At the close of FY ’25, more than 230,000 donors have given $4.02 billion toward the campaign — 57% of that goal.

“This year has provided opportunities to reinforce our shared commitment to the university, the value of a Michigan education, and our vision for the future,” said Thomas Baird, vice president for development. “We are grateful to our generous supporters for their constant support and dedication to advancing Michigan and its profound impact on our state and our world.”

Notably, Michigan Medicine had a record-setting year, representing 40% of the total funds raised by the university in FY ’25. Gifts helped expand access to care, revolutionize pancreatic cancer research, bolster pediatric care and more.

A $40 million gift supported Michigan Medicine’s new Frances and Kenneth Eisenberg Troy Center for Specialty Care, a first in Oakland County, and mental health research. A $50 million gift created the Rogel and Blondy Center for Pancreatic Cancer and provides support for clinical care and translational research. C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital received a $10 million gift to bring additional beds to the Brandon Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Reese Partlow Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit.

Donors continue to enthusiastically and generously support student access, opportunity and success. Among the examples:

• $10 million to support the Blavin Scholars Program, which offers a community of support, including mentors and coaches, for undergraduates who have experienced foster care, kinship care or are without the support of parents or guardians.
• $1 million to establish the Holberg First-Generation Scholarship Fund in LSA, to provide need-based support for first-generation, low-income students from Chicago.
• $1 million to provide crucial support to students struggling with hunger and food insecurity through the Maize & Blue Cupboard from the Murray C. and Ina C. Pitt Charitable Trust. 

Additional FY ’25 highlights included U-M’s university-wide giving days, Giving Tuesday and Giving Blueday. 

On Giving Tuesday, the global day of giving held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, more than 4,000 donors gave a total of $1.2 million to fully support nearly 50 projects across the university, from Adaptive Sports and Fitness to the Army ROTC Training Battalion and UM-Dearborn’s student food pantry to the Michigan Mock Trial club.

In March, the university’s 11th Giving Blueday united the university community to support students, research, the arts, sustainability programs, health and well-being initiatives, and other causes. More than 11,000 donors gave $4.7 million to U-M in 24 hours, supporting all three campuses, Athletics and Michigan Medicine.

“In this critical time for higher education, it is especially heartening to know we can rely on the extraordinary support from our community to help us address the most urgent needs of today and invest in a future where Michigan continues to lead and serve,” Baird said.