How did the University of Michigan become such an academic powerhouse?

[Anonymous]

# Top 20

UC Berkeley 12
UCLA 12
Michigan 11
Texas 9
Wisconsin 9
UC San Diego 8
North Carolina 7
Illinois 6
Washington 3

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in Michigan, but I didn't grow up here (from MD) and honestly it was never on my radar before moving here 15 years ago. Now I am thrilled to be in-state for UofM. DS is a very strong student and our school send about 20-30% of grads there per year. We will see what happens, but I hope it works out. In Michigan there is also a program where you can buy credit hours from the day the kid is born, which we have done, has allowed us to lock in a price. All in all, it's a great state for public education and I agree on not having competition from privates, there hardly are any and I would never pay for them in Michigan.

Of course it’s the same in Michigan. UVA and UMD wouldn’t be on the radar for the vast majority of students. I will say though that even if I moved out of the Midwest and to the DMV, UVA and UMD would still take a back seat in preference to my current state flagship. I wonder if you moved back to MD, you’d still feel the same way?

Nope, because I wouldn't pay OOS. But what I was trying to say is that I feel like I lucked out a bit ending up here. Growing up in Maryland, and with many friends still there, I never felt the same about the state schools.

You definitely lucked out. I’m glad that you see the bargain Michigan is instate and hope your child/children have the good fortune to attend. If not, MSU and a few other state universities are also strong. Best of luck!

Yes, it would take a lot for him to go OOS or private. There are at least 5 universities in Michigan we would be happy for him to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The top 3 public universities are Berkeley, UCLA and Michigan. Berkeley is #1 and UCLA and Michigan about the same.

Next tier is probably UC San Diego, Illinois, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin.

No. UVA is no 4. It’s right in USNWR. Google best public universities USNWR

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn’t all of this apply to MSU as well?

Like UVA and VT. Where there are too similar options, one of them tends to rise above because successful people want to cluster together.

I really don’t think MSU and UofM are at all comparable

The point is that many of the reasons cited for Michigan's rise stemmed from the state of Michigan's economy back in the day. If true, then why wouldn't MSU see a similar boost? Just playing Devil's advocate. In other words, is that really the reason for the rise or is it something else. The automakers have invested in both universities. Granted, Ann Arbor is closer to the Detroit, but Lansing is not much farther. So are other factors at play? Maybe that Michigan attracted more out-of-state students than MSU (precisely because MSU was a land-grant) school. It's interesting to see how the two evolved.

MSU did start off as a classic agricultural school, training farmers & teachers. But it gradually expanded, then rapidly expanded after WWII. Today it is huge & well-rounded, with very good business & engineering schools. While it is not as elite as U of Michigan, it has a solid reputation in the state and attracts plenty of students from other states & other countries.

What people posting here don’t seem to be aware of is that MSU established a significant branch campus near Detroit in the 1950s, which has evolved into Oakland University, now with 20,000 students. That campus is where some of MSU’s auto industry engineering & management efforts were channeled. It is located in the northern suburbs, close to the city of Pontiac, where General Motors had large facilities, close to where Chrysler moved its HQ in Auburn Hills, and not too far from GM’s enormous technology center in the city of Warren.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The top 3 public universities are Berkeley, UCLA and Michigan. Berkeley is #1 and UCLA and Michigan about the same.

Next tier is probably UC San Diego, Illinois, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin.

No. UVA is no 4. It’s right in USNWR. Google best public universities USNWR

#5 and dropping

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The top 3 public universities are Berkeley, UCLA and Michigan. Berkeley is #1 and UCLA and Michigan about the same.

Next tier is probably UC San Diego, Illinois, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin.

No. UVA is no 4. It’s right in USNWR. Google best public universities USNWR

It's no. 5 below UNC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The top 3 public universities are Berkeley, UCLA and Michigan. Berkeley is #1 and UCLA and Michigan about the same.

Next tier is probably UC San Diego, Illinois, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin.

No. UVA is no 4. It’s right in USNWR. Google best public universities USNWR

Nope. UVA slipped to #5.
https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/top-public
DP

[Anonymous]

UVA is no. 5 worse than Unc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UVA is no. 5 worse than Unc.

…With Florida breathing down their neck. If a DeSantis university passes them, it will be 2016 all over again, with the UVA boosters lined up to buy coloring books & comfort animals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in Michigan, but I didn't grow up here (from MD) and honestly it was never on my radar before moving here 15 years ago. Now I am thrilled to be in-state for UofM. DS is a very strong student and our school send about 20-30% of grads there per year. We will see what happens, but I hope it works out. In Michigan there is also a program where you can buy credit hours from the day the kid is born, which we have done, has allowed us to lock in a price. All in all, it's a great state for public education and I agree on not having competition from privates, there hardly are any and I would never pay for them in Michigan.

Even better, if you live in Kalamazoo, your child will go to UofM completely free, if they get accepted. Obv you don't, but Michigan is full of great opportunities. UofM in state acceptance rate isn't nearly as selective as OOS and the price, even full pay, is a bargain

[Anonymous]

Another former Michigander here. Wow- what is the Kalamazoo deal? I have never heard of that?

Living in Maryland now and I had not idea how good the options in Mich were until I have kids here now in the DMV. I went to UofM but there are actually a ton of colleges in Mich that arent even mentioned on this thread. Some are now even considered by OOSers.

Anecdotally I hear that the instate acceptance is getting pretty challenging. Even when I went in the 90s I had friends from high school with better stats than mind that did not get in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UVA is no. 5 worse than Unc.

…With Florida breathing down their neck. If a DeSantis university passes them, it will be 2016 all over again, with the UVA boosters lined up to buy coloring books & comfort animals.

2024 Best Public Universities:

1) Berkeley
2) UCLA
3) Michigan
4) UNC
5) UC Davis
6) UC SD
7) UVA
8) Florida
9) Texas
10) Gatech

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shouldn’t all of this apply to MSU as well?

Like UVA and VT. Where there are too similar options, one of them tends to rise above because successful people want to cluster together.

I really don’t think MSU and UofM are at all comparable

The point is that many of the reasons cited for Michigan's rise stemmed from the state of Michigan's economy back in the day. If true, then why wouldn't MSU see a similar boost? Just playing Devil's advocate. In other words, is that really the reason for the rise or is it something else. The automakers have invested in both universities. Granted, Ann Arbor is closer to the Detroit, but Lansing is not much farther. So are other factors at play? Maybe that Michigan attracted more out-of-state students than MSU (precisely because MSU was a land-grant) school. It's interesting to see how the two evolved.

MSU did start off as a classic agricultural school, training farmers & teachers. But it gradually expanded, then rapidly expanded after WWII. Today it is huge & well-rounded, with very good business & engineering schools. While it is not as elite as U of Michigan, it has a solid reputation in the state and attracts plenty of students from other states & other countries.

What people posting here don’t seem to be aware of is that MSU established a significant branch campus near Detroit in the 1950s, which has evolved into Oakland University, now with 20,000 students. That campus is where some of MSU’s auto industry engineering & management efforts were channeled. It is located in the northern suburbs, close to the city of Pontiac, where General Motors had large facilities, close to where Chrysler moved its HQ in Auburn Hills, and not too far from GM’s enormous technology center in the city of Warren.

Had no idea about the MSU-Oakland connection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another former Michigander here. Wow- what is the Kalamazoo deal? I have never heard of that?

Living in Maryland now and I had not idea how good the options in Mich were until I have kids here now in the DMV. I went to UofM but there are actually a ton of colleges in Mich that arent even mentioned on this thread. Some are now even considered by OOSers.

Anecdotally I hear that the instate acceptance is getting pretty challenging. Even when I went in the 90s I had friends from high school with better stats than mind that did not get in.

Google Kalamazoo Promise

Sincerely,
A former Kalamazooan who could really use that money in my retirement account,
but grateful the next generations are benefiting from this gift

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another former Michigander here. Wow- what is the Kalamazoo deal? I have never heard of that?

Living in Maryland now and I had not idea how good the options in Mich were until I have kids here now in the DMV. I went to UofM but there are actually a ton of colleges in Mich that arent even mentioned on this thread. Some are now even considered by OOSers.

Anecdotally I hear that the instate acceptance is getting pretty challenging. Even when I went in the 90s I had friends from high school with better stats than mind that did not get in.

Which ones?