Living in Ann Arbor

The University of Michigan is located in Ann Arbor, a small cosmopolitan city in the southeast corner of Michigan, approximately one hour west of the greater Detroit metropolitan area and only a twenty minute drive from the Detroit Metropolitan International Airport. With a population of approximately 125,000, Ann Arbor combines the congenial atmosphere and ease of living of a small city with the wide range of cultural opportunities typically found in a much larger community. Intercalation of the University of Michigan campus and the city of Ann Arbor provides easy access to these activities and to an abundance of affordable and conveniently located housing. As a place to live, Ann Arbor regularly places within the top 20 communities in the country in national magazine ratings. 

Culture

The University serves as a focus for art, music and theatrical performance. The city itself also has a lively arts scene and offers an abundant array of restaurants, microbreweries, coffee houses, jazz, blues and rock clubs, museums and other entertainment. Ann Arbor's proximity to Detroit provides the advantages of life in a major metropolitan area - cultural events, museums, professional sporting events-without the attendant disadvantages of urban life. Chicago, Toronto and other major metropolitan areas are within a four hour trip by car or train, providing access to the distinct array of events these cities have to offer.

Adventure

Over 140 parks in the city and surrounding areas offer countless possibilities for outdoor activities, from boating on the Huron River to biking, rollerblading and hiking, and in the winter cross-country skiing, skating and other outdoor activities. Chains of inland lakes and an abundance of streams and rivers offer adventurous canoeing and fishing opportunities. In addition, Ann Arbor is only a few hours from the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan, the wild shorelines of Lakes Superior and Huron and the deep forests and campsites along the waters of the Upper Peninsula. The combination of cultural, outdoor and sporting activities, excellent restaurants and a lively community make Ann Arbor a terrific place for graduate and postdoctoral studies.

University of Michigan

The University of Michigan, chartered in 1817, has one of the most vibrant research communities in the United States, ranking second nationally in overall research expenditures and rated as one of the best public universities in the country (U.S. News and World Report). The Medical School, in particular, has ranked in the top ten schools nationally in NIH funding for nearly two decades. The student body is large and diverse. About 60 percent of the students are engaged in undergraduate studies and 40 percent are in graduate or professional schools. The 2,500-acre University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor is both integrated into the city and rich in natural settings. There is also a network of inspiring museums including the Exhibit Museums, featuring the Museum of Art, a Hall of Evolution, the Ruthven Planetarium, the Kelsey Museum of Archeology, the University Herbarium and the President Gerald R. Ford Museum. The intellectual, cultural and environmental components of the University of Michigan work together to provide a comfortable home to thousands of students, postdoctoral trainees, faculty and staff.

For More Information

Check out these sites for the latest on Ann Arbor news and events:

Rankings

2022

  • Best Cities to Live in America, #6 Ann Arbor, Niche.com
  • The Best U.S. Cities for Remote Workers, #3 Ann Arbor, Teamwork.com
  • The Best Colleges in America, Ranked by Value, #1 University of Michigan, Money.com
  • 2022 Cities with the Best Public Schools in America, #4 Ann Arbor, Niche.com

2021

  • 2021’s Best Places to Live, #2 Ann Arbor, Livability.com
  • 2021’s Best College Towns & Cities in America, #1 Ann Arbor, WalletHub.com
  • 2021 Cities with the Best Public Schools in America, #2 Ann Arbor, Niche.com
  • The 10 Best Places to Live if You Work From Home, #4 Ann Arbor, Money.com
  • 2021 Best Cities to Live in America, #6 Ann Arbor, Niche.com
  • University of Michigan, U.S.News #3 Business Programs
  • University of Michigan, U.S.News #6 Best Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Programs

2020

  • 2020’s Most Educated Cities in America, #1 Ann Arbor, WalletHub.com
  • America’s Best Small Cities, Ann Arbor #10
  • “One of the smartest small cities in the country is a bastion of employment security and safety.”
  • 2020’s Best College Towns & Cities in America, WalletHub.com Small Cities, Ann Arbor #1
  • Overall, Ann Arbor #5
  • Lowest Brain Drain, Ypsilanti #1 (Tied with Isla Vista, CA
  • Up-and-Coming Small Cities Close to Major Metros, Ann Arbor #2, Livability
  • University of Michigan ranks as top U.S. public university, QS World Rankings
  • University of Michigan Graduate Programs Maintain top-15 rankings in the six areas, U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 edition of Best Graduate Schools. The College of Engineering ranked fourth.
  • The School of Nursing master’s program ranked ninth, and its Doctor of Nursing Practice program ranked No. 13.
  • The Law School ranked ninth.
  • The Stephen M. Ross School of Business ranked No. 12.
  • The School of Education ranked eighth.
  • The Medical School’s research program ranked No. 15, and its primary-care program ranked