The next chancellor at UM-Dearborn will take charge of an institution thriving on two stages: one that’s growing its research and innovative learning opportunities, and one deeply committed to respecting its strong community roots.
UM-Dearborn was established in 1959 with land and funding support from Ford Motor Co., and the first programs reflected the need to boost a local workforce in automotive-related skills: industrial engineering, mechanical engineering and business administration.
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Now, 66 years later, the university offers 97 degrees from undergraduate to doctoral programs. But it still attracts, supports and educates a student body reflective of Michigan:
- 94% of students are Michigan residents, representing 47 counties.
- 44% of students are the first in their families to attend college.
- 53% of students are Pell-eligible.
The only fully commuter campus of the 15 public universities in Michigan, the Dearborn campus of just over 8,000 students operates independently from Ann Arbor and Flint and has its own priorities and accreditation programs.
A learning, research hub
U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges guide ranked UM-Dearborn as the No. 1 regional public university in the state and No. 3 in the Midwest.
The 2026 list shows UM-Dearborn continuing its upward trend — moving up two places from last year to No. 14 overall in the Midwest regional universities category. This marks the 23rd consecutive year that U.S. News rated UM-Dearborn as one of the region’s best.
Helping drive that success are world-class faculty who are increasingly securing large grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and other federal and state agencies. As a result, total research awards continue to climb — the university secured $12.4 million in externally funded awards during FY ’25. The university’s total research expenditures for FY ’25 were $13.8 million, a 16% increase from FY ’24.
That commitment to research resulted in UM-Dearborn earning a “Research 2 (R2)” designation, from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education earlier this year. R2 indicates “high spending and doctorate production,” and Dearborn is one of only five schools in Michigan with this designation.
“As a regional public university, the University of Michigan-Dearborn emphasizes practical research, often driven by collaboration with industry and community partners, to directly address pressing needs in our region, state and broader society,” said Armen Zakarian, UM-Dearborn’s vice provost for research at the time of the designation (Zakarian is currently serving as interim dean of the university’s College of Engineering and Computer Sciences). “This designation will bolster our efforts to continue to grow that enterprise, with direct benefits for the people of southeast Michigan and our state, as well as nationally and internationally.”
Tailored student support, results
Practical knowledge is embedded in UM-Dearborn’s classrooms as well. Over the last several years, the university has reoriented its curriculum around practice-based learning, which emphasizes hands-on, collaborative and holistic learning, often in collaboration with industry and community partners.
One goal of this approach is to ensure graduates are well prepared to enter the workforce equipped with on-the-ground knowledge: This makes the more than 95% of employed UM-Dearborn graduates who work in Michigan powerful drivers of the region’s workforce and economy.
UM-Dearborn is equally focused on making a college education affordable and accessible to students from all backgrounds. According to the latest Dept. of Education College Scorecard, UM-Dearborn has the lowest annual average cost among all of Michigan’s 15 public universities.
The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education recently named UM-Dearborn a top-tier “Opportunity University” through their new Student Access and Earnings Classification. UM-Dearborn, along with UM-Flint, are two of only four public universities in the state on this list, which ranks the degree of access and future wages for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
Many UM-Dearborn students juggle work and family responsibilities, along with economic challenges. The university offers a wide range of programs to help students stay on track toward graduation, including peer mentoring, expansive mental health services, and food and clothing pantries. Its SOAR Program provides extensive support for nontraditional students, including returning adults, parents, veterans and students who were formerly incarcerated.
The university also keeps financial support a priority: 35% of full-time in-state undergraduate students have tuition and fees fully covered by scholarships. And UM-Dearborn students are eligible for the Go Blue Guarantee — University of Michigan’s landmark promise of free tuition for high-achieving in-state undergraduate students from qualifying backgrounds. Eligibility includes being a full-time, in-state undergraduate student with an incoming 3.5 GPA and family income of $125,000 or less.
Student success is reflected in the proactive learning and support offerings: As of the 2025-26 academic year, the university’s six-year graduation rate is 60% — the highest six-year graduation rate in university history.
Looking to the future
The University of Michigan has launched its Look to Michigan fundraising and vision initiatives, which are redefining the power of higher education in the public interest.
In addition to carrying out the five pillars of the vision, UM-Dearborn has campus-specific pillars, which are closely aligned with the strategic priorities laid out in its GoBLUEprint for Success:
- Student Experience and Success: Reinforces this culture of support by providing guidance both in the classroom and in life.
- Holistic Excellence: Central to UM-Dearborn’s identity is its unwavering commitment to belonging and inclusion.
- Faculty and Staff Distinction: Commitment to investing in faculty and staff and ensuring it recruits and retains top talent.
- Economic Sustainability: Remain financially stable through implementation of its campus master plan, pursuing carbon-neutral practices and identifying new sources of revenue.
