Campus Demographics

The University of Michigan is a firm proponent of the educational value provided by a broadly diverse and inclusive campus community, consistent with the legal parameters set forth in the U.S. Supreme Court rulings and the adoption of Proposal 2 in 2006 by Michigan voters.

Overview

Most charts in this chapter show the demographic composition of the campus community over time. These charts offer a summary overview of each of our campus demographics along several measures of diversity including dimensions of sex, race/ethnicity, first-generation status, socioeconomic status, and veterans/active military.

Starting in 2010, the federal requirements for reporting student race/ethnicity changed to provide a more complete profile of the higher education community. Universities are required to ask whether non-Hispanic/non-Latino individuals have two or more race/ethnic affiliations. The U-M also collects data to further classify students who select two or more races. If at least one race selected is an under-represented minority (URM), the student is indicated as “Two or More URM.” Otherwise, multi-race individuals are categorized as “Two or More Non-URM.”

The university regularly administers a survey of undergraduate students known as UMAY (University of Michigan Asks You). One question asks students to report their “sense of belonging” on the Ann Arbor campus. Data from this question for past surveys are summarized in this chapter.

Overall Demographics

The race and ethnicity composition of the Ann Arbor campus varies greatly when comparing the student, faculty and staff groups.

   SOURCE: U-M Student Data Sets; U-M Human Resources Data Sets (excludes U-M Health System)

Headcounts for each campus population are included with the population label along the bottom axis. The breakdown by race/ethnic group is shown by population group in the stacked columns. Counts exclude Michigan Medicine not employed by an Ann Arbor campus academic unit.

Under-represented minorities (URM) include US citizens or permanent residents who identify as either Black/African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic, or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander.

The student body is 53 percent female, the faculty is 48 percent female, and the staff is 62 percent female.

   SOURCE: U-M Student Data Sets; U-M Human Resources Data Sets (excludes U-M Health System)

The headcount numbers in each column show the breakdown by sex and community populations. Counts exclude Michigan Medicine not employed by an Ann Arbor campus academic unit.

7,342 students who indicated Two or More Races on their admissions application were enrolled at U-M in Fall 2025. The majority of these students indicated they were White or Hispanic.

   SOURCE: U-M Student Data Sets

Among students who indicated Two or More Races on their admissions application, the largest group of students identified as both White and Hispanic, totaling 3,971 students. The next largest groups consist of students identifying as White and Asian (1,786 students) or White and Black (810 students).

Undergraduate Students

The composition of the race/ethnicity profile of undergraduate students includes more minority representation compared to a decade ago.

   SOURCE: U-M Student Data Sets

“Two or More URM” represents non-Hispanic/non-Latino students who identified two or more ethnicities and at least one of the ethnicities included Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, or American Indian or Alaska Native.

The race/ethnicity groupings in these charts align with IPEDS data collection guidelines in that international students are grouped together based on citizenship. International students come from diverse backgrounds which are not reflected in the displayed data.

There has been some change in the breakdown by sex of undergraduate students during the last decade. In Fall 2021, the ratio shifted from a male majority to a female majority.

   SOURCE: U-M Student Data Sets

During the last decade, the proportion of female undergraduates was highest in Fall 2025 at 54% and highest for males in Fall 2016 at 50%. Nationally, the sex ratio for undergraduate students at 4-year, degree-granting colleges and universities is about 58 percent female and 42 percent male, according to the Fall 2022 undergraduate enrollment at U.S. 4-year institutions, National Center for Education Statistics.

First Generation Students

The share of first-generation undergraduate students has steadily risen over the past decade. As of Fall 2025, about one in five students are first generation.

   SOURCE: U-M Student Data Sets

The federal government definition of a First Generation college student is a student whose parents (or parent, if the student resides with and receives support from just one parent) did not complete a bachelor’s degree. This includes undergraduate students whose maximum parental education level completed was Associate’s Degree or lower.

While navigating the college experience can be challenging for all students, it can be especially intimidating for first generation students. U-M supports first gen students through the First Generation Student Gateway, which serves as a starting point for first-generation students to get connected to academic, career & professional development, campus life, financial, community, health & wellness, and mentorship resources.

Socioeconomic Status

The fraction of U-M in-state undergraduates from low-income families is increasing compared to 10 years ago.

7.4 U-M Undergraduates by Inflation-adjusted Family Income and In-State/Out-of-State Status, Fall 2013-2022

   SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education

For many years, the U-M has provided financial aid packages that meet the full cost of attendance for admitted in-state students with demonstrated need. In 2017 the University enhanced this commitment with the Go Blue Guarantee, a pledge to provide the full cost of tuition to all admitted, in-state students whose family income is less than $65,000 and family assets are less than $50,000. Starting with Fall 2023, qualifying family income is $75,000 with assets below $75,000.

Family income is based on data reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the online form that college students must complete to be considered for financial aid.

Feelings of Belonging

A majority of undergraduate students who responded to the 2024 UMAY survey said they felt a sense of belonging on the U-M campus.

7.5 Undergraduate Student Responses to “I feel that I belong at this campus,” 2009-2024

   SOURCE: U-M Asks You (UMAY) undergraduate survey

U-M’s 1,700+ student organizations offer opportunities for students to build relationships and contribute to the community. The Center for Campus Involvement at Student Life helps students connect and make the most out of involvement opportunities.

Graduate & Professional Students

One-third of current graduate and professional students are international. Underrepresented minority students in this population have increased during the last decade.

   SOURCE: U-M Student Data Sets

This chart includes both degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking graduate-level students. “Two or More URM” represents non-Hispanic/non-Latino students who identified two or more ethnicities and at least one of the ethnicities included Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, or American Indian or Alaska Native.

The percentage of graduate and professional students who are female has risen from 47 percent in 2016 to 51 percent in 2025.

   SOURCE: U-M Student Data Sets

The subset of students pursuing PhD degrees who self-identify as an under-represented minority has increased slightly over the last decade.

   SOURCE: U-M Student Data Sets

Female enrollment in PhD degree programs has increased over the past decade, while male enrollment has decreased slightly.

   SOURCE: U-M Student Data Sets

Professional doctorate degree students who identify as an under-represented minority have increased in headcount over the last decade.

   SOURCE: U-M Student Data Sets

U-M awards five professional doctorates: MD (Doctor of Medicine), JD (Juris Doctor), DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery), PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy), and DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice).

Most Professional Doctorate degree students are female, and this share has increased over time.

   SOURCE: U-M Student Data Sets

Master’s degree student distribution of race/ethnicity has remained relatively consistent over the last decade.

   SOURCE: U-M Student Data Sets

Master’s degree students female enrollment has shifted to the majority as of fall 2025.

   SOURCE: U-M Student Data Sets

Veterans & Active Military

More than 600 students were either veterans or serving in active duty as of Fall 2025.

   SOURCE: U-M Student Data Sets

608 students were either veterans or serving in active duty as of Fall 2025, with the majority enrolled in master’s programs. With specialized admission support, in-state tuition eligibility, and peer mentoring programs like Peer Advising for Veteran Education (PAVE), U-M works to ensure that student veterans’ academic transition, benefits access, and sense of belonging are prioritized.