The University of Michigan is a public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The university is Michigan’s oldest, founded in 1817. It is the flagship campus of the University of Michigan system and has about 45,000 students.
In fact, the University of Michigan was established in 1817 as the first public university west of the Allegheny Mountains. Its history includes the founding of an independent women’s college (1841), a law school (1843), and a business school (1921). The university was one of the few American universities to do research on nuclear fission in World War II. In 1948, UM received national attention when its football team beat Ohio State to win the Big Ten Championship. The Wolverines also won national championships in 1957 and 1964.
The University has enjoyed a rich sports tradition since its beginnings as an intramural program at Ann Arbor High School in 1879. Today, U-M’s athletic teams compete at three levels: varsity intercollegiate competition in Division I; club sports that operate outside NCAA governance; and intramural activities for all students on campus regardless of affiliation with any other organization or activity within U-M or the city of Ann Arbor itself.
Today, more than 50,000 students attend classes on campus at U-M’s main campus in Ann Arbor and at regional campuses throughout Southeast Michigan.
