University of Michigan-Dearborn

What University of Michigan-Dearborn does

University of Michigan-Dearborn is a public regional university within the University of Michigan System, founded in 1959 on land gifted by Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan. It enrolls 8,005 students (6,199 undergraduate, 1,669 graduate, 137 doctoral) across four colleges: Arts, Sciences, & Letters; Business; Education, Health, and Human Services; and Engineering and Computer Science. The university delivers practice-based learning through specialized facilities including the Bloomberg Finance Lab, Omron Robotics and Human Factors Lab, Engineering Lab Building, Institute for Advanced Vehicle Systems, and the 120-acre Environmental Interpretive Center. It offers more than 100 undergraduate majors, 50+ graduate programs, and seven Rackham-affiliated doctoral programs including Michigan's first MS in Artificial Intelligence.

The institution's revenue model combines tuition and fees, State of Michigan appropriations, externally sponsored research grants and contracts (NSF, federal TRIO, industry partners; $12.4M in awards and $13.8M in research expenditures in FY2025), and private donations from alumni, corporations, and foundations. Pricing is structured as a public university with the lowest average annual cost among 15 Michigan public universities and 35% of full-time in-state undergraduates fully covered by financial aid. The go-to-market approach is sales-led, relying on prospective student recruitment through campus visits, high school outreach, and a community college transfer network anchored by the Learn4ward guaranteed admission partnership with Henry Ford College and 2+2 articulation agreements with Macomb and Oakland Community Colleges.

Customer segments include undergraduate students (44% first-generation, 53% Pell eligible, drawn from 47 Michigan counties), graduate and doctoral students (notably in AI, automotive systems, cybersecurity, and business), and adult/non-traditional learners via the SOAR Program and Diploma Equity Project. Strategic enterprise relationships with Ford Motor Company, Beaumont Health, and Oakwood Healthcare support research, internships, and workforce pipelines, while 94% of employed graduates remain in Michigan, reflecting tight regional economic integration. The institution holds HLC, AACSB, ABET, and ACS accreditations, earned R2 High Research Activity designation in 2025, and was ranked #1 regional public university in Michigan by U.S. News & World Report in 2026.

Name

University of Michigan-Dearborn

Legal name

The Regents of the University of Michigan

Website

https://umdearborn.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Public regional university within the University of Michigan System serving 8,005 students across four colleges, with practice-based learning, the lowest average tuition among Michigan publics, and growing research capabilities including Michigan's first MS in AI program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dearborn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral tuition along with various fees for educational services
2. State Funding and Appropriations: State of Michigan funding for public university operations
3. Research Grants and Contracts: External funding from agencies including NSF, federal TRIO programs, and industry partners for sponsored research activities. Total awards: $12,409,280; Research expenditures: $13.8M in FY2025
4. Private Donations and Gifts: Gifts from alumni, corporations, and foundations including notable donations like the $8M anonymous donor gift and $13.5M from Arthur and Mary Kochoff's estate

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

University of Michigan-Dearborn is a public regional university that delivers accredited bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees across four colleges—Arts, Sciences, & Letters; Business; Education, Health, and Human Services; and Engineering and Computer Science—through on-campus, online, and hybrid modalities. Offerings include 100+ undergraduate programs, 50+ graduate programs, 7 doctoral programs affiliated with the Rackham Graduate School, plus specialized facilities such as the Bloomberg Finance Lab, Engineering Lab Building, Omron Robotics Lab, Maker Space, and Institute for Advanced Vehicle Systems. Revenue comes primarily from tuition and fees, state appropriations, research grants, and private donations.

Product overview

University of Michigan-Dearborn is a comprehensive regional public university offering a broad portfolio of educational products and services through four colleges: College of Arts, Sciences, & Letters (liberal arts and sciences); College of Business (AACSB-accredited business education); College of Education, Health, and Human Services (teacher education and health programs); and College of Engineering and Computer Science (ABET-accredited engineering programs). The institution offers over 100 undergraduate majors, 50+ graduate programs, 7 doctoral programs, and numerous certificates across its colleges. Key products include specialized graduate programs (Master's in AI - Michigan's first, Automotive Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data Science, MBA), research facilities (Institute for Advanced Vehicle Systems, Omron Robotics Lab, Bloomberg Finance Lab, Maker Space), community programs (Early Childhood Education Center, Environmental Interpretive Center), and partnership programs (Learn4ward with Henry Ford College). The institution was recently designated R2 'High Research Activity' by Carnegie Foundation and holds HLC accreditation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• College of Arts, Sciences, & Letters Liberal arts college offering undergraduate and graduate programs across humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics, with centers including the Center for Arab American Studies, Armenian Research Center, and UM-Dearborn Observatory.
• College of Business AACSB-accredited business school offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in accounting, finance, marketing, supply chain management, business analytics, and information systems, with Bloomberg Finance Lab and iLabs experiential learning facilities.
• College of Education, Health, and Human Services Education and health-focused college offering teacher certification, education administration, health administration, social work, and sports management programs with practice-based curriculum and community partnerships.
• College of Engineering and Computer Science Engineering college with ABET-accredited programs in automotive systems, robotics, cybersecurity, AI, manufacturing, and materials engineering, featuring state-of-the-art facilities including the Engineering Lab Building, Manufacturing Systems Engineering Lab, and Institute for Advanced Vehicle Systems.
• Artificial Intelligence, MS First Master of Science in AI program in Michigan, preparing students for AI research and development or leadership careers in industry.
• Business Administration, MBA Nationally ranked MBA program available entirely online, in the evening on campus, or a combination, with specializations in analytics, AI, and enterprise systems.
• Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, BS/MS Programs training students in cybersecurity skills to protect against cyberattacks on banks, public systems, and defense networks.
• Data Science, BS/MS Programs preparing students to decipher data and drive decisions in business, industry, healthcare, government, and nonprofit organizations.
• Robotics Engineering, BSE/MSE Programs teaching robotics concepts, electrical and computer engineering, systems engineering, and mechanical engineering for careers in manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and defense.
• Automotive and Mobility Systems Engineering, MSE Master's program equipping students with advanced technical expertise for the automotive industry's shift towards electric and autonomous vehicles and new mobility solutions.
• Automotive Systems and Mobility, DEng Doctor of Engineering program for working professionals with R&D experience, enabling cutting-edge research using emerging technologies in automotive systems.
• Doctoral Programs (Rackham Affiliated) Seven doctoral programs affiliated with the Rackham Graduate School including Ph.D. in Computer and Information Science, Electrical Electronics and Computer Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, and DEng programs in Automotive Systems and Mobility, and Electrical and Computer Engineering.
• Early Childhood Education Center 5-star rated Great Start to Quality School providing high-quality preschool education for children from various economic backgrounds while training aspiring teachers.
• Environmental Interpretive Center Educational facility at the 120-acre Environmental Study Area serving as a critical urban sanctuary supporting over 200 bird species and environmental education programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% of employed graduates stay in Michigan following graduation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ford Motor CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Founding partner of the university (1959 gift of 200+ acres and $6.5 million); continues as founding sponsor for Bird City Michigan Campus designation supporting environmental education and conservation efforts through Project Protect Avian Travel
• Michigan AuduboncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Partnership for Bird City Michigan Campus designation recognizing university's 120-acre Environmental Study Area as critical urban sanctuary supporting 200+ bird species; "High Flyer" status awarded for habitat initiatives and education programs
• Beaumont HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Collaborated to open Autism Center at UM-Dearborn in 2017; CEHHS and Beaumont initiative awarded $750,000 to launch Center for Autism
• Henry Ford CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLearn4ward guaranteed admission partnership enabling students to earn both an associate and bachelor's degree within 4-6 years; streamlined admissions process for seamless transfer
• Macomb Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArticulation agreements for 2+2 program enabling seamless transfer of community college credits toward bachelor's degree
• Oakland Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArticulation agreements for 2+2 program enabling seamless transfer of community college credits toward bachelor's degree
• Oakwood HealthcareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgreement signed between UM-Dearborn's Early Child Development Center (ECEC) and Oakwood Healthcare to support Oakwood's Program for Exceptional Families
• Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern MichiganminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood Pantry partnership announced in 2013 to support food security for students and the community
• Rackham Graduate SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUM-Dearborn doctoral programs became affiliated with Rackham Graduate School in 2019; all Ph.D. programs are Rackham sanctioned

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Michigan State University: Michigan's flagship land-grant public university with R1 research designation and significantly larger scale (~50,000 students). Overlaps with UM-Dearborn on engineering, business, and education programs but operates at much greater scale and selectivity.
• University of Michigan: Flagship University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor - same system, much larger scale (~47,000 students), and significantly higher selectivity. Provides brand halo for UM-Dearborn while also competing for top Michigan students and faculty.

Regional players

• Cleveland State University: Midwest urban public research university in Cleveland with comparable enrollment scale and similar urban-serving mission in a different regional market. Comparable institutional positioning though operating in a different geography.

Direct peers

• Western Michigan University: Michigan public research university with similar R2 research designation, comparable enrollment scale (~17,000 students), and broad program portfolio across engineering, business, and education. Direct comparable in institutional positioning and mission.
• Oakland University: Michigan regional public university serving similar Southeast Michigan suburban population with comparable tuition tier and program mix including business and engineering. Direct competitor for suburban Detroit-area students.
• Central Michigan University: Michigan regional public university with comparable enrollment scale and broad program mix. Direct competitor for Michigan-resident students outside major metro areas, particularly in mid-Michigan.
• Grand Valley State University: Michigan regional public university with larger enrollment scale (~24,000 students), strong professional programs, and comparable tuition tier. Direct competitor for Michigan students in the regional public segment.
• Eastern Michigan University: Michigan public regional university with similar undergraduate focus, comparable tuition tier, and overlapping student demographic in Southeast Michigan. Direct competitor for Michigan-resident students in the same regional tier.
• University of Michigan-Flint: Sister regional campus within the University of Michigan System with similar profile as a regional comprehensive public university. UM-Flint has comparable enrollment (~6,000 students) and shares the U-M governance structure, brand, and articulation pathways, making it the closest structural comparable to UM-Dearborn.
• Wayne State University: Detroit-based public research university serving the same Southeast Michigan student population with comparable urban-serving mission, research designation, and overlapping healthcare/STEM programs. Direct competitor for Detroit-area students and a comparable urban regional public.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UM_Dearborn
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UMDearborn
• Facebookfacebook.com/UMDearborn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-michigan-dearborn
• Instagraminstagram.com/um_dearborn
• TikToktiktok.com/@um_dearborn

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Michigan-Dearborn