University of Michigan Rankings 2025

Ranked #44 globally by QS, #22 by Times Higher Education (THE), and #21 nationally by U.S. News & World Report, the University of Michigan continues to reinforce its status as one of the top academic institutions. These rankings reflect Michigan's academic excellence, global reputation, and research output across disciplines to help you make the right decision about studying the US.

Let's take a closer look at the University of Michigan ranking in this blog.

University of Michigan Rankings 2025-26

The University of Michigan reaffirmed its global excellence in the 2024–25 rankings, rising to #22 in the Times Higher Education (THE) World Rankings and maintaining a strong #21 national rank in U.S. News & World Report. These top-tier positions highlight U-M’s continued leadership in academics, research, and impact. These results highlight the university's consistent academic excellence and global impact.

Take a look at the University of Michigan rankings:

Here's a graphical representation of all the University of Michigan rankings:

Here's a more concise version of the paragraph-style analysis:

The QS World University Rankings show a gradual decline for the University of Michigan, moving from #33 in 2024 to #44 in 2025, and #45 in 2026. Despite this, it remains in the global top 50, reflecting continued strength in academic reputation and global presence.

In the U.S. News & World Report, Michigan held a consistent national rank of #21 in 2024 and 2025, highlighting stability in graduation rates, faculty resources, and academic outcomes. Data for 2026 is not yet available.

The Times Higher Education (THE) rankings show a slight rise from #23 in 2024 to #22 in 2025, indicating improved performance in research, teaching, and international engagement. 2026 data is pending.

Overall, the University of Michigan maintains strong, consistent rankings across major platforms, reinforcing its status as a top-tier global institution.

Let's explore the details to see how your field of study ranks to help you decide which study area to choose for admission to the University of Michigan.

Subject-wise Rankings of the University of Michigan

The University of Michigan continues to earn high subject-wise rankings across global and national platforms in 2025. It is ranked #22 globally in Economics & Econometrics by QS and holds 22nd in THE's World University Rankings for overall academic excellence. 

Domestically, it is ranked #7 (tie) in Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering by U.S. News, highlighting its strong reputation in both social sciences and engineering disciplines.

Let's discuss the University of Michigan ranking in detail:

QS Rankings

In the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject, the University of Michigan earned high placements in several technical and scientific fields. It was ranked #14 globally in Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering and #26 in Mathematics, demonstrating its strength in innovation, research, and academic excellence in STEM disciplines.

Here's the ranking of various University of Michigan courses based on the QS ranking:

Now, let's look at the University of Michigan's Times Higher Education Rankings

THE (Times Higher Education) Rankings

In the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject, the University of Michigan achieved top-tier positions in key academic areas. It was ranked 20th globally in Arts & Humanities and 21st in Business & Economics, reflecting its strong interdisciplinary focus, academic reputation, and research impact in both creative and professional fields.

Here's how different study areas at the University of Michigan rank based on THE rankings:

Next, let's discuss the US news rankings for the University of Michigan

U.S. News Rankings

In the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings, the University of Michigan secured top positions in engineering specialties. It was ranked #7 in Biomedical Engineering and tied for #8 in Chemical Engineering, demonstrating its leadership in innovation, research, and academic excellence within the engineering domain.

Here's a look at the ranking for this popular program at the University of Michigan:

Now, let's take a look at how University of Michigan performs in other diversified rankings.

Miscellaneous Ranking 2025

In the 2025 Center for World University Rankings (CWUR), the University of Michigan achieved outstanding results, reflecting its all-around institutional strength and contributions to the education system in the US. 

It was ranked 16th globally out of 21,462 universities, placing it in the top 0.1% worldwide and 13th nationally in the U.S. These rankings highlight Michigan's excellence in education, employability, faculty quality, and research output.

 Here are some of the University of Michigan rankings in miscellaneous areas: 

Let's explore the academic and extracurricular achievements that demonstrate the academic standing of the University of Michigan.

University of Michigan: Excellence and Achievements

The University of Michigan honors excellence at every level, including faculty, staff, students, and alumni, through prestigious awards such as the President's Medal of Excellence, Distinguished Academic Achievement, and Distinguished Faculty Achievement Awards. 

It celebrates leadership in teaching, research, service, and public engagement. Michigan's legacy is rooted in transformative contributions such as groundbreaking nuclear science via the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Project and Ford Nuclear Reactor, to sustained innovation in sustainable and advanced energy systems. 

Below is an overview of the University of Michigan ranking and recognitions across key areas:

Academic Excellence and National Recognition

The University of Michigan continues to be recognized nationally for its academic excellence and well-rounded student success. In 2025, 12 students received ACS Chemistry Awards for outstanding STEM research. 

The university earned the NCAA Public Recognition Award, with the women's water polo team achieving a perfect 1000 APR score, showing the institution's commitment to balancing academics and athletics.

Here are the significant recognitions: 

Next, let's see how the University of Michigan has been developing its student community as an inclusive one.

Community and Lifestyle Recognitions

In 2025, the University of Michigan strengthened its focus on wellbeing and community through key initiatives. The rebranded "Michigan Recreation" promotes inclusivity with diverse fitness and wellness programs, while the Values in Action Awards recognize Student Life staff who exemplify values like compassion, innovation, and DEI.

Here are some of the University of Michigan's community development initiatives:

Now, let's explore how the University of Michigan promotes creative and cultural initiatives for international students.

Cultural and Creative Excellence

In 2025, the University of Michigan advanced its commitment to cultural and creative excellence through major artist-focused initiatives and the University of Michigan Scholarships. 

The Creative Careers Residency awarded $40K stipends to emerging talents like Willie Cornish and Abigail Lowe for community-engaged projects. The Michigan Artist Initiative: Envision 2025 showcased innovative contemporary works by artists such as Conor Fagan and Katie Mongoven.

Some notable creative initiatives of the University of Michigan include:

Now that you've explored the University of Michigan's ranking and achievements in academics, culture, and community development, let's understand the relationship between ranking and acceptance rates.

University of Michigan: Ranking V/S Acceptance Rate

The University of Michigan combines strong global rankings with competitive acceptance rates across top academic programs. In the 2025 QS World University Rankings, it ranks #14 in Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering, #22 in Economics & Econometrics, and #26 in Mathematics. With an 18% acceptance rate for engineering, Michigan offers both academic excellence and selective admissions in high-demand fields.

Below is a table showcasing the overall University of Michigan acceptance rate for the top programs:

Students should evaluate the University of Michigan based on its accessibility and the strength of its academic programs. 

Now, let's discuss the methodologies used to evaluate universities for rankings.

Ranking Methodologies

Global university rankings use standardized criteria to assess top universities globally, combining quantitative and qualitative measures. Prominent ranking bodies such as QS, Times Higher Education (THE), and U.S. News & World Report each apply their methodologies to evaluate universities across key areas of academic performance. 

Let's explore ranking methodologies for ranking agencies such as QS, THE, and US News:

QS World University Rankings

The QS World University Rankings is a leading global university evaluation system that assesses over 1,500 institutions each year. Its methodology blends academic and employer reputation surveys with objective data points such as faculty-to-student ratios and research impact.

Here are the indicators used in QS World University rankings.

Now, let's take a look at the ranking methodology for THE

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings is a widely respected global evaluation system focused on research-intensive universities. It assesses institutions across five core pillars: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, International Outlook, and Industry Engagement to deliver a well-rounded view of academic and institutional performance.

Here is the criteria used by THE rankings:

Now, let's explore the ranking methodology for THE

U.S. News and World Report Rankings

U.S. News & World Report is a prominent source for evaluating higher education, applying a detailed methodology focusing on student success, social mobility, and academic quality. The 2025 rankings highlight key performance indicators such as graduation rates and career options after graduation, offering a more comprehensive view of university effectiveness.

Here are the criteria used in U.S. News and World Report rankings:

These rankings reflect the University of Michigan's strength in delivering quality education and real-world outcomes like employability. University of Michigan's 2025 performance highlights its academic and research excellence. 

Next, let's explore its position within the global higher education field.

Conclusion

The University of Michigan holds a strong global reputation, ranking #22 in THE and #21 nationally by U.S. News, with a slight dip in QS to #45. It remains highly regarded for consistent academic excellence and national impact. Michigan stands out in STEM, business, and social sciences, with QS placing many programs in the global top 30 and THE ranking psychology, law, and social sciences in the top 10–20. U.S. News ranks its BBA Management #1 and several engineering fields in the top 10.

Backed by a $2.5B campus expansion, Michigan boosts AI, engineering, and housing. It celebrates student success with top awards and nurtures creativity through programs like Hopwood and Values in Action. With an 18% engineering acceptance rate, it balances prestige and accessibility..