Prospective Graduate Students
About Ann Arbor
The city of Ann Arbor (aka Tree Town or A2) combines the charm and quality of life of a small town with the wide range of educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities of a larger city. The performing arts and array of restaurants, shops, museums, parks, and events add to Ann Arbor's reputation as a distinct destination. Regular special events include the Ann Arbor Art Fair, the weekly Farmer's Market,
the monthly antiques shows during the summer, and the Summer Festival.
U-M, itself, is home to a multitude of activities for the entire family including spectator sports (Big Ten teams competing in football, basketball, baseball, hockey, etc.), recreational programs, as well as art, music, and theatre performances.
Living costs in the area are considered about average for a community of its size (27 square miles) and type. There are more than 1,000 university-owned apartments on campus. The Ann Arbor school system consistently receives high rankings and contributes to the city's reputation as a great place to raise a family.
The total population of Ann Arbor is more than 114,000 (U.S. Census, 2000) with an estimated 69% of residents having college degrees. The city is located 35 miles west of Detroit and is just a 25-minute drive from Detroit's Metropolitan Airport.
Ann Arbor regularly receives national attention as one of the "best places to live" in the United States. Some of its recent honors include:
- Healthiest Hometown in the United States (No. 1) - AARP Magazine, 2008
- The top 100 U.S. cities in which to live (No. 27) - CNN/Money Magazine, 2008
- Smartest City in the United States (No. 4) - Forbes Magazine, 2008
- Fifth best city to live in the United States - "Cities Ranked and Rated," Second Edition
Useful Links
Housing
Bus Routes and Schedules
Parking Information
Entertainment
Restaurants
Sports and Recreation
- U-M Sports and Recreation
- Ann Arbor Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Recreation Listings
- Arbor Web Recreation Guide
Parks
Shopping
Event Calendars
Ann Arbor Events
Local Newspapers
- AnnArbor.com
- Michigan Daily- U-M student-run newspaper