As a freshman at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, I am constantly asked if I plan to transfer to the Ann Arbor campus in the future. Everyone knows that the University’s reputation is at its peak in Ann Arbor, while its sister campuses in Dearborn and Flint are often treated as an afterthought — a convenient beginning rather than a long-term choice. U-M Dearborn students often feel pressured to transfer to Ann Arbor because its global prestige has turned the campus into a brand, while overlooking regional campuses like Dearborn. This creates a false gap in prestige that makes Dearborn students feel lesser, despite earning a degree from the same university.
For decades, Ann Arbor has been well known and ranked as a top global university — a dream school for many, especially those who travel from out of state just to attend. Its reputation has grown so large that very few people ever think to question the assumptions behind that prestige, whether it truly reflects educational quality or simply just a long-standing brand image. Students choose to attend U-M Ann Arbor not only for its strong academics, but also for the promise of a balanced college life and social scene. The network of opportunities that opens up from the school, even after college, adds to its appeal, reinforcing the idea that Ann Arbor provides a gateway to success.
These rankings and reputations account for more than academics. They also reflect the advantages that come with a highly visible, internationally recognized brand. Global ranking systems rarely differentiate between the University as a whole and what is specific to the Ann Arbor campus. The prestige of the name has become so inflated that it overshadows the fact that the University actually encompasses three campuses — each with its own communities, strengths and contributions. Instead of evaluating Dearborn or Flint on their actual educational quality, these rubrics tend to overlook them altogether, reinforcing the misconception that Ann Arbor is the only “real” University of Michigan…