Living in Ann Arbor

Small-Town Charm | Big-City Sophistication

University of Michigan Ann Arbor Campus

Because city and campus life are elaborately interwoven, Ann Arbor has a bustling and varied nightlife with restaurants, bars, cafes, and entertainment venues for every taste and temperament. With nearly 118,000 permanent residents, there are things to do year round. Visit Happening@Michigan to find out more.
Ann Arbor cherishes its reputation as a national center for the arts, and the University of Michigan is a large part of that. Almost every day you will find cultural and intellectual events such as the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Capitol Steps brought to campus by the University Musical Society. Nationally acclaimed events like the Ann Arbor Art Fair draw nearly half a million visitors every year.
Running through the city is the Huron River, an ideal spot for outdoor recreation. Many other rivers and forests, as well as 147 city parks of all shapes and sizes, can be found in the area.

Ann Arbor and the university community are safe, friendly, accessible, and affordable. The cost of living is much lower than in cities with comparable amenities, such as New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
Graduate housing is available on campus, including for families with children. However, most SEAS students choose to live off-campus in apartments. U-M’s Beyond the Diag web page lists many off-campus housing options in both Ann Arbor and popular neighboring cities like Ypsilanti.
Whether you’re interested in joining a club, attending a lecture, or attending Sustain-a-Ball, life at SEAS offers plenty of things to do. The SEAS Events Calendar lets you know about upcoming happenings of interest.
The Ann Arbor District Library is open to the public. You can check out books, DVDs, instruments, games, and teaching supplies with a city library card. The AADL also hosts occasional teaching events and talks.
Looking to get off campus? Hop on a bus and check out one of Ann Arbor’s many parks, try a new restaurant, or get involved with a community outreach program.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) is the closest international, full-service airport. Learn about your options for transportation to and from DTW here.
Ann Arbor Transit Authority (AATA) buses run through campus and across town. AATA buses are white, and free for students to ride with a U-M ID card. You'll find maps and schedules on the AATA site (above).
The University of Michigan has its own buses that only run on campus. U-M buses are blue and are free for students to ride. Check out U-M bus route maps and schedules.
After-hours transit services are available.
Paratransit services are available.
Ann Arbor is one of the nation's most bike-friendly cities, according to Livability, and detailed information about biking on campus and bike rack locations is available.
The Mega Bus is a low-cost bus transportation option if you are traveling between cities. The Ann Arbor stop is at the South State Street Park + Ride.