The Residential College (RC) is a four-year liberal arts college within the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA). Founded in 1967, the RC brings together the academic opportunities of a major research university with the close-knit learning environment of a small liberal arts college.
As one of the University's Living-Learning Communities, the RC integrates academics, residential life, and community engagement to create an educational experience that extends beyond the traditional classroom. Students live, learn, and collaborate in an environment that encourages intellectual curiosity, creativity, and meaningful connections with faculty and peers.
The RC offers an interdisciplinary liberal arts education built on several defining principles:
- Small, discussion-based classes taught by dedicated faculty
- Intensive language learning and cultural immersion
- Community-engaged learning that connects coursework with real-world experience
- Creative expression through the arts and performance
- Close faculty mentorship and individualized academic advising
- A supportive residential community centered in East Quad
Students may pursue one of the RC's interdisciplinary majors or combine the RC experience with majors and minors across LSA. Regardless of their academic path, RC students are encouraged to think critically, communicate effectively, collaborate across disciplines, and engage thoughtfully with the world around them.
For more than five decades, the Residential College has remained committed to educational innovation while preparing students for lives of inquiry, leadership, service, and lifelong learning.
