The University of Michigan as we know it started with LSA. In 1841, the university held its first classes in Ann Arbor with a handful of students, featuring a curriculum rooted in literature, science, and the arts—a revolutionary approach that viewed the world through many lenses instead of just one.
Today—with over 26,000 students, faculty, and staff, an alumni network of over 200,000, and more than 100 degree programs in over 75 academic departments and programs—LSA is the largest of U-M’s 19 schools and colleges and is still at the heart of the university.
The college is built upon the idea that a powerful, pragmatic, broad education can transform hearts and minds, can solve problems in an ever-changing world, and can yield ideas and innovation across every discipline.
Here, thinking doesn’t have to be elegant—it can be messy, it can shake up the status quo, and it can set minds in motion. Evolution, after all, is rarely neat.
Top-ranked programs and renowned faculty
LSA isn’t just known for its size—we’ve got substance to back it up. LSA programs consistently rank among the top 10 in U.S. News & World Report, and LSA faculty hold numerous distinctions, including fellowships from MacArthur (Genius Grant recipients), Guggenheim, Packard, and Cottrell Scholars. They’ve also earned awards from the Mellon Just Futures Grant and the Mellon New Directions Fellowship. And they're not locked away in some ivory tower: one hundred percent of LSA tenure-track faculty teach undergraduates.
Hands-on learning in class and around the world
Practical learning and leadership opportunities are at the core of the LSA experience.
- LSA offers more than 140 study abroad programs in over 45 countries.
- Students can participate in internships through the LSA Opportunity Hub; do research at the U-M Biological Station in northern Michigan or Camp Davis in Wyoming; journal, hike, and paddle their way through the New England Literature Program; and more.
- LSA’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program pairs well over 1,000 students with faculty mentors to conduct research projects each year.
- The Barger Leadership Institute offers courses and experiences designed to develop a leadership mindset through the power of empathy, understanding, and mindfulness.
- First- and second-year students can enroll in LSA’s highly regarded Honors Program; juniors and seniors in any major can write an honors thesis.
Major impact in every field
LSA majors find employment in nearly every career field—including some you wouldn’t expect. This interactive chart shows how our flexible curriculum prepares students to make an impact in any career, regardless of their major.
Data was collected by our College Connections team through more than 8,000 interviews of LSA alumni who graduated as far back as 1942. The visualization to the left represents a segment of graduates from 1942–2021.
The next generation of liberal arts leaders
LSA has offered generations of students broad and deep programs of study and, in the process, has provided a foundation for successful lives and meaningful careers. Today, this transformative approach to education continues to attract growing numbers of students who recognize the value of a liberal arts education in a rapidly changing world.
For more facts about the college, check out LSA At-a-Glance.
