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Multiple Michigan universities rank among the nation’s top medical schools with a couple of major caveats, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Rankings for both research and primary care schools were released by the national publication on Tuesday, April 8.

Medical schools for the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Michigan State University were not listed among the top tiers overall, but both schools appeared on lists ranking the most graduates practicing in primary care and in underserved and rural areas.

Not all major Michigan universities were included in the 2024 rankings, as well. About 20% of the top 100 medical schools in both research and primary care rankings as of 2022-23 declined to participate in the statistical survey for this year’s placements.

Read more: University of Michigan Medical School pulls out of U.S. News rankings

Of the medical research schools overall, there were 16 ranked in the top tier or tier 1.

Wayne State University was listed among tier 2, an improvement from last year’s ranking, while Central Michigan University and Oakland University (Beaumont) were listed as tier 3.

There were also a top 16 for tier 1 primary care medical schools. CMU was listed as tier 3, Wayne State at tier 3 and Oakland at tier 4.

Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine ranked No. 2 among schools with the most graduates practicing in primary care, which is 12 rankings higher than last year. Meanwhile, MSU’s College of Human Medicine ranked No. 50, or 10 rankings lower, in that same category, followed by CMU at No. 52, Wayne State tied at No. 85, and Western Michigan University tied at No. 97.

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ranked No. 119 among schools with the most graduates practicing in primary care. Oakland ranked No. 131 out of 170.

Central Michigan had the most graduates working in rural areas at No. 20, followed by MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine at No. 57, Oakland at No. 79, UM-Ann Arbor at No. 82, WMU tied at No. 84, and Wayne State at No. 93.

MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine ranked at No. 3 for graduates practicing in medically underserved areas. Central Michigan ranked No. 17, Wayne State No. 3, MSU’s College of Human Medicine at No. 40, UM at No. 60 and Oakland at No. 83.

Some key details for both UM and MSU’s colleges of osteopathic and human medicine were not listed with U.S. News.

Details for the other Michigan medical schools, including in-state, full-time tuition, enrollment and acceptance rates, were listed as follows:

CMU’s College of Medicine

Full-time tuition: $46,150

Enrollment: 416

Acceptance rate: 3.6%

Faculty-student ratio: 0.2 to 1

Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

Full-time tuition: $60,278

Enrollment: 516

Acceptance rate: 5.8%

Faculty-student ratio: 1.2 to 1

Wayne State University School of Medicine

Full-time tuition: $39,975

Enrollment: 1,229

Acceptance rate: 7.6%

Faculty-student ratio: 0.7 to 1

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MI Local is the show where you can literally meet the local music scene! Each week, I’ll premiere new tracks from artists based all around metro Detroit and the greater Michigan music scene, but I love having the opportunity to invite songwriters into the studio for interviews!

Ann Arbor based singer-songwriter Lauren Blackford made the drive over to Detroit this Tuesday to visit the studio and talk about her recent EP, “The Loft Sessions” — the stripped down acoustic renditions of her debut EP, “One Too Many Times.”

Blackford is an up-and-coming singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who began performing around the scene a little more than a year ago. Her effervescent blend of pop and indie-rock ballads produce tracks that bounce from pared back acoustic strums to glitzy electronic flourishes, all while bolstering dulcet vocals that soar into punchy choruses threaded with sweet melodies sure to get stuck in your head for weeks.

Blackford studied music production while in high school and taught herself guitar after graduation. Back in February, she performed an album release party for her debut at Ziggy’s in Ypsilanti, and just this week she’s celebrating her latest release, “The Loft Sessions.”

Blackford joined MI Local in-studio to perform one of her songs live for WDET listeners, titled “Reset Button.”

She told listeners about how her drive to teach herself not only how to play guitar, but also how to start DIY at-home production, to begin recording the songs for her debut release. She’s been singing and playing music (starting on piano) for much of her life, and started writing songs as a teenager.

Now, fresh out of college, she’s essentially hit the ground running when it comes to making her way into the Michigan music scene.

Along with sharing stories behind some of her candid, heart-aching lyrics, Blackford also shared the anecdote behind the titular “loft” where she recorded songs from “One Too Many Times,” live. Speaking of live, WDET listeners were also treated to a live performance by Blackford, in-studio, during MI Local, performing “A Good Thing,” on acoustic guitar.

Blackford will be headlining The Blind Pig in her hometown of Ann Arbor on Thursday, April 24; she’ll also be performing, as Madonna, at the annual Detroit X Detroit showcase happening on Saturday, April 26, at the Loving Touch in Ferndale.

Along with this feature, we played the latest from the Detroit/LA-based indie-pop duo JR JR, and the newest song from Detroit/LA-based pop-singer-songwriter Chloe Moriondo.

We also explored some more eclectic flavors, including some new electro-space-jazz musings from Justin Walter, and the latest from Detroit-based electronica artist Darren Shelton.

Plus, we sampled some folk songs from Detroit’s own Mike Ward, who performs this Saturday at the Trinity House, and a new song from Ann Arbor folk singer Ananda Murari.

Oh, and if you stick around for the whole show, you’ll find out what my favorite White Stripes song is…

MI Local Playlist for April 8, 2025

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One Michigan university has been pushed out of the top 10 graduate engineering schools in the country, according to the latest rankings from U.S. News and World Report.

Several others, meanwhile, retained places on the lengthy list overall.

The 2025 rankings for best graduate schools in several disciplines were released on Tuesday, April 8, and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor was ranked at No. 11 in engineering.

The Ann Arbor engineering school fell two spots from its previous rank last year.

However, it was the only Michigan university’s engineering school to make the top 50.

Michigan State University was tied with four other institutions at No. 59. Elsewhere, Michigan Technological University was No. 89, and the University of Michigan-Dearborn was No. 166.

Lawrence Technological University, Oakland University, University of Detroit Mercy and Western Michigan University were ranked between Nos. 181 and 198.

Read more: See where Michigan medical schools ranked nationally

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and University of California, Berkley, and Georgia Institute of Technology were Nos. 1 to 4.

Despite being pushed out of the top 10, UM-Ann Arbor placed high in the following engineering areas:

U.S. News engineering rankings rate schools’ research activity, faculty resources, academic achievements of entering students and assessments by other top schools and employers.

The methodology is separate from other U.S. News rankings, including undergraduate and online master’s degrees in engineering.

From fall 2024 to early 2025, 222 engineering schools that grant doctoral degrees were surveyed, and 196 responded with data. U.S. News scored them on nine factors with research activity making up 50%.

The following are some of the other details collected from universities in Michigan.

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Tuition: $32,486 (in state)

Enrollment: 4,109

Acceptance rate: 27.4%

Student-faculty ratio: 4.6 to 1

Rankings: No. 11 overall, top 10 in several disciplines

Michigan State University

Tuition: $992 per credit (in state)

Enrollment: 938

Acceptance rate: 22.2%

Student-faculty ratio: 2.9 to 1

Michigan Technological University

Tuition: $1,516 per credit (in and out of state)

Enrollment: 813

Acceptance rate: 26.8%

Student-faculty ratio: 1.4 to 1

University of Michigan-Dearborn

Tuition: $1,154 per credit (in state)

Enrollment: 1,241

Acceptance rate: 60.8%

Student-faculty ratio: 1.2 to 1

Lawrence Technological University

Tuition: $20,692

Enrollment: 394

Acceptance rate: 49.8%

Student-faculty ratio: 0 to 1

Oakland University

Tuition: $915 per credit (in state)

Enrollment: 592

Acceptance rate: 90.8%

Student-faculty ratio: 1.4 to 1

University of Detroit Mercy

Tuition: $918 per credit

Enrollment: 106

Acceptance rate: 85.3%

Student-faculty ratio: 0.3 to 1

Western Michigan University

Tuition: $19.154 (in state)

Enrollment: 283

Acceptance rate: 49.8%

Student-faculty ratio: 0.8 to 1

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ANN ARBOR, MI - The University of Michigan’s chief diversity officer is leaving for a new position nearly two weeks after the institution made some drastic cuts to its DEI offices and programs.

Tabbye Chavous is set to become the new executive director for the American Educational Research Association, effective Aug. 11. It is currently unclear when her last day is with UM.

She began her role as chief diversity officer and vice provost for equity and inclusion in August 2022 for a five-year renewable term. She succeeded Robert Sellers, who was UM’s first diversity officer.

Chavous is also a professor of education and psychology at UM and has had other roles over the years, including serving as the director of the National Center for Institutional Diversity.

Chavous’ decision comes shortly after UM ended its DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan and shuttered its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Office for Health Equity and Inclusion on March 27. These changes come as universities face funding threats around DEI under President Donald Trump’s administration.

UM shared it plans to “shift resources to increase investments in student-facing programs,” like financial aid, mental health resources and pre-professional counseling in the coming months.

Read more: What we know so far about the University of Michigan axing DEI initiatives

Chavous could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Chavous as the next leader of AERA,” said AERA President Janelle Scott in a statement on April 7. “Her deep expertise in education research and unwavering commitment to promoting evidence-based policies and practices make her the ideal choice to guide our organization toward continued growth and success.”

Scott said she is “confident” Chavous will expand its impact and “drive meaningful change,” especially “at a time when support for high-quality research is key to advancing education” in the United States.

Related: University of Michigan decision to curb DEI is sharp turn after decade of work

Chavous is taking over the position from Felice Levine, who served as executive director since 2002.

In the statement, Chavous said she is looking forward to building on the work that has established the association as a “leading resource for the national and international community.”

“This is a challenging time for those who understand the value of rigorous research and scholarship, who seek to expand access and opportunity, and who cultivate the next generation of scholars and practitioners to make positive societal impacts. Our work is needed now more than ever,” she said.

UM spokespeople did not respond to questions regarding Chavous’ last day at UM, or if someone will be filling her position following her departure.

Chavous’ position as vice provost had a listed salary of $416,898, according to the 2024 University of Michigan salary rate of faculty and staff.

As Chavous ends her time at UM, Provost Laurie McCauley commended her work, calling her a “visionary educator” and a “collaborative colleague” who will be a “tremendous asset” to AERA.

“She has enriched our campus immensely in her time here,” McCauley said in a statement. “Her tenure at Michigan has been defined by a passion for research, relentless creativity, and kindness toward everyone she knows. She will be missed.”

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Continuing a commitment to elevate Michigan as a nationwide leader in mobility, manufacturing, and entrepreneurial innovation, Ann Arbor SPARK returned to the SXSW conference in Austin, Texas, this year. The organization co-sponsored Michigan Day at the conference's Midwest House on March 11. Michigan Day spotlighted Michigan's startup funding strategies and influence in hardtech (solutions that combine hardware and software) and advanced air mobility.

"It was important for SPARK to be there because we are a credible player in this space," says Loren Townes Jr., director of entrepreneurial services at SPARK Central. "It's about doing our best to equip all of our stakeholders with the tools they need to be innovative and drive economic prosperity and innovation in our region."

Backed by 79 partner organizations, Midwest House hosted a record-breaking four-day event highlighting the region's strengths. Nearly 9,000 attendees were treated to a mix of panels, pitch competitions, and performances. In total, there were 55 events and 151 speakers.

On Michigan Day, Mike Flanagan, SPARK’s vice president of capital programs, led a panel featuring Crystal Brown, co-founder and CEO of CircNova; Josef Hjelmaker, founder and CEO of Electric Outdoors; and Jim Tenzillo, principal of Michigan Outdoor Innovation Fund. The panel provided transparent, practical advice for entrepreneurs navigating the fundraising landscape, emphasizing relationship building and personal storytelling.

"Mike reminded founders in the audience that most investors do have a specific thesis that they're interested in," Townes says. "So it's good for founders to do research and have that knowledge, so they can better target their approach."

Throughout SXSW 2025, the Ann Arbor SPARK team also engaged with other trailblazers in areas ranging from deepfake defense and lunar mining to regenerative capitalism.

One "gem" that Townes says he's exploring is "the importance of being curious about and rethinking" the idea of investing in companies to build economies alongside impact.

"It's not necessarily just to make money, but to actually repair and strengthen the world around us," he says. "We can use capitalism as a tool to be able to do that. It can be a tool for repairing, not just a reward."

Moving forward on the heels of SXSW, Townes is eager to transform the knowledge he gained into "tangible impact."

"I met people from different spaces, from different places nationally, and those relationships could materialize into wonderful things right here," he says. "We've brought back a lot of knowledge that can benefit the local community."

Jaishree Drepaul is a writer and editor based in Ann Arbor. She can be reached at jaishreeedit@gmail.com.

Photo courtesy of Ann Arbor SPARK.

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