UM-Flint named an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Classifications

The University of Michigan-Flint has been designated an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education. This distinction recognizes UM-Flint as an institution that serves as a model for how campuses can foster student success.

The designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published this month by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. This new classification examines the extent to which institutions foster opportunities for student success by measuring whether student populations reflect the communities served by the institution and how the earnings of those students compare to peers in their area. In 2025, more than 475 institutions will be identified as Opportunity Colleges and Universities.

"This recognition from the Carnegie Classifications exemplifies UM-Flint's commitment to working alongside our community to create better outcomes both locally and globally," said UM-Flint Chancellor Laurence Alexander. "Through an emphasis on engaged citizenship and in-demand degree offerings, we pride ourselves in educating civically minded students who also have the skills most valued by employers."

According to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, UM-Flint graduates report a median annual income of $53,320, exceeding the midpoint of $40,664 for all institutions by more than 30%. According to the latest data available from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, 40% of UM-Flint's degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students were awarded Federal Pell Grants and Federal Student Loans. This is higher than the average of 36%, embodying the university's commitment to serving students from lower-income and underrepresented backgrounds.

The Carnegie Classification is the leading framework for recognizing and describing institutional diversity in U.S. higher education. The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed it in 1973 to support its research and policy analysis program. It will next be updated in 2028, with subsequent updates every three years.

More information about the 2025 Student Earnings and Access Classifications, including the methodology, can be found on the Carnegie website.