Colleges and Universities in Dearborn, Michigan

An Education Hub Near Detroit

Dearborn, Michigan is located just outside Detroit and is home to a vibrant and diverse community. This mid-sized city also boasts several high-quality colleges and universities that attract students locally and from across the country. From small liberal arts schools to satellite campuses of large public university systems, Dearborn offers a wide range of higher education options.

Henry Ford College

Henry Ford College (HFC) is a public community college located right in Dearborn. With over 18,000 students enrolled annually, it is one of the largest community colleges in Michigan.

History

HFC was established in 1938 as Fordson Junior College, named after the Fordson High School it was situated next to. It adopted its current name in 1952. Over the decades, the college has expanded to five locations across southeastern Michigan. The main campus spanning 130 acres is located on Evergreen Road in Dearborn.

Academics

Henry Ford College confers associate degrees, certificates and other credentials across 150+ academic programs. Some popular majors include:

• Business
• Health Sciences
• Computer Science
• Early Childhood Education
• Culinary Arts & Hospitality

HFC also has a thriving athletics program with 10 NJCAA Division II sports teams. Their mascot is Hank the Hawk.

The college has numerous partnerships allowing students to transfer smoothly to four-year universities. As a feeder school to the University of Michigan-Dearborn located right across the street, HFC sends more transfer students to UM-D than any other two-year college.

Facilities

Notable facilities at the Dearborn campus include:

• John Bucci Hall: Home to the dental hygiene and nursing programs with specialized labs
• Andrew A. Mazzara Administrative Services and Conference Center: Houses executive offices, classrooms and event space
• Health Careers Education Center: State-of-the-art instructional space for many allied health programs
• Henry Ford II Honors House: Living space and study area exclusively for honors program students

University of Michigan-Dearborn

The University of Michigan-Dearborn (UM-D) is a public university located right next to Henry Ford College, offering easy access between the two campuses. UM-D has close to 10,000 students enrolled in over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs.

History

UM-D was established in 1959 as a satellite campus called the University of Michigan – Dearborn Center to provide greater access to the prestigious University of Michigan system. It adopted its current name in 1969 and has since transitioned from commuter school to a residential four-year university experience. Today, one-third of the students live on campus.

Academics

UM-D is organized into four colleges offering programs in liberal arts, engineering, business, education, health sciences and more:

• College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters
• College of Business
• College of Education, Health, and Human Services
• College of Engineering & Computer Science

Some signature programs include:

• Automotive Systems Engineering
• Early Childhood Education
• Environmental Studies
• Information Systems Security

There are also pre-professional tracks for business, law and health careers in addition to opportunities for undergraduate research across disciplines.

Campus Life

UM-D provides a robust student life experience with over 100 student organizations, 20+ NCAA Division II athletic teams, and annual traditions like Homecoming. State-of-the-art facilities include:

• The University of Michigan-Dearborn Fieldhouse: Houses the gymnasium, indoor track, cardio and weight rooms. Home court and training center for athletic teams.
• The University of Michigan-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center: Showcases green architecture and sustainable practices with classrooms and labs surrounded by nature trails and gardens.
• Mardigian Library: Sprawling library with group study rooms, academic support services and a large makerspace.

UM-D’s 340-acre campus has lots of green space, outdoor art installations and easy access to Fairlane Town Center mall right next door. School spirit and community pride run high with campus store merchandise emblazoned with the UM-D wolverines logo.

Cleary University

Cleary University is a private business university with a small 30-acre campus located right on the border of Dearborn. It enrolls approximately 800 students in over 20 undergraduate and graduate degree programs focused on practical business skills.

History

Cleary University was founded in 1883 as Cleary Business College, a private business school. It adopted its current name in 1999 after having attained four-year college status. Long focused on equipping students with applicable business knowledge, the university retains close ties to the corporate world through advisory boards.

Academics

All academic programs have a career focus, blending theory and practice across business disciplines like:

• Management
• Entrepreneurship
• Marketing
• Finance/Accounting

Hands-on learning is emphasized through required internships, consulting projects solving real business challenges and frequent guest lectures from executives.

Some unique program offerings include:

• BS in Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• BS in Supply Chain Management
• Graduate certificates in Sustainability and Business Intelligence

Campus & Culture

Cleary University has an intimate campus feel with small class sizes of 15-20 students. Almost 40% of undergraduates are student athletes on Cleary’s 15 NAIA sports teams.

State-of-the-art facilities include:

• Joanne H. Cleary Student Union: Houses admissions, registrar services, cafeteria, fitness center and indoor track.
• Cleary University Michigan Business Center for Entrepreneurship: High-tech workshop and prototyping space supporting innovation on campus.

Given the specialized focus, students are drawn to the tight-knit, career-oriented culture. Strong industry connections facilitate lots of networking opportunities.

St. Mary Mercy Hospital School of Radiologic Technology

Dearborn is also home to the St. Mary Mercy Hospital School of Radiologic Technology, which offers a highly-selective 24-month program to become an radiologic technologist.

Program Overview

• Award granted upon completion: Associate of Science in Radiologic Technology
• Competitively admits 20 students per cohort
• Includes classwork and clinical rotations at the affiliated St. Mary Mercy Hospital
• Graduates eligible to take the ARRT registry exam to become licensed radiologic technologists

The program has maintained an excellent reputation locally for training top-notch technicians well prepared to enter the workforce.

Facilities

Students in the program have access to St. Mary Mercy Hospital’s radiology department including specialized diagnostic imaging equipment they train on.

Concordia University Ann Arbor

Concordia University Ann Arbor is a private liberal arts university located right on the western edge of Dearborn. Founded in 1963, it enrolls around 1,000 students across 70+ academic programs.

Academics

Concordia confers bachelor’s degrees across faculties of:

• Arts & Sciences
• Business & Economics
• Education
• Health Professions

Along with traditional liberal arts and sciences majors, some distinctive programs include:

• BS in Sign Language Interpreting
• BFA in Graphic Design
• BS in Health & Fitness Management
• Master of Science in Athletic Training

There is also a renowned music program offering BM degrees in areas like church music, jazz studies and vocal performance.

Campus Life

Concordia University has a lively student culture with over 50 student clubs, 17 NAIA Division II athletic teams and an active Greek system. Annual events include Relay for Life supporting cancer research. The campus core includes:

• Music Building: State-of-the-art practice rooms and multimedia performance spaces.
• Sports Dome: Indoor softball and baseball facility supporting pre-season training.
• Chapel of the Holy Trinity: Iconic campus chapel hosting ceremonies and services.

The university’s arboretum spanning 80 acres features running trails, a labyrinth garden and space for art installations.

Choosing Where to Study in Dearborn

Dearborn offers excellent higher education options to choose from. Small liberal arts colleges, large public universities, community colleges, niche technical schools, satellite campuses – there is something for everyone.

Prospective students can pick an institution matching their interests, career goals and personality. The proximity between several universities also allows opportunities to cross-register for courses or access facilities at nearby schools. And campus life is enriched by the diverse student bodies bridging across institutions.

Academics & Affordability

Both Henry Ford Community College and University of Michigan-Dearborn offer very cost-effective education options, ideal for cash-strapped students. Their reputable programs also feed smoothly into nearby four-year colleges when ready to transfer.

Cleary University and Concordia Ann Arbor provide more intimate learning environments as smaller private institutions. Though pricier, they focus heavily on career preparation through practical training and professional development. Generous financial aid and scholarships are available.

Ultimately Dearborn schools enable customized pathways to quality higher education. From jumping straight into rigorous technical training or pre-professional tracks to starting off slowly in exploratory liberal arts – there are flexible options to suit every student’s needs.

Educational Pipeline Supporting Local Industry

An underlying reason Dearborn attracts such great colleges is its proximity to Detroit and all the major industries headquartered in the area, especially automotive and advanced manufacturing.

Schools actively partner with local corporations to tailor academic programming around talent needs. For example, UM-Dearborn uniquely offers an Automotive Systems Engineering degree feeding engineering talent into car companies. And Cleary University houses entrepreneurial makerspaces for developing hardware prototypes and business plans in one space.

Internships and industry research projects foster additional synergies between academia and commercial enterprise in the region. Consequently students get both solid real-world skills and networking exposure to potential employers before even graduating. This educational pipeline dynamically supports the local economy – a true win-win!

Dearborn: College Town in the Making

Between the nine specialized institutions concentrated in this small city, Dearborn has firmly established itself as hub for higher education and workforce development in metro Detroit.

The student bodies collectively making up almost 30,000 strong also inject youth, energy and cultural diversity into the area. And vibrant university communities are spawning more cafes, event venues, shops and recreational spaces catering to student tastes.

As exciting expansion plans are underway at both Henry Ford Community College and University of Michigan-Dearborn over the next decade, Dearborn’s college town identity will only grow stronger. Prospective students can expect a dynamic, industry-connected academic experience – not to mention all the perks of campus life in a thriving community!