Featured news

Ford School opens applications for powerful one year degree program

Today, the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy opens applications for its Master of Public Affairs (MPA) program—an innovative, powerful one-year...

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News

Shaefer anticipates major poverty reduction in upcoming Flint prenatal and infant cash program

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Alumni spotlight

MPA grads continue to collaborate across differences

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News

Former NYC mayor Bill de Blasio joins the Ford School as Towsley Foundation Policymaker in Residence

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Featured event

Master's of Public Policy Information Session

Dec 5, 2023, 12:00-1:00 pm EST

If you're eager to lead, to find creative solutions, and to make a transformational impact on your communities, the Ford School is the right place...

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Dec 14 2023

Ford School Alumni - Ask Me Anything

6:00-7:00 pm

Dec 20 2023

Master's of Public Affairs Information Session

6:00-7:00 pm

Jan 17 2024

Ford School BA Students - Ask Me Anything

5:30-6:30 pm

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Magazine

State & Hill spring 2023: International policy education

This edition of State & Hill focuses on the growth in the international policy experiences we offer our students. Students have more options than ever before to tailor their experience at the Ford School and prepare for careers in international policy.

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Our impact

A community dedicated to the public good.

More impact areas

Education policy

From cradle through career, education programs exist to help children and youth learn, grow, and succeed in school and in life. But how do decision makers know which interventions work? How can their investments address institutional and systemic...

Science and technology policy

Urgent questions at the intersection of science, technology, and public policy are shaping nearly every aspect of our society. Science and technology policies shape transportation, communication, public safety, social services, and much...

Our strengths

The Ford School difference

Prominent and accessible faculty

Our faculty are world-class scholars—and also enthusiastic teachers and mentors.

Rigorous academics

We're the nationally recognized leader in policy analysis.

A world-class university

The University of Michigan is a premier public university, and it's deeply collaborative: we're closely linked with Law, Ross, the Schools of Information, Education, and Social Work, and many more top programs.

Hands-on approach

Students apply what they're learning through hands-on practical policy experiences.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion

This work is woven throughout all we do—and integral to the study and practice of public policy.

“ One of the most exciting aspects of our work is how deeply engaged students and faculty are with practitioners and policymakers, whether it is working in Lansing or Washington, DC, or advising school districts from Massachusetts to Washington State.

Brian A. Jacob, Walter H. Annenberg Professor of Education Policy

Jacob is one of America's top education policy scholars, renowned for his empirically rigorous and policy-relevant research. He has produced substantive insights into how to improve educational outcomes and altered the way education policy research is conducted.

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Courses, faculty, news and more

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Health Ethics Education Economics and finance Energy and environment Security Public and nonprofit management Science and technology International policy and diplomacy