Michigan Athletics connects the Michigan family globally through shared pride, passion, and tradition. We honor our history while creating new memories that will become the next chapter in our legacy.
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Campaign
Pillars
Facilities
Student-Athlete
Enrichment
Scholarship
Support
Overall Goal
$400M
Message From Our
Athletic Director
Our mission at Michigan Athletics is to foster a culture of excellence by committing to championship standards in everything we do and everyone we serve. To that end, we strive to support our student-athletes in any and all ways so their collegiate experience in the classroom, in competition and in the community is second to none.
As we prepare these young leaders to proudly represent the Michigan family, both now and into the future, we must continue to provide the necessary resources to be champions: champions in all aspects of life, and championing causes that impact our communities and society.
These are all essential in helping us achieve our vision of being the Leaders and Best.
But here's the catch: Michigan Athletics is completely self-funded and self-sufficient, reliant largely on our fans and donors. We do not receive financial support from the University or the State of Michigan.
To achieve our collective vision, we need you. To be the Leaders and Best, we need you.
Come be part of our team, our culture, our family. Thank you for your continued support. GO BLUE!
Warde J. Manuel 
Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics
In 2023-24, the average cost of attendance per in-state scholarship student-athlete was $36,531. out-of-state scholarships were $77,865.
$33.7M
Rising Tuition
The annual scholarship bill paid by Michigan Athletics continues to increase, reaching nearly $34 million in 2023-24.
$7.6M
Closing the Gap
Endowment distributions covered 23.3% of our scholarship bill in the 2023-24 academic year.
76%
Out-of-State Student-Athletes
Three-fourths of our student-athletes on scholarship are from out-of-state, translating to higher tuition expenses.
Campaign Pillars
Facilities
In the fast-paced world of intercollegiate athletics, infrastructure and facilities play a pivotal role in the recruitment and development of top-tier talent.
Whether it's preparing for competition, pursuing civic engagement, or identifying and chasing dreams, the University of Michigan is fully dedicated to guiding each student-athlete toward achieving their full potential in any pursuit.
As we look to support our next generation of sport and community leaders, we aim to build on the foundation of the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus, our student-athletes' home away from home. It is vital that we continue to offer first-class amenities and experiences for our student-athletes and fans alike, and our Athletics Facilities Master Plan will keep us among the best in the country.
But it doesn't stop with Vision 2034 as a part of our Look To Michigan campaign. U-M has put together a comprehensive plan called Vision 2050 that will reimagine the Athletics footprint we know today. This includes proposed development sites on the Kipke corridor, Ferry Field, the Stephen M. Ross Athletic Campus - South Complex and the U-M Golf Course.
Following the Victors for Michigan campaign, we were able to build a rowing facility with indoor tanks allowing rowers to focus on individual techniques and the efficiency of their stroke. This provides a year-round opportunity to mimic the feeling of being in a boat with your teammates. It's been an incredible recruiting tool and helped us win Big Ten Championships four out of the last five years.
Mark Rothstein
ROWING HEAD COACH
Kipke Drive
Opportunities to redevelop land and create year-round programming in the heart of the Athletics footprint.
Ferry Field
Proposed renovations and innovation to a historic site where U-M football game day started in 1906.
South Complex
Continued development of green space adding to our current Athletics facilities.
Golf Course
Potential decarbonization opportunities for Central Campus.
Campaign Pillars
Student-Athlete
Enrichment
The Champions Fund allows us to comprehensively prepare student-athletes in the most meaningful enrichment areas: counseling, career and leadership development, academic support, nutrition, athletic medicine, strength and conditioning, team travel, and recruiting. Expenses in these critical support areas exceeded $24M in FY23 alone.
Our reality is that more than 20% of our annual budget comes from private philanthropic donations; it is your generosity that enables us to comprehensively support our more than 900 student-athletes.
Examples of
Student-Athlete Support
- More than 2,000 individual student-athlete counseling appointments every academic year.
- 23 full-time athletic training staff members along with the doctors & specialists of Michigan Medicine.
- International travel opportunities to France, Greece, Italy, Croatia, and Spain since 2022.
- Over 950 appointments scheduled with the Michigan Athletics Career Center, 115+ hours of programming and 2024 Career Ventures to Minnesota, Miami, New York City and Washington, DC.
At Michigan, we excel both in athletics and academics. Our student-athletes receive a world-class education while cultivating teamwork, perseverance, and leadership skills for life. To ensure equal opportunities, we provide significant scholarship support, allocating over $30 million annually for 613 scholarships across all 29 varsity programs, despite rising tuition costs.
This financial aid helps student-athletes pursue their dreams without financial stress. Sustaining this aid requires ongoing community support through donations, which shape the future of Michigan Athletics and leave a lasting legacy. We would not be able to provide the scholarship support we do, without the generosity of our loyal donors.
Roughly two-thirds of our student-athletes are from out-of-state, reflecting our commitment to recruiting top talent regardless of residency. Your support empowers a variety of backgrounds to thrive academically and athletically. Join us in supporting student-athlete scholarships and uphold our legacy of excellence.
Expendable Scholarships
Scholarship support is a powerful resource of sustained funding that allows Michigan Athletics to RECRUIT, SUPPORT and ENGAGE the Leaders and Best for generations to come.
Why You Should Consider An Expendable Scholarship
While endowed scholarships play a critical role in the long-term sustainability of our department, expendable scholarships allow us to immediately cover a portion of our scholarship bill in the current fiscal year.
Expendable
- Funds are easily accessible for immediate use
- Offers flexibility for the short-term
- Gifts of all sizes make an impact
Endowed
- Funds are continuously invested to generate income
- Offers long-term stability
- Supports innovation and the future
Four-Year Pledge Term
Testimonials
Meg Goebel
Wolverine Legacy Society
Scholarship Planned Gifts
Meg's grandfather was a U-M football All-American and University regent. She is passionate about relieving the financial burden of our student-athletes in order to earn their Michigan degrees.
Michael Leon
Class of '25
Men's Soccer
Michael talks about his experience traveling to Vietnam, learning about the country's culture and history, with the Michigan Athletics Let's Go Do program.
Nate Forbes
B.A. '85
Athletics Donor
Nate Forbes, a dedicated Michigan Athletics donor, discusses why investing in our student-athletes' education and development is essential as we train the next generation of leaders.
Jack Juds
Class of '25
Men's Track and Field
Jack explains the value and impact of having a scholarship as an international student-athlete from Bryanston, South Africa.
This is your chance.
We need your philanthropic partnership to make our goals and vision a reality.
