A private research university with more than 15,000 students from around the world, the University of Miami is a vibrant and diverse academic community focused on teaching and   learning, the discovery of new knowledge, and service to the South   Florida region and beyond.

Led by President Donna E. Shalala, the University is comprised of 12 schools and colleges serving undergraduate and graduate students in more than 180 majors and programs. In 2011, U.S.News & World Report ranked UM No. 38 in its "Best Colleges" listings, and it continued to be ranked as the top school in Florida; it also cited several of its programs in “America’s Best Graduate Schools.” In the past 10 years, UM has moved up 29 spots in the "Best Colleges" rankings.

Established in 1925 during the region’s famous real estate boom, UM is a major research university engaged in nearly $339 million in research and sponsored program expenditures a year. While the majority of this work is housed at the Miller School of Medicine, investigators conduct dozens of studies in other areas, including marine science, engineering, education, and psychology.