University of Miami

The University of Miami is a private research university located in Coral Gables, Florida, just southwest of downtown Miami. Founded in 1925, it serves undergraduate, graduate, and professional students across schools and colleges that include arts and sciences, business, engineering, law, medicine, marine science, and music. The university is known for its research activity, particularly in marine and atmospheric science, medicine, and health-related fields, as well as for its athletics programs competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Its South Florida location attracts students interested in international studies, environmental research, public health, business, and careers connected to the Americas and global markets.

The University of Miami was chartered in 1925 during South Florida’s land boom, with the goal of creating the region’s first institution of higher learning. It opened its doors in 1926 in Coral Gables, Florida, enrolling its first class shortly before the devastating Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 and the collapse of the land boom created financial challenges. Under the leadership of its first president, Bowman Foster Ashe, the University of Miami stabilized and gradually expanded its academic programs. In the mid-20th century, the university added professional schools, including law and medicine, and developed a growing research profile. Over the decades, the University of Miami expanded its campus, strengthened its health system, and increased national visibility through research and athletics. By its centennial era, the University of Miami had evolved into a comprehensive private research university serving students from across the United States and internationally.