How Does Michigan Compare?

It's tough to compare colleges on something like computing. A small school may keep 100% of its computing labs open 24 hours, but that only gives you access to maybe 60 computers. U-M has thousands and thousands; so many, in fact, that we can't even count them all at one time.

About the only group to even try a comparison is PC Magazine, who has a Top Wired Colleges list. Their methodology is pretty flawed unfortunately, and so we don't participate in their survey. But here's a look at how we compare with their top three colleges in the nation in the few areas they ask about:

	Villanova	M.I.T.	Indiana University	MICHIGAN
Free Online Storage	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Storage Capacity Per Student	Average 200MB	1 GB File Storage 500+ MB E-Mail Storage	400MB	1 GB File Storage 1 GB E-Mail Storage
Included With Tuition	Hardware Technology (iPods, Laptops, Handhelds) Antivirus And/Or Antispyware Software Permanent University E-Mail Address Free Printing Access To Other Schools' Library Catalogs Access To C...	Antivirus And/Or Antispyware Software Permanent University E-Mail Address Free Printing Access To Other Schools' Library Catalogs Access To Campus Network Off-Campus Peer-To-Peer Connections	Antivirus And/Or Antispyware Software Permanent University E-Mail Address Free Printing Access To Other Schools' Library Catalogs Access To Campus Network Off-Campus Peer-To-Peer Connections	Antivirus And/Or Antispyware Software Permanent University E-Mail Address Free Printing Access To Other Schools' Library Catalogs Access To Campus Network Off-Campus Peer-To-Peer Connections
Approximate Age Of Computers In Labs	2-3 Years Old	2-3 Years Old	2-3 Years Old	2 Years Old
Bandwidth Restrictions	No Individual Restriction, Resident Hall Network Aggregate Bandwidth Is Restricted	None	None	Rarely; only the very most extreme cases are ever restricted
Courses Offered In...	Web Design 3-D Animation Robotics Hacking PC Security	Game Development Web Design 3-D Animation Robotics, Hacking PC Security	Game Development Web Design 3-D Animation Robotics Hacking PC Security	Game Development Web Design 3-D Animation Robotics PC Security
Other High-Tech Courses	Artificial Intelligence Biotech Apps Data Mining Multimedia Tech	N/A	Several	Adaptive Systems Artificial Intelligence Biotech Apps Cryptography Data Mining E-Commerce Human-Computer Interface (HCI) Multimedia Tech Virtual Reality and many, many others
Percentage Of Dorms With Computer Lab	100%	100%	100%	94% (only Northwood Family Housing doesn't have one)
Percentage Of Computer Labs Open 24/7	100%	100%	26-50%	Michigan Union site on Central Campus, Duderstadt site on North Campus, and all residence halls
Campus-Specific Social Networking Site	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes, U-M networks on both Facebook and myspace
Proprietary Client Download Required To Access Wireless Network	Yes	No	No	None for the main UM Wireless Network, covering most of our 80-plus buildings
Streaming Media For College TV/Radio Station	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Students Can Download Apps And Music	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Students Can Rent Free	Music/Movies On CD/DVD Digital Video Cameras Digital Still Cameras Digital Audio Recorders Mixers Digital Projectors	Music/Movies On CD/DVD Digital Video Cameras Digital Still Cameras	Music/Movies On CD/DVD Digital Video Cameras Digital Still Cameras Digital Audio Recorders Digital Projectors Laptops	Music/Movies On CD/DVD Digital Video Cameras Digital Still Cameras Digital Audio Recorders Mixers Digital Projectors Laptops DVD Players Microphones/Condensers Light Kits
Tech Support Beyond Network Connectivity	Includes Diagnostic Troubleshooting, Consulting And Education, Support For Major Applications And University Systems, Authentication, File Backups	Full General Technical Help And Troubleshooting For Operating Systems, Hardware, Productivity Software, And Academic Software (Same As For Staff And Faculty).	Anything. Students Get A "Get Connected" Move-In CD Enables More Than 12,000 Students To Automatically Connect Their Personal Computers To The IU Network During The Five-Day Period That Precedes Th...	Tons: 4-HELP Virus Busters User Advocate ITSS Inoculation Stations department IT groups etc.
Tech Support Options	FAQs	FAQs Remote Diagnostics	FAQs Live Online Live Via Phone Remote Diagnostics	FAQs Live Via Phone E-Mail
Other Repair Services On Campus	Unit Web Site - Software And Diagnostic Tools/Instructions	Residential Computer Coordinators In Dormitories	Several	Several, including: CAEN Service Center Showcase Support Service CDB Data Recovery etc.
Computer Training For Faculty	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes, many opportunities: Faculty Exploratory Knowledge Navigation Center Digital Media Commons ITCS Education Services etc.
Percentage Of Instructors Who Lecture Online	26-50%	1-25%	1-25%	1-25%
Percentage Of Professors Who Post Course Matter Online	76-99%	76-99%	76-99%	76-99%
Online Lectures Delivered Via	Podcast Webcast Download E-Mail	Podcast Webcast Download	Podcast Webcast Download E-Mail	Podcast Webcast Download
Online Test-Taking	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other Online Lecture Methods	DVD CD	N/A	Istream Videoconferencing	CD QuickTime Centra ClipBoard-2000 etc.
Distance Learning	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Tuition	Annual Tuition: $28,760	Annual Tuition: $33,400	Annual In-State Tuition: $6,291 Annual Out-Of-State Tuition: $18,687	Annual In-State Tuition: $9,534 Annual Out-Of-State Tuition: $28,942