Does anyone know how the parking rates for student parking at any of the public parking garages work or what the rates are?
You will not be able to get on campus parking as an undergrad student. If you are lucky, you may find a parking spot sublease from students living in the apartment around campus. Public parking garages are hourly rated. It would be better to rent a Zipcar when you need one instead of bring your own.
What billscho said. The only central parking open to undergrads are for students with physical disabilities.
You can park in what are essentially commuter lots and take the blue buses in.
Hourly parking on central campus is EXPENSIVE and limited.
You can get a parking pass from the city for one of the many structures downtown. It can get pretty expensive, $150-$200 per month. You can leave your car at one of the student lots on North Campus. There are several low cost/free commuter lots as well, such as the lot on state street, or one of the many free AATA lots on the periphery of the city, such as on Miller or Plymouth Rd. , or the Green Rd lot.
https://payment.rpsa2.com/Home/RequestMonthlyPass
Some people find street parking in the neighborhoods near campus but that is spotty unless you arrive early, and you will walk 10-20 min if you want a spot that is not time limited (2 hrs typical). There is a lot more parking around North Campus.
As a student your best option is almost always the bus. If you are a UM employee you can purchase a parking pass for $6-$160 per month , depending on the priority of your lot.
As the parent of a student who is required by the university to have a car ( nursing student) the lack of parking is especially annoying. We shell out the extra money for pricy parking and considerer it part of tuition. ( At least nursing gives some of the few Umich Merit scholarships!)
Student orange lots are located at the periphery of the three campuses and you can get a permit if you have junior+ standing. If you want to park near central campus you are stuck with private lots. Student orange only allows parking up to 48 hrs at a time, so no long term storage. You can get parking as a resident at Northwood apartments.
My kiddo always had parking at the Northwood apartments, but never needed a car. You can’t really find parking on central, it’s just easier to take the bus. But a car is handy for grocery runs, leaving the city, and trips home.
^For thar, you just need to rent a Zipcar when you need it. It is not worth to pay for parking.
@maya45 why are nursing students required to have a car? I’ve never heard of that.
I don’t think a car is required but it would be more convenient to move among clinics. There are UM hospital shuttles to go around town.
You are required to have access to a car jr and sr year. From the U mich nursing web site" Typically, students are able to walk or take public transportation to clinicals during their freshman and sophomore years. However, students will need to have access to a car during their junior and senior years, as clinicals may be in a variety of locations."
Clinicals can be up to 100 Miles from campus!!
^ For that, one may choose to live in an apartment near campus just as most Junior and senior students.