University of Miami

Coral Gables, FL · founded 1925 · 19,000 students · private research university · Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

Known for: The University of Miami is a premier private research university renowned for its programs in marine science, medicine, music, and its historically dominant athletics program, particularly in football, set in a vibrant, subtropical location.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #67
QS World: #311
Times Higher Education: #251
ARWU Shanghai: #201
Forbes: #91

Top programmes

Marine Science
Medicine
Music (Frost School of Music)
Business
Law
Architecture

Notable alumni

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson — Actor and former professional wrestler
Gloria Estefan — Grammy-winning singer and songwriter
Ray Liotta — Actor known for 'Goodfellas'
Mario Chalmers — Former NBA basketball player
Donna Shalala — Former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services and university president
Sylvester Stallone — Actor, filmmaker (attended briefly)
Michael Irvin — Pro Football Hall of Famer
Marcelo Claure — Former CEO of Sprint Corporation

Traditions

Hurricane Howl (pep rally)
Homecoming Week and parade
CanesFest
Ibis (the mascot) mythology
The 'U' hand sign

If University of Miami were…

As a food: Cuban medianoche sandwich — Like UM's culture: a fusion of American privilege and Latin zest, pressed between private school polish and Miami heat, best enjoyed after midnight.
As an athlete: Alex Rodriguez — A-Rod’s blend of slick talent, Miami ties, and controversial glamour mirrors UM’s mix of academic rigor, sun-soaked ambition, and occasional scandal.
As a person alive today: Bad Bunny — Global, genre-blending, and effortlessly cool—like UM’s international student body and its ability to merge serious academics with nonstop Caribbean-adjacent energy.
As a historical figure: Ernest Hemingway — Key West’s hard-drinking literary giant who chased marlins and wars—akin to UM’s writers who study hurricanes and hedonism with equal intensity.
As a movie or TV show: Scarface — Miami’s iconic tale of ambition, excess, and reinvention—much like UM students arriving to trade snow boots for boat shoes and chase big dreams.
As a US president: John F. Kennedy — JFK’s Camelot elegance meets Cuban Missile Crisis tension reflects UM’s blend of old-money aesthetics and modern geopolitical relevance.
As a city: Dubai — A flashy, ambitious oasis built on new money and global ambition, where palm trees shade serious enterprise—just like Coral Gables.
As an element: Mercury — Liquid, volatile, and brilliant—mirroring UM’s fluid social scenes, high-energy atmosphere, and toxic-level school spirit when the Canes lose.
As a car: Porsche 911 Cabriolet (991 generation) — Coral Gables convertible life meets serious performance credentials—expensive, sun-soaked, and engineered for both South Beach parties and pre-med competitiveness. International cache with that unmistakable Miami flash.

Campus life

Campus life is characterized by a beautiful, tropical setting with a mix of rigorous academics and a strong social scene. There is a prominent Greek life presence, legendary school spirit around athletics, and easy access to the beaches and nightlife of Coral Gables and Miami.

The film, scored

This profile answers “if University of Miami were a movie or TV show?” with Scarface (1983). Miami’s iconic tale of ambition, excess, and reinvention—much like UM students arriving to trade snow boots for boat shoes and chase big dreams. It sits in the 80th percentile on rankquant, which re-centres every critic score on the reviewer who gave it, so a percentile means position against peers rather than a raw star average. The full film & TV catalogue ranks the rest the same way.