Founded in 1956 as the Flint Senior College, it was initially established as a remote branch of the University of Michigan, offering upper-division undergraduate courses.

Notable alumni include former Best Buy executive Shari Ballard, former United States Senator Donald Riegle, and Oscar-winning film director Michael Moore, who was an editor for the student newspaper The Michigan Times.

Mott first suggested bringing a full university to Flint in a meeting with then-President Alexander Ruthven in 1946.

Degrees were offered in liberal arts and sciences and in the professional fields of education and business administration.

[9] During September 1972, sixteen temporary buildings were erected to ease campus overcrowding, pressuring the Regents to move UM-Flint to its current location along the Flint River.

[9] In 1977, construction ended on the Class Room Office Building (CROB), later named David M. French Hall, and the Central Energy Plant.

[11] In 1979, the original Harrison Street Halo Burger location was vacated to make way for UM-Flint parking.

[16] Halo Burger returned to the campus in September 2002 only to be forced out due to on-campus housing food regulations in 2008.

[18] The School of Management moved to a leased floor of the Riverfront Residence Hall in early 2013 from the White Building at renovation cost of $5.3 million.

[23] In 2019, Susan E. Borrego resigned as chancellor after 5 years, and was succeeded by Debasish Dutta in July.

[26] In the fiscal year 2022–23, the State of Michigan provided $25.2 million to the university, which represents 17.79% of its total operating budget.

[26] Revenue from government sponsored programs contributed $14.5 million to the Expendable Restricted Funds, accounting for 10.23% of the total operating budget.

[31] For Pell Grant recipients, who make up nearly half of the undergraduate population, the graduation and withdrawal rates are 52% and 43%, respectively.

The university offers an ABET-accredited mechanical engineering undergraduate degree through the College of Innovation and Technology.

[46] The Part-Time MBA Program was ranked 41st in the United States (overall) and ninth in the Midwest (by region) in 2010 by BusinessWeek.

[47] The U.S. Department of Education reports that as of 2024, federally aided students attending UM-Flint 10 years after they began their studies had a median annual income of $53,230 (based on 2020-2021 earnings adjusted to 2022 dollars), exceeding U.S. real median personal income ($40,460) for 2021 adjusted to 2022 dollars.

After several assessments, studies, and surveys showing the probable progression of growth of the campus, student housing was approved.

[50] In December 2015, Uptown Reinvestment Corporation donated the Riverfront Residence Hall, a privately owned high-rise building that houses both UM-Flint and Baker College students, to the university.

University sponsored organizations include: The university is home to several fraternities and sororities:[52] Sororities: Fraternities: The school owns WFUM (91.1 FM), a public radio station affiliated with the Michigan Radio network.

Notable alumni staff members include filmmaker Michael Moore and American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones.

In March 2024, the Flint Expatriates blog reported The Michigan Times was "sunsetting" and will cease operations.

If students want to relaunch the publication in the future, it will have to be a volunteer-only organization responsible for its own fundraising.

Current Club Sports include:[55] In 2013, the men's ice hockey team earned a spot in the ACHA Division III National Tournament for the first time, eventually advancing to the National Championship Game against fellow Michigan Collegiate Hockey Conference foe Adrian Bulldogs.