OT: What is the most prestigious degree/program at the University of Michigan?

Not Sparty.  At Michigan you still have to take math as an undergrad.

Agreed, it's pretty low, but it feels intense when it happens for a couple of days.  Then life moves on as it should.  

I didn't get into Harvard but I did squeak into WCC and then transferred to EMU before dropping out and I eventually learned carpentry and now I make more than the average PhD so I think that not getting into Harvard might actually be a positive for some

It is out there.

But also, when encounter GREAT writing, it’s apparent. 

Ultimately it comes down to building a reputation within the literary and publishing communities for being a supportive and constructively challenging place to study, which becomes mutually reinforcing over time as you attract better and better students who then go on to become accomplished writers. A big factor for Michigan is that they have exceptional resources (thanks in large part to the Zell family) which allows the program to offer more or less unrivaled support for faculty and students and programming

In any case, objectively measuring artistic achievement vis-a-vis an academic program is indeed hard, but we all know the proof is in the pudding in the case of, say, NYU Film School and its alumni. Iowa remains the historic leader in this regard, but they had a big head start. Michigan is up there in more recent decades

How many people get their books published coming out of there, how famous is the faculty, how many folks do you place in tenure track jobs in 5 years, how good is the funding, that kind of thing.

M is indeed a very good program, but it's Iowa, a huge gap, then everybody else. The Iowa writer's workshop is unique, both because Vonnegaut put his stamp on the program, and because people who go there get ridiculous opportunities. Agents show up there to see if they can get people signed to book deals early, i.e. not typical MFA stuff.

Upvote this one. The question has been answered.

Wisconsin and Berkley edge UM in Sociology. I looked Sociology rankings bc a relative got into lower ranked Harvard for Sociology PhD after getting denied at UM and I made fun of them for having to go to their safety school in Boston.

Your approach seems off in terms of tone and logic.  Given, it is a message board on the internet.  However,  "lifetime educator" is sufficient credibility for me.  It also synchs with what I already believed, so potential bias, but family of educators have that opinion also.  

Not saying whether the SoE is good or not, but anectotal evidence that some of their grads get hired by reputable school districts is hardly a convincing argument.

JM Blue, obviously any degree from UM carries some cachet, and I am not saying the SOE at UM is some sort of ITT Tech situation.  However, it has never been an area the University at large has lavished resources on, and I know very few fellow educators, including myself, who went to UM with the intention of becoming teachers.  Nothing wrong with that, it is simply an area other schools do a better job in.  You can't be top 5 at everything.  

Peter Parker you have now given me something to research, thank you!  Hope is generally a fantastic school, had not heard much about the education program there.  

100% correct Pope.  I think the one poster misread the intent of my post.  I am not mad about it, really enjoyed my time at UM and felt well-prepared to teach when I got out.  

So did mine. They're adults now but their childhood dental experience was great thanks to her.