For the fourth consecutive year, Detroit Mercy announces positive preliminary fall enrollment numbers for new students.
Preliminary full-time undergraduate enrollment is 6.7 percent higher than last year on this date. The freshman enrollment for the fall 2018 stands at 587 students compared with 550 new freshmen last year. In addition, the new freshman class is the largest class since 2009.
This increase is attributable to a number of factors. For example, more students are taking advantage of the Catholic Education Grant available to students enrolled in Catholic schools. For the 18th consecutive year, Detroit Mercy is also listed in the top tier of Midwest Best Regional Universities in the 2019 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges.” The University ranked No. 25 for Midwest Best Regional Universities and is one of two universities in Michigan to be listed in the top 25.
In addition to the University’s No. 25 ranking, Detroit Mercy earned a No. 17 rank for Best Colleges for Veterans in the Midwest Region and was ranked No. 35 nationally for Best Value Schools. Detroit Mercy also had a strong retention rate. In 2017, first-to second-year retention was 86.8 percent; and over the past four years, the retention rate has averaged 84 percent.
In the last year, Detroit Mercy has strengthened strategic marketing efforts to attract even more talented students to the University. In November 2017, the University launched a new initiative called Assure Your Boundless Future Tuition Reset, which lowered the published tuition price from $41,000 to $28,000. Detroit Mercy also continues to provide generous scholarship and financial aid packages to students, which further increases the value of a Detroit Mercy education.
“It is important that Detroit Mercy continues to implement a number of integrated recruitment and marketing efforts to attract academically talented and enthusiastic students to the University from Metro Detroit and the surrounding community,” said Detroit Mercy President Antoine M. Garibaldi. “These students, many of whom are strong believers in performing service-oriented work in the surrounding community, choose Detroit Mercy because of our values-based education, which is rooted in the Jesuit and Mercy traditions. Students want to live and experience this rich and diverse community where Detroit Mercy lives and play a part in Detroit’s continuing resurgence,” he added.
Final enrollment census data for fall 2017 will be available in early October.