University of Detroit Mercy was ranked among the top national universities by U.S. News & World Report for a fourth year in a row, earning a No. 202 rank in the National Universities category of the publication’s “Best Colleges” 2023 edition. Twelve other Michigan universities earned a place in this year’s National University category. Detroit Mercy ranks fourth in the state and is the highest ranked private university in Michigan.
Detroit Mercy also received favorable recognition in the following categories:
- Best Value Schools, National Universities – No. 40
- Best Undergraduate Business Programs, Finance – No. 44
- Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs – No. 172
- A+ Schools for B Students
“Detroit Mercy is once again pleased to be ranked among the top institutions of higher education in the U.S. The outstanding quality and affordability of a Detroit Mercy education is what attracts top students to the University. Our efforts to ensure their success represent the core of everything we do and I want to thank our faculty, staff, board of trustees, alumni, the neighborhood community and friends for helping us achieve these new rankings,” said President Donald B. Taylor.
“While we are pleased to be included once again on this year’s list of top national universities, we will make significant leaps in strengthening our educational brand, attract even more students to the University and help graduates achieve a lifetime of career and personal success. In other words, we will strive to significantly improve our high-quality education and the experience of students on all campuses,” he added.
Last year, the University welcomed its largest freshman class in 12 years, as more than 565 new freshmen enrolled. For the fall of 2022, the University will welcome another new student class of more than 510 students (final census figures available in October). In total, the institution expects between 5,000-5,200 undergraduate, graduate and professional program students for the fall semester.
This year’s rankings reaffirm yet again the exceptional quality of Detroit Mercy’s education and Jesuit and Mercy mission to help students become people of purpose and service. The 2023 U.S. News & World Report’s rankings also provide an opportunity to highlight several initiatives and developments that have taken place at the University this past year.
This summer, Detroit Mercy officially opened the newly renovated Student Union, which will provide an enhanced experience for all students on the McNichols Campus. In this state-of-the-art, one-stop center, students can complete financial aid, registration, and other student services, eat, congregate and socialize. The Student Union is one phase of the McNichols Campus Renovation Project, which will eventually include the demolition of the Fisher Administration Center and Reno Hall. The multi-phase plan also includes new on-campus student apartments and greenspace on newly acquired land, among other projects.
In February, the College of Engineering & Science received a $1-million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that will allow University of Detroit Mercy and Michigan State University (MSU) to improve access to high-quality computer science education to high school students in Detroit Public Schools Community District. The collaborative grant expands Detroit Mercy’s iDRAW (innovating Detroit’s Robotic Agile Workforce) program by implementing AP Computer Science Principles courses at several Detroit Public Schools. It also aims to develop high school teachers in the district to deliver high-quality computer science instruction. The grant project, titled “Collaborative Research: Moving beyond access, increasing teacher knowledge to teach rigorous equity-focused high school computing,” was awarded as part of NSF’s Computer Science for All program.
In addition, Detroit Mercy’s McAuley School of Nursing (MSON) in the College of Health Professions is one of only 50 schools from 28 states that will participate in a national initiative designed to create inclusive learning environments and build a more diverse nursing workforce. Earlier in 2022, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) began a project titled Building a Culture of Belonging in Academic Nursing, with funding from Johnson & Johnson to help nursing schools create environments where students, faculty and staff have a strong sense of belonging and are encouraged to thrive. More than 250 schools of nursing applied for this prestigious opportunity.
Detroit Mercy faculty continue to engage in research that brings new light to their field of study. For example, Detroit Mercy Philosophy Professor Juan Carlos Flores recently won a $295,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to create the first critical edition of writings by 13th Century philosopher Henry of Ghent. Flores will be the project director and will work with Gordon Wilson, emeritus professor at University of North Carolina Asheville, on the three-year project.
Finally, over the past academic year, Detroit Mercy has established new academic programs geared toward the needs of students and industry. These include
- A new accelerated 5-year Health Services Administration master’s program through the College of Health Professions.
- A new Master of Science in Ethical Leadership offered by the College of Business Administration.
- A new Vehicle Cyber Engineering graduate certificate offered through the College of Engineering & Science Vehicle Cybersecurity Institute, which was funded by a $1.12 million award from the U.S. Dept. of Defense.
- An accelerated Bachelor of Social Work geared toward community college transfer students that allows them to complete their degree in one year.
Since 2020, Detroit Mercy continues to be ranked among the best institutions in the National Universities category. Prior to 2020, Detroit Mercy was ranked in the top Midwest regional universities category by U.S. News & World Report for more than 18 consecutive years.
U.S. News & World Report released the 2023 rankings Sept. 12.
