UDM ranks among top 200 national universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best Colleges

Once again, University of Detroit Mercy has earned recognition as one of the top universities in the country by U.S. News & World Report in its 2027 Best Colleges edition.

UDM is ranked No. 186 in the National Universities category. It is the eighth consecutive time that Detroit Mercy has been named among the top universities in the U.S. since being moved to the National Universities category.

UDM also achieved notable improvements in other categorical rankings over 2026.

• Best Value Schools, National Universities — No. 22
• Undergraduate Business Programs-Management — No. 16 (an increase from No. 18 in 2026)
• Undergraduate Business Programs-Entrepreneurship — No. 24
• Best Colleges for Veterans, National Universities — No. 128 (an increase from No. 132 in 2026)
• Top Performers on Social Mobility — No. 128 (an increase from No. 144 in 2026)

In the 2027 rankings, Detroit Mercy is the highest-ranked independent university in Michigan. New this year is the category of Top Private Colleges, National Universities, which places UDM among the top 100 private institutions nationwide.

“Being recognized as one of the top universities in the country is the result of our relentless commitment to help students from all walks of life achieve success, both inside and outside the classroom,” said President Donald B. Taylor.

This recognition comes at a historic time in UDM’s history. This year, the University is celebrating its 150th anniversary as an academic institution.

The University has been committed to Detroit since opening its doors in 1877, educating hundreds of thousands of graduates in the Jesuit and Mercy mission and values. This includes the continuous development of new programs that align with national workforce development and student needs.

The latest example comes this fall, when Detroit Mercy School of Law launched the state of Michigan’s first online J.D. program. Delivered mostly asynchronous, this four-year program continues Detroit Mercy Law’s mission to increase accessibility to legal education.

Students in the Doctor of Optometry Program are also starting their second year at Detroit Mercy’s School of Optometry. The recently established School of Optometry and Detroit Mercy Eye Institute are Detroit Mercy’s response to an increasing need, driven by an aging population, rising awareness of eye health and a growing number of retirements within the profession.

Detroit Mercy welcomed one of its largest incoming classes to the McNichols Campus this fall, with 701 new first-year students joining the Titan community from 22 states and eight countries.

In addition to U.S. News & World Report’s recognition, Detroit Mercy earned strong national placement in the inaugural Time America’s Best Colleges 2026-27 rankings. UDM was ranked No. 106 nationally and No. 2 among Michigan institutions.

The new ranking, produced by Time in partnership with Statista, places significant emphasis on student outcomes, including graduation rates, graduate earnings and return on educational investment. Detroit Mercy ranked just outside the top 50 nationally in the Student Outcomes category, further reflecting the University’s focus on student success and long-term value.

A northwest Detroit anchor for 100 years, Detroit Mercy’s McNichols Campus is getting a new look this year. The expansion of the Whitty Student Fitness Center will support UDM’s new Sports Medicine programs while providing additional space for expanding academic programs. Laboratories in the College of Engineering & Science are being renovated, a portion of the College of Health Professions has been refreshed and Calihan Hall is expanding its athletic training facility to provide impactful care and treatment to UDM’s NCAA Division I student-athletes.

Detroit Mercy remains committed to advancing its mission by expanding access and opportunity to all students. The Titan Edge program is an invaluable part of this effort, offering a tuition-free Detroit Mercy education to high-achieving students who qualify for both the maximum Federal Pell Grant and the full Michigan Achievement Scholarship.

Using a wide range of data sources, each year U.S. News analysts and editors calculate more than 80 Best Colleges rankings to enable students and their families to identify colleges that best meet their needs. The rankings highlight colleges that excel in such areas as value, social mobility, teaching, veterans’ needs, HBCUs and in six academic disciplines (Business, Computer Science, Engineering, Nursing, Economics and Psychology). Learn more.