Current Students

Undergraduate and graduate students who would like to see their writing, photographs or visual art published should consider submitting their work to Detroit Mercy’s student art journal [sic], which is looking for poems, short stories, personal essays, photographs and other visual artwork for the 2025-26 issue.

[sic] offers $100 prizes for the best visual, poetry and fiction/prose submissions. The deadline for submissions is Friday, Oct. 10.

Please contact Associate Professor of English Rosemary Weatherston with any questions at weatherr@udmercy.edu.

The Writing Center would appreciate your feedback regarding the Writing Center, the future of writing and the role of AI.

Use the link below to complete our survey and be entered to win one of four $25 Amazon gift cards. Your answers are anonymous and will help us plan for the future of the Writing Center.

The survey is open to all students, at all levels, at all Detroit Mercy campuses.

Detroit Mercy is undertaking a new branding effort, and we want you at the center of it. As the University prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2027, we are reflecting on how we present ourselves to the world.

Our current brand, “Build a Boundless Future,” was created in 2016. While it served us for a time, many from our internal and external communities told us it does not capture UDM’s emotional core and identity, nor does it reflect our history, faith traditions, Detroit roots, the pride we feel as Titans and what UDM aspires to be in the future.

That’s why we are launching a consultative process with national partners and with you—alumni, faculty, staff, students, parents and neighbors. We want a living brand that resonates at every level, one that feels authentic, sparks pride and inspires belief in our mission of service and faith.

Over the past year and a half, UDM has completed research and held several stakeholder strategy sessions focused on brand discussions; more sessions are planned during the 2025-26 academic year. We also need your help via the following means:

• Share your perceptions—both the strengths and the challenges of Detroit Mercy.
• Participate in listening sessions and focus groups. Spaces will be limited so please shout out when the calls are published.
• Most important: Complete the feedback form to ensure your voice shapes the brand.

Your insights will help us author a more authentic UDM identity that honors our past, energizes our present and secures a vibrant future. Please take some time to review the new brand information and share your thoughts by going to “Info On Branding” at the bottom of the page and clicking on feedback form.

Beginning the week of Oct. 5 and concluding around the Feast of Christ the King on Nov. 24, Meeting Christ in Prayer is an eight-week retreat that invites participants to engage in spiritual exercises as a lived experience within daily life—no retreat houses required, just an open and generous spirit.

Each week, small groups will meet with a prayer leader who will guide participants through spiritual exercises and offer daily prayer suggestions to support their retreat journey. Additionally, a spiritual director will be available to participants twice within the retreat journey for individual spiritual conversation.

This program is free and open to all members of the Detroit Mercy community. Weekly gatherings will include time for prayer, discussion and shared fellowship over food.

For more information, please contact Anna Bryson at lawleran@udmercy.edu.

Titan Equity Nourish Network (TENN) is hosting a festive evening filled with cider, donuts, games, crafts and goodie bags.

All are welcome to join in the Halloween fun with Detroit Mercy’s neighbors from the Princeton Street Block Club and Theresa Maxis on Thursday, Oct. 9, at 5:30 p.m. in the Briggs Building, Room 101.

Transportation is available for community members.

Please email Chelsea Manning at mannincp@udmercy.edu with any questions.

University of Detroit Mercy will host a fall graduate program open house on Wednesday, Oct. 8, from 5-7 p.m. in the Fountain Lounge on the McNichols Campus.

Prospective students looking to earn their graduate degrees will receive an opportunity to learn more about UDM graduate programs currently available, including online and hybrid programs. Faculty and admissions staff will be on hand to provide information and answer all questions.

Prospective students can drop in to the open house at any time between 5-7 p.m. Light refreshments will also be available. Register in advance online.

For additional information on UDM graduate programs, please contact Jennifer Goethals, associate director of Graduate Admissions, at goethajm@udmercy.edu or at 313-993-3309.

View a listing of all UDM graduate programs.

University of Detroit Mercy has improved its national ranking in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 survey of best universities in the country.

This year, UDM ranked No. 36, seven places higher than last year.

“There is so much great work being done every single day, year in and year out at Detroit Mercy and this ranking reflects that,” said UDM President Donald B. Taylor. “UDM is making a difference in the lives of our students, our neighborhood, our hometown of Detroit and our nation. It’s gratifying to be recognized for that.”

The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings — first released three years ago — focus on student outcomes rather than inputs, highlighting the tangible value a school delivers to its students.

In addition to the overall ranking, the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse study evaluates colleges on several key measures. Social mobility recognizes universities that enroll a high proportion of students from lower-income families, while maintaining strong graduation rates and positive salary outcomes. Salary impact measures how graduates’ earnings compare to expectations, relative to the cost of attending.

The Best Value ranking considers how quickly graduates’ salary advantages pay back the average net price of a degree — measured as “years to pay off net price.” An additional ranking is based on a large-scale student survey, which captures the quality of the learning environment and overall student experience. This year, the survey reflected feedback from more than 110,000 students nationwide. Earlier this month, the University also ranked No. 22 nationally in the Best Value Schools category in the U.S. News & World Report 2026 ‘Best Colleges’ edition.

UDM’s 2026 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings are as follows:

• No. 27 out of 584 schools for social mobility, up from 39 in the 2025 ranking
• 309 in student experience, up from 411 last year
• 52 in best salaries
• 103 in best value

The 2026 ranking also means that UDM is:

• The No. 1 ranked private university in Michigan
• The second-highest ranked university in Michigan
• The No. 2 ranked Catholic university in the Midwest
• The No. 3 ranked Catholic university in the United States
• The No. 2 ranked university among all Association of Jesuit Colleges & Universities in the country

Additionally, UDM ranks in the top 9% of 4,476 colleges and universities nationwide for salary earned by graduates over a period of 15 to 40 years during their career according to Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) research report Ranking 4,476 Colleges by ROI (2025). This means that Detroit Mercy graduates can expect to earn more than $2.1 million in salary over their 40-year career compared with those who forgo a college education.

Impressive national rankings over the last three years have led, in part, to record enrollment at UDM for freshmen. This year’s first-year enrollment is 672, which is higher than last year’s record first-year count of 651. In addition, transfer student enrollment is also up to 181, a significant jump from the previous year’s count of 158.

Since the fall of 2024, UDM’s total enrollment is up 191 students. This fall, the University welcomed 5,778 full and part-time students. Most importantly, UDM’s second-year retention rate has increased to 84.2%, higher than the previous three-year average of 83.8%,

For Debbie Stieffel, vice president for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs, these results are far more than a number in a ranking.

“They are a powerful affirmation of the university’s commitment to each student’s wellbeing and success—both in their careers and in their lives. This recognition reflects the tireless dedication of faculty and staff who believe deeply in our students’ potential, and it celebrates the determination, resilience, and accomplishments of the students themselves.” Stieffel said.

Current students are elated at the new WSJ ranking and understand why UDM continues to move up in rankings each year.

“Seeing Detroit Mercy ranked 36th in the nation makes me really proud to be a student here,” said Alexandria Jarbo, a senior Biology major in the College of Engineering & Science’s Pre-Physician Assistant program. “It reflects how much the professors and community truly care about our success, and it reminds me that I made the right choice coming to UDM. It’s exciting to know that the hard work happening here is being recognized.”

A Commitment to Expanded Offerings

UDM’s focus on student achievement and success is reflected by a commitment to offer new schools and programs.

This fall, the University welcomed the first class of the newly established School of Optometry. In addition, UDM launched a new accelerated seven-year Doctor of Optometry Program. This new school and the Detroit Mercy Eye Institute represent a significant step toward addressing the growing demand for eye care professionals in the state and region.

Also this fall, the College of Health Professions (CHP) created the School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, through which two new bachelor’s degree programs are now available.  Students pursuing careers in healthcare can now choose from degrees in Health Science and Sports & Exercise Sciences, both designed to prepare graduates for impactful roles across the evolving health sector.

The School of Law recently announced the launch of the state of Michigan’s first online J.D. program, which continues Detroit Mercy Law’s mission to increase accessibility to legal education. The four-year program will be mostly asynchronous, with some upper-level courses such as the award-winning clinic portion taught synchronously.

Lastly, the University’s School of Dentistry welcomed the first cohort of students who will pursue their Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University’s new campus in Vermont.

For President Taylor, this is only a beginning. With UDM preparing to celebrate its 150th anniversary and commitment to Detroit in 2027, there are more great things to come for the institution and its home community.

“I don’t think there has ever been a more exciting time to be part of University of Detroit Mercy and our great city,” said Taylor. “You can feel the energy on campus, in our neighborhood, downtown and throughout SE Michigan. Achieving a No. 36 rank in the U.S. is not only great for UDM, it’s great for our city and indeed the entire state.”

Thank A Donor Day takes place Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 12:30-2 p.m. in the Fountain Lounge of the Student Union on the McNichols Campus.

Several activities are planned to educate students about how alumni and friends of Detroit Mercy enrich all aspects of the University. Students can:

• Write a thank-you note to a donor and receive a free lunch.
• Create a photo or video message to thank donors and be entered into a drawing for a $25 Visa gift card!
• Participate in fun games to test skill and UDM philanthropic knowledge and earn Detroit Mercy swag!
• Hunt for one of four plushies wearing Titans swag belonging to Tommy Titan on the McNichols Campus and choose which Detroit Mercy fund will receive a gift from an anonymous donor — and keep the plushie!
• Wear Detroit Mercy or Titan apparel for an extra chance to win prizes!

Once again, UDM will host the 20th annual Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit Conference from Oct. 2-3.

This year’s Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit (GLBD) Conference is a platform for community members to network and highlight innovative approaches to environmental and social challenges. The conference is for people of all ages who are interested in exploring topics, developing skills and motivating action for the betterment of our One Earth Community.

Participants will have the opportunity to share experiences and learn strategies to ensure that humans are a positive force in our earth community while addressing the critical issues of public health and wellness; racial and environmental justice; indigenous (Traditional Ecological Knowledge, TEK) resource protection and sustainability; fresh water resource and Great Lakes protection; and recycling, food waste reduction and management.

University of Detroit Mercy opened a theatre on its McNichols Campus Monday, Sept. 29, that it hopes will become a venue not just for the school’s Department of Performing Arts, but for artists and community members across Detroit who need a place to come together.

“We’re thrilled to bring live theatre back to campus,” said Detroit Mercy President Donald B. Taylor. “This will enhance our student engagement on campus and provide community engagement opportunities for our neighborhood in ways we are only beginning to imagine.”

The state-of-the-art Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre is designed to be a flexible, professional-quality space that allows students and faculty to explore innovative forms of storytelling. Located on the Lower Level of the Student Union, the venue will also be made available to Detroit’s varied community organizations and businesses for meetings, performances and presentations.

Though there have been performances at various spaces on the McNichols Campus for decades, this is the first dedicated theatre space there.

“The new Black Box Theatre will be a catalyst for creativity,” said Greg Grobis, associate dean of the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences (CHASS) and associate professor of Theatre. “Its flexible design ensures that no two productions will ever feel the same, empowering students and faculty to dream bigger, take risks and explore new forms of storytelling.”

Most important, it will be the new home to the award-winning Detroit Mercy Theatre Company, which will open its 55th season on Nov. 7 with a new adaptation of William Shakespeare’s comedy “Twelfth Night” adapted by Marc Palmieri. Most recently, the company produced its works at the Marlene Boll Theatre at the Detroit YMCA.

“The Department of Performing Arts and Detroit Mercy Theatre Company cannot wait to return home to UDM’s McNichols Campus after more than 10 years away,” said Sarah Hawkins Rusk, managing director of DMTC. “This new theatre space will be a vibrant home for creativity on campus — giving our students a professional-quality space to learn and grow, whether they’re performing on stage or working behind the scenes.”

The 13,000-square-foot space cost just under $3 million and funded through investments by many donors, including several alumni who work in the entertainment industry across the country. It will seat up to 109 people, depending on the configuration of the stage, which can be adapted to each production. Lighting and sound technology is of a caliber being used in professional theaters across the country, allowing students to develop skills they can take directly to the workforce. The theater also includes a costume shop with laundry, individual changing rooms and a greenroom where performers can prepare and relax before and after a show.

The Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre will also strengthen arts and culture connections beyond campus said Jocelyn Boryczka, CHASS dean, noting its wider impact on both the University and surrounding neighborhoods.

“The Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre will energize arts and culture on UDM’s McNichols Campus, in our Northwest Detroit neighborhoods and across metro Detroit,” she said of the Livernois and Six Mile corridor of Detroit. “This space will host student productions, lectures, spoken word and musical performances, and other events that will drive community engagement. Our new theater exhibits how UDM lives its mission by creating a space where we can all reach for the magis, the more.”

The theatre also represents a significant step forward for Detroit Mercy’s Department of Performing Arts. Andrew Papa, chair of the Department of Performing Arts, emphasized the impact it will have.

“The Detroit Mercy Black Box Theatre is set to become a game-changer for not just the Department of Performing Arts, but for the entire Detroit Mercy community,” he said. “Having a permanently designated space for our theatre productions is an invaluable learning experience for our students. It will give them more opportunities to experiment, to work with technology that mirrors the real world, and even to develop their own student-produced work.

He continued: “Detroit Mercy is a ‘learn by doing’ institution, and laboratories are a key method for teaching our students. We have Chemistry lab spaces and Architecture lab spaces and even lab spaces for our Nursing students. And now, the student artists at Detroit Mercy have a laboratory space, too.”

Following a ribbon-cutting scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29, the University will hold an invitation-only gala during the run of Twelfth Night. Discounted tickets are available at special high school students and community members during the run of the show. Visit the Detroit Mercy Arts website for tickets.

“We look forward to seeing what our students can do with this incredible resource, and how the commitment to arts on campus will echo through the community,” said Grobis.

Learn more about Detroit Mercy Theatre Company.