University of Detroit Mercy facts for kids
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Former names
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Detroit College (1877–1911) University of Detroit (1911–1990) Mercy College of Detroit (1941–1990) |
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| Motto | Ad maiorem Dei gloriam (Latin) Maria, Sedes Sapientiae (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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For the greater glory of God; Mary, Seat of Wisdom |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | 1877 |
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Religious affiliation
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Roman Catholic (Jesuit / Sisters of Mercy) |
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Academic affiliations
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AJCU, ACCU, NAICU |
| Endowment | ~$94 million (2021) |
| President | Donald B. Taylor |
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Academic staff
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326 full-time, 310 part-time |
| Students | 5,360 (Fall 2022) |
| Undergraduates | 2,322 |
| Postgraduates | 2,204 |
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Other students
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834 (non-degree seeking) |
| Location |
Detroit, Michigan
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| Campus | Urban, 91 acres (36.8 ha)
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| Colors | Blue, red, white |
| Nickname | Titans |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I: Horizon League, NEC, MAC, Central Collegiate Fencing Conference |
| Mascot | Tommy Titan |
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The University of Detroit Mercy is a private Catholic university located in Detroit, Michigan. It is supported by two religious groups: the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the Sisters of Mercy. The university started in 1877. It is the largest Catholic university in Michigan. Detroit Mercy has four campuses and offers over 100 different study programs.
In sports, the university has 17 NCAA Division I teams for men and women. These teams are called the Detroit Mercy Titans. They are part of the Horizon League.
Contents
History of Detroit Mercy
The University of Detroit Mercy began in 1877. It was first called Detroit College. The Society of Jesus founded it near downtown Detroit. In 1911, it became the University of Detroit. Later, in 1927, a second campus was added.
In 1941, the Sisters of Mercy opened Mercy College of Detroit. Then, in 1990, the University of Detroit and Mercy College of Detroit joined together. This created the University of Detroit Mercy. Donald Taylor became the university's 26th president in July 2022.
Colleges and Campuses
The University of Detroit Mercy has seven main colleges and schools. These include schools for Architecture, Business, Dentistry, Engineering & Science, Health Professions/Nursing, Law, and Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences.
The university also offers programs at the Macomb University Center. It has also teamed up with Aquinas College and St. Mary Mercy Hospital. This partnership offers a Nursing program in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
A campus at 8200 West Outer Drive in Detroit used to be home to Mercy College. This was from 1941 until the schools joined in 1990. The Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and Clinic moved to the Corktown Campus in January 2008.
University Campuses
The university has three campuses in Detroit. It also has one campus in Novi, which is northwest of Detroit.
McNichols Campus
This campus is located at 4001 W. McNichols Road in northwest Detroit. Most of the university's undergraduate and graduate programs are here. It also has the main offices and sports facilities like Calihan Hall. All six student dorms are also on this campus.
Academics and Study Programs
In 2021, some of the most popular majors for students were Nursing, Biology, Business Administration, Architectural and Building Sciences, Dental Hygiene, and Mechanical Engineering.
Special Collections and Centers
The University of Detroit Mercy has several unique collections and centers.
Black Abolitionist Archive
This is a digital collection of over 800 speeches. These speeches were given by African Americans before the Civil War. It includes 14,000 documents. This archive shows how Black people were involved in the movement to end slavery.
Carney Latin American Solidarity Archive
This archive contains books, human rights reports, and newspapers. It also has papers about social justice. These materials show over 25 years of work by groups helping people in Latin America.
Center for Social Entrepreneurship
This center helps businesses in Detroit that have a social mission. This means they want to create good in their community, not just make money. Their main program is the CSE Boost Program. It is a workshop for new social organizations.
Dental Clinics
The School of Dentistry offers several dental clinics to the community. They even have a mobile clinic in a special RV. Because student doctors provide treatment under the guidance of licensed dentists, services are offered at a lower cost.
Institute for North Korean Studies
This institute is a research center focused only on North Korea. It was started in April 2004. It is the first research center in the United States or Europe to focus on North Korea. The institute holds seminars and publishes research. It also publishes an academic journal called North Korean Review.
Law Clinics
The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law has clinics that help people. In 2003, the clinic got a 28-foot mobile law office. This was possibly the first of its kind in the country. By 2012, the clinics helped over 1000 clients each year.
Law students at Detroit Mercy must take a "clinic" course. This course puts them in contact with people who need legal help. The courses teach them skills and knowledge for their work.
The law clinics offered include:
- Immigration Law Clinic: Students help immigrants with family sponsorship or special status. They represent clients in court.
- Veterans Law Clinic: Students help veterans get disability benefits.
- Criminal Trial Clinic: This clinic prepares students to defend people in misdemeanor cases.
- Juvenile Appellate Clinic: Students argue cases about child protection or delinquency.
- Intellectual Property Law Clinic: Students help inventors who cannot afford to defend their ideas. They are supervised by patent attorneys.
University Rankings
U.S. News & World Report ranked Detroit Mercy tied for #202 among National Universities for 2023. It was also ranked #40 in Best Value Schools. The law school was ranked #141 out of 196 law schools.
The 2025 The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings placed Detroit Mercy at #43 in the nation. It was ranked #2 in Michigan. Detroit Mercy also ranked #35 in social mobility and #44 in best salaries.
Admissions to Detroit Mercy
Undergraduate Admissions
Detroit Mercy is considered "selective" for admissions. For the class that started in Fall 2021, Detroit Mercy received 4,435 applications. It accepted 4,135 students (93.2%). About 565 students chose to enroll. The middle 50% of SAT scores for new students was 1063–1250. The middle 50% of ACT scores was 22–29.
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
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| Applicants | 4435 | 3985 | 4358 | 3760 | 4301 | 4542 |
| Admits | 4135 | 3168 | 3377 | 3120 | 2783 | 3561 |
| Admit rate | 93.2 | 79.5 | 77.5 | 83.0 | 64.7 | 78.4 |
| Enrolled | 565 | 419 | 530 | 583 | 550 | 532 |
| Yield rate | 13.7 | 13.2 | 15.7 | 18.7 | 19.8 | 14.9 |
| ACT composite*
(out of 36) |
22-29
(12%†) |
22-27
(20%†) |
21-28
(24%†) |
21-27
(30%†) |
22-27
(41%†) |
22-27
(92%†) |
| SAT composite*
(out of 1600) |
1063–1250 (45%†) |
1060–1245 (74%†) |
1060–1230 (71%†) |
1050–1250 (66%†) |
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| * middle 50% range † percentage of first-time freshmen who chose to submit |
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| Admissions statistics | |
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2021 entering
classChange vs. 2016 |
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| Admit rate | 93.2
(
 +14.8) |
| Yield rate | 13.7
(
 −1.2) |
| Test scores middle 50% | |
| SAT Total | 1063–1250 (among 45% of FTFs) |
| ACT Composite | 22–29 (among 12% of FTFs) |
Graduate Admissions
For Fall 2022, the School of Law received 955 applications. It accepted 536 students (56.13%). Of those accepted, 209 enrolled. The middle 50% of LSAT scores for the 2022 first-year class was 150-157. The average GPA was 3.39.
Student Life and Athletics
Greek Life
There are several fraternities and sororities on campus. These are social organizations for students.
Sports Teams: The Detroit Mercy Titans
The University of Detroit Mercy has 17 NCAA Division I sports teams. These teams are called the Detroit Mercy Titans. They compete in the Horizon League. Sports offered include Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball (women's team only), and Track and Field.
The women's softball team won the Horizon League Championship in 2019. In 2014, both the women's golf team and men's cross country team won Horizon League titles. The men's lacrosse team won the MAAC Championship in 2013.
Basketball Highlights
The men's basketball team has often competed for the Horizon League title. Mark Montgomery became the head coach in April 2024. He was an assistant coach at Michigan State for many years.
Mike Davis coached the Titans from 2017 to 2024. He led Indiana University to the 2002 NCAA Championship game.
Ray McCallum coached the men's team from 2008 to 2016. He led the Titans to the Horizon League Championship and an NCAA tournament in 2012.
Dick Vitale, a famous college basketball commentator for ESPN, was the head coach for the University of Detroit men's basketball team from 1973 to 1977. In 1977, he led the Titans to a record 25 wins. They reached the Round of 16 in the 1977 NCAA tournament. Vitale's career record as head coach was 78–30. In 2011, Detroit Mercy named its basketball court at Calihan Hall in his honor.
The women's basketball team had its first 20-win season in 2012. The men's basketball team won the Horizon League Championship in 2012. They reached the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in their history.
Detroit Mercy has hosted several NCAA Tournament men's basketball games. They hosted games at Ford Field and Little Caesar's Arena. In 2021, Detroit Mercy and Oakland University co-hosted NCAA First and Second Round games. They also teamed up to host the 2024 NCAA Midwest Regional.
Football History
Detroit Titans football was played from 1896 to 1964. The team claimed a national championship in 1928 with a 9–0 record. Gus Dorais, who coached the Titans from 1925 to 1942, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.
Notable People from Detroit Mercy
Many notable people have graduated from or worked at the University of Detroit Mercy.
For more examples, see:
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Detroit Misericordia para niños
- Detroit Collaborative Design Center
- University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy
- Detroit Titans track and field
- Detroit Mercy Titans
