The University of Detroit Mercy is a smaller, private, Catholic university that serves about 5,500 students (including approximately 3,300 undergraduate students). The school is known for its small class sizes — it has a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio — and unique academic programs.
Detroit Mercy has a cooperative education program that places undergraduate students in career-related, paid positions, allowing them to gain valuable experience. It's available to all students, but required for those majoring in architecture and engineering, and for students enrolled in the five-year bachelor's/master's programs.
Approximately 75% of students graduate within six years, which Money finds is higher than expected given the socioeconomic and academic backgrounds of the students who enroll. Four years after leaving school, the median salary of graduates is over $78,000, which is above the average of all colleges on Money’s list this year.
The Detroit Mercy Titans field more than 15 NCAA Division I teams, and there are several former athletes, particularly basketball players, among the university’s notable alumni. Other recognizable UDM grads include writer Elmore Leonard and comedian Keegan-Michael Key.
