GMercyU Ranked as National University for the Fourth Consecutive Year
Gwynedd Mercy University ranked as a national university on U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges rankings for the fourth year in a row, jumping 23 places over last year. The rankings evaluated 1,700 colleges and universities using more than a dozen measures of academic quality.
The 2022-2023 academic year marked the first time GMercyU was ranked as a national university after previously being listed on U.S. News & World Report’s Best Regional Universities list. This designation solidifies GMercyU’s place amongst top institutions from across the country.
In addition to being nationally ranked, GMercyU also earned a spot on the Top Performers on Social Mobility list for the second time, jumping 73 spots in the rankings. Institutions on this list hold advanced practices that help disadvantaged students finish college and lead successful lives. GMercyU is one of only 433 institutions across the nation to meet U.S. News & World Ranking’s social mobility ranking factors which include Pell Grant eligibility and first-generation graduation rates.
At GMercyU, 58% of students identify as first-generation and 100% of first-time, full-time students receive some form of financial aid. This Social Mobility designation speaks highly to the University’s mission of preparing students to lead successful careers and meaningful lives in a global society.
Being recognized as a national university for the fourth consecutive year builds on GMercyU’s focus on meeting the next great need in society, beginning with the new Frances M. Maguire '55 Healthcare Innovation Center that opened this fall. This new state-of-the-market hub for healthcare innovation will address the urgent need for more compassionate healthcare professionals by preparing students to work in a collaborative environment with students in many healthcare disciplines.
GMercyU also welcomed its largest first-year class since 2012. First-year, new student enrollment for Fall 2025 is up for a third straight year with this year's incoming class more than 30% larger than last year. Fall 2025 undergraduate applications and acceptances were also at a 20-year high.
The incoming 2025 class is the first group of new students to utilize the new Healthcare Innovation Center. New student enrollment in nursing and other health professions programs was up by 31% this fall, and the University has formed partnerships with a number of healthcare systems to provide employment and loan repayment opportunities for graduates of the University’s Nursing, Respiratory Care, and Radiologic Technology programs.
GMercyU also recently unveiled a new Crime Scene House (CSH) on campus, giving Criminal Justice students the opportunity to move beyond the classroom and into a realistic training environment, learning crime scene investigation skills. The new three-story space also serves as a training facility for local law enforcement.
This fall, renovations to GMercyU’s gymnasium, including a new court and bleachers will be completed. Other recent campus enhancements include interior and exterior renovations to residence halls, new eateries on campus, a new Spirit Store, and renovations to the baseball and softball fields and Griffin (Athletic) Complex.
The University also furthered its commitment to making a college education more accessible - with more than $4 million in new scholarships added in the past three years. Increased scholarship funding is one of three areas of focus for GMercyU's Mercy in Motion Comprehensive Campaign, which launched in January 2022.
GMercyU remains focused on launching new market-driven programs and expanding existing programs, including adding a new Exercise Science program and 3-year fast track options for multiple Education degrees this fall, a 4+2 Early Entry to GMercyU’s MS in Counseling program and 2+2 Master of Science in Educational Administration and Doctorate of Education program, among other additions.
Student outcomes remain a primary focus for GMercyU. According to a 2024 survey, 96% of recent grads were employed or in graduate school withing six months of graduation. In addition, GMercyU was named a Top 10% Best Value College in Pennsylvania by Niche.