GMercyU Celebrates Momentous Year, Looks Ahead to 2026
Gwynedd Mercy University is celebrating a year filled with historic milestones that will start the new year with momentum, including a 94% increase in applications for fall 2026 compared to this time in 2023 and a 19% increase compared to this time in 2024.
2025 Highlights
Largest First-Year Class in 13 Years
GMercyU welcomed its largest first-year class since 2012. First-year, new student enrollment for Fall 2025 was up for a third straight year with this year's incoming class more than 30% larger than last year’s. Fall 2025 undergraduate applications and acceptances were also at a 20-year high.
Grand Opening of Frances M. Maguire ’55 Healthcare Innovation Center
GMercyU marked a historic milestone with the grand opening of the Frances M. Maguire ’55 Healthcare Innovation Center (HIC), a 63,000-square-foot academic building that will transform the preparation of healthcare professionals. Made possible by a $10 million gift from the Maguire Foundation, in honor of alumna Frances M. Maguire ’55, the HIC is the largest academic building on campus and the centerpiece of the Frances M. Maguire Healthcare Innovation Campus. It opened to students this fall.
Ranked as National University for the Fourth Consecutive Year
GMercyU 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. 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.
Named an "Opportunity University" for Student Access, Earnings
GMercyU was ranked as a top "Opportunity College and University" in the new Student Access and Earnings Classification by the Carnegie Foundation, which puts GMercyU among only 16% of the nation's colleges and universities designated as a "Higher Access, Higher Earnings" institution and one of 32 Pennsylvania colleges (out of the 300+) named in the rankings.
Original Mercy in Motion Campaign Goal Surpassed
GMerycU surpassed its original Mercy in Motion Comprehensive Campaign goal of $25 million more than a year ahead of schedule. The Campaign has raised more than $28 million since formally launching in January 2022 with the support of more than 2,000 donors. The University furthered the momentum by working toward an increased goal of $30 million. The Campaign will conclude December 31, 2025.
New On-Campus Crime Scene House
This fall, GMercyU unveiled a new Crime Scene House on campus, giving Criminal Justice students the opportunity to move beyond the classroom and into a realistic training environment. The new space also serves as a training facility for local law enforcement.
Named Top 10% Best Value College in Pennsylvania
GMercyU was ranked a Top 10% Best Value College in Pennsylvania and the ninth Best Value College in the Philadelphia area, according to Niche.
Alum Darnell "Speedy" Artis '16 Named Men's Basketball Head Coach
A celebrated member of the 2015-2016 championship squad and one of the most recognizable faces of GMercyU Athletics, Darnell brings both professional experience and a deep commitment to the University’s Mercy values. After his collegiate success, Artis went on to captivate global audiences as a standout member of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters.
Healthcare Systems Partnerships for Career and Student Loan Repayment Opportunities
Employers want GMercyU graduates – it's why so many have partnered with the University to offer career and loan repayment opportunities up to $40,000 for Nursing, Respiratory Care, and Radiologic Technology students. Through the Scholars Network, health systems get the skilled and compassionate healthcare professionals they need, and students get to choose the health system that best suits their career goals.
New Programs Launched
GMercyU launched several new programs, including a a three-year Bachelor of Science degree program with certification in either Early Education or Special Education. Students can also earn an Early Education + Special Education dual degree in less than four years. The new program, which began in the fall semester of 2025, will fast-track highly skilled, compassionate educators into a workforce facing significant shortages.
In addition, GMercyU also launched Online Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Nurse Educator Track and Online Post-Master’s Certificate in Nursing Education programs as well as minors in Accounting and its first fully online minor in Speech-Languge Pathology.
GMercyU, Bucks IU, and Bucks County Community College Launch Pennsylvania’s First Undergraduate Special Education Apprenticeship Program
Addressing a critical shortage in special education teaching, Gwynedd Mercy University, the Bucks County Intermediate Unit (Bucks IU), and Bucks County Community College have partnered to launch Pennsylvania’s first undergraduate apprenticeship program designed specifically to train and certify PK-12 special education teachers.
Read more here!
Respiratory Care Program Recognized with Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award
GMercyU’s Respiratory Care Program received the Distinguished RRT Credentialing Success Award presented by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) for the eighth time in program history. The award is presented to programs that achieve a 90% pass rate on the RRT.
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Partnership with Upper Merion to Support Students with Intellectual Disabilities
GMercyU launched a new partnership with the Upper Merion Area School District that will bring high school students with intellectual disabilities to campus each week for a college and career readiness experience. The program is among the first of its kind in Pennsylvania.
University Conducts Harris Poll on AI in Healthcare
More than half of American adults (59%) believe using artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in diagnosis and treatment will result in better health outcomes for patients and reduce the cost of healthcare (57%) within the next decade, according to a survey conducted on behalf of Gwynedd Mercy University (GMercyU) by The Harris Poll.