Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of Detroit Mercy 105th for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 88th percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. University of Detroit Mercy sits in the 94th percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the institution's concentration in health and professional programs that translate directly into strong early-career outcomes. Graduates earn median $54,000 four years after enrollment, placing University of Detroit Mercy in the 94th percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Detroit Mercy #332 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 77.9 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Detroit, MI, University of Detroit Mercy enrolls roughly 2,438 undergraduates. Retention stands at 83.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 67.2%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored by return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of Detroit Mercy #89 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 94.1 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median Health-influenced earnings of $78,953, placing University of Detroit Mercy in the 86.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $20,352 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Detroit Mercy in the 95.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. University of Detroit Mercy admits about 75.4% of applicants, and 26.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants while 28.7% are first-generation college students — a profile that reflects the university's urban Detroit mission but also the constraints of a smaller private institution. Affordability sits in the 66.8 percentile and access in the 39.1 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility in the 14.6 percentile — a pattern common to health-focused doctoral institutions where strong graduate earnings coexist with a comparatively narrow enrollment footprint.
University of Detroit Mercy's published cost of attendance is $42,211. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $13,088, middle-income families pay around $14,173, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,691. Azimuth ranks University of Detroit Mercy #474 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. University of Detroit Mercy's aid structure is need-based, with families applying through the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families pay. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,484; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $78,953, median federal debt of $23,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $263 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of Detroit Mercy is a strong fit for students drawn to health professions, nursing, engineering, and applied fields who want a private nonprofit university experience in Detroit, MI, with a program mix oriented toward stable, in-demand careers. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $78,953, placing University of Detroit Mercy in the 86.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $20,352 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Detroit Mercy in the 95.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 26.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 28.7% are first-generation — and the low-income graduate cohort places University of Detroit Mercy in the 78.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Health and related applied fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, and families should weigh a net price for higher-income households of $21,691 against typical student debt of $23,250 when assessing long-run affordability.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the University Of Detroit Mercy hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of Detroit Mercy's published cost of attendance is $42,211. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $13,088, middle-income families pay around $14,173, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,691.
Azimuth ranks University of Detroit Mercy #474 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
University of Detroit Mercy's aid structure is need-based, with families applying through the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The university participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help bridge the gap between sticker price and what families pay.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $22,484; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $78,953, median federal debt of $23,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $263 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $78,953, placing University of Detroit Mercy in the 86.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $20,352 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of Detroit Mercy in the 95.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks University of Detroit Mercy #89 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 94.1 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures represent meaningful returns relative to MI's no-degree earnings baseline of $30,928, the state median earnings of working adults age 25–34 with only a high school credential.
The earnings pattern at University of Detroit Mercy is anchored in Health and related professional fields. Nursing stands out as the program combining strong cohort scale with competitive four-year earnings, making it a key driver of the institution's overall return profile.
Nursing, the largest program by graduate count with 216 graduates, delivers median earnings of $81,602 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #216 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Biology, General follows with 121 graduates earning $91,888, and Azimuth ranks it #1 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Business Administration rounds out the top programs with 50 graduates earning $89,540, with Azimuth ranking it #31 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The program mix — led by Business at 10% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 7% and Social Sciences at 2% — reflects a professional and health-oriented concentration that channels graduates into fields with stable hiring demand and consistent early-career pay.
Mechanical Engineering
19 graduates
Biology, General
121 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
50 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
216 graduates
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions
25 graduates
University of Detroit Mercy's program mix is anchored in health and applied professional fields — a signature consistent with the institution's Jesuit research-university identity in Detroit. Health represents the largest share of degree output, with Business accounting for 10% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 7% and Social Sciences at 2%.
Across 24 programs serving roughly 622 students annually, the university concentrates its degree output in fields with direct pathways into licensed, credentialed, and in-demand occupations. The program with the highest aggregate return — combining cohort scale with strong four-year earnings — is Nursing, which anchors the institution's economic profile.
Among the highest-earning programs, Mechanical Engineering program graduates 19 students with median earnings of $104,683 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks the program #49 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Biology, General and Business Administration follow, with graduates earning $91,888 and $89,540 respectively four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks Biology, General #1 and Business Administration #31 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, per the [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
The most popular programs by graduate volume — Nursing (216 graduates), Biology, General (121 graduates), and Business Administration (50 graduates) — reflect the institution's health-and-professional orientation. These are predominantly direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect labor-market entry into nursing, allied health, and clinical roles rather than grad-school-dependent trajectories.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these health-field concentrations align with sustained national hiring demand.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colby College Similar quality tier (#10788 ranked) | ME | 7% | $80,490 | #10788 | Compare |
Bucknell University Similar quality tier (#10796 ranked) | PA | 29% | $93,807 | #10796 | Compare |
Adelphi University Similar quality tier (#10797 ranked) | NY | 66% | $75,482 | #10797 | Compare |
University Of Rochester Similar quality tier (#10756 ranked) | NY | 40% | $79,042 | #10756 | Compare |
Gallaudet University Similar quality tier (#10801 ranked) | DC | 58% | $43,101 | #10801 | Compare |
