University of Detroit Mercy

What University of Detroit Mercy does

University of Detroit Mercy is a private Catholic institution of higher education founded in 1877 and headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. It serves approximately 5,000 students through four campuses in Detroit and Novi, organized across seven schools/colleges that together offer more than 100 academic programs spanning undergraduate, graduate, professional, and online modalities, including a nationally ranked online MBA and a top-tier nursing program. The university fields 17 NCAA Division I sports and is led by Dr. Donald B. Taylor, its 26th president.

The business model is a tuition-driven nonprofit university model. Core revenue is generated from undergraduate and graduate tuition and fees, supplemented by auxiliary services (housing, dining, athletics), philanthropic giving, endowment payout, and external grants. Recent grant inflows include approximately $3.79 million from the U.S. Department of Education, more than $300,000 from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, and a $125,000 mobility-focused grant, indicating a diversified but still tuition-anchored revenue base. Go-to-market is primarily through traditional admissions channels, online program enrollment (anchored by the top-25 online MBA), and partnerships with Detroit-area employers for clinical and co-op placements.

Underlying technology is conventional higher-ed infrastructure: Blackboard LMS for course delivery, YuJa for video and media, Microsoft 365 for productivity, and ADP Lyric and Paylocity for HR and payroll modernization. There is no evidence of proprietary AI/ML systems, research-grade AI labs, or AI-native product offerings; the institution's engagement with AI is policy-oriented, through the Detroit AI Health Equity Collaborative. Overall, this is a mature, mission-driven regional university whose competitive position rests on brand heritage, accreditation, professional program reputation, and Detroit community partnerships rather than technology differentiation.

Name

University of Detroit Mercy

Legal name

University of Detroit Mercy

Website

https://udmercy.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1877

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

University of Detroit Mercy is a private Catholic university in Detroit, Michigan, founded in 1877, serving approximately 5,000 students across four campuses with more than 100 academic programs through seven schools, including a nationally ranked online MBA and Division I athletics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities (EDAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Higher education programs
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate degree programs
• Online learning programs
• Professional health programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate programs across seven schools and colleges, including professional programs in dentistry, law, and health professions
2. Federal and State Grants: Grant funding from federal agencies including Department of Energy ($3.79 million), Michigan Health Endowment Fund ($300,000+), and other state/federal programs supporting specific initiatives
3. Workforce Development Programs: Programs supporting mobility industry internships and professional development, funded through grants for workforce development

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

University of Detroit Mercy is a private Catholic university offering more than 100 academic degrees and programs through seven schools and colleges, serving approximately 5,000 students at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels in fields including dentistry, law, nursing, optometry, engineering, business, and liberal arts. The institution operates on-campus and online degree programs, clinical training services (Psychology Clinic and dental clinics), workforce development initiatives for regional industries, and community health programs for Detroit-area nonprofits.

Product overview

University of Detroit Mercy is Michigan's largest and most comprehensive Catholic university offering over 100 academic degrees and programs through seven schools and colleges. The institution provides a portfolio of educational programs including online graduate degrees (MBA ranked No. 8 nationally, Nursing Master's ranked No. 72), workforce development initiatives like the RPM Program for mobility companies, community health programs including the Detroit AI Health Equity Collaborative and The People's Path to Wellness, and campus facilities including the expanding Whitty Student Fitness Center. The university also operates specialized clinics including the Psychology Clinic and provides energy efficiency services to local nonprofits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online MBA Management Program Online graduate business degree program ranked No. 8 nationally by U.S. News & World Report in 2026 Best Online Programs, maintaining an 11-year streak in the top 25. Designed for working professionals seeking career advancement through flexible online delivery via the Blackboard Learning Management System.
• Online Master's in Nursing Program Online graduate nursing degree program offered by the McAuley School of Nursing, ranked No. 72 in the country by U.S. News & World Report 2026 Best Online Programs. Targets working nurses and healthcare professionals seeking advanced credentials.
• Detroit Mercy Psychology Clinic Training clinic providing psychological services to the community, staffed by graduate students under faculty supervision. Operated by the College of Liberal Arts & Education as both a clinical service to the Detroit community and a training environment for graduate psychology students.
• RPM Program (Rapid Professional Mobility) Internship support and workforce development program for smaller mobility companies in Michigan, helping companies with internship processes and professional development. Funded by a $125,000 grant and developed through the College of Engineering & Science to build the future mobility workforce.
• Energy Efficiency Project Services Energy efficiency consulting and implementation services delivered to 13 nonprofits in Detroit and southeast Michigan, aimed at reducing energy consumption, emissions, and utility costs. Funded by a $3.79 million Department of Energy grant with total investment of $4.8 million including matching funds.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates expected to earn over $2.1 million over 40-year career (top 9% nationally)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Titan Equity Nourish NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Partnership with Titan Equity Nourish Network to support The People's Path to Wellness program, establishing a neighborhood wellness council in Northwest Detroit. The $180,000 grant supports community health initiatives and wellness programming.
• Michigan Mobility CompaniesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2025Partnership with smaller mobility companies in Michigan through the RPM program, helping companies with internship processes and professional development. Supported by a $125,000 grant to develop future workforce in the mobility sector.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• DePaul University: Largest Catholic university in the U.S., urban-anchored in Chicago, with comparable professional-school breadth (law, business, nursing) and emphasis on working-adult/online learners. Comparable peer for Catholic urban-anchor model and online program growth.
• University of Notre Dame: Elite Catholic research university near Detroit and a fellow top-tier faith-affiliated institution. Comparable as the benchmark Catholic university for academic reputation, donor base, and student-outcomes positioning — though at vastly larger scale, framing UDM's brand ceiling.
• Saint Louis University: Jesuit, private research university with comparable professional-school breadth (medicine, law, nursing, business) and similar urban-anchor mission. Comparable peer for Jesuit research identity at moderate scale.
• University of Dayton: Catholic (Marianist), private university with similar enrollment scale (~8,500), strong engineering and business programs, and Midwestern positioning. Comparable peer for Catholic identity, scale, and engineering/technology focus.
• Marquette University: Jesuit, urban, private university in Milwaukee with comparable professional-school mix (dental, law, nursing, engineering) and similar mid-sized enrollment. Most directly comparable Jesuit peer for program portfolio, scale, and Midwestern urban-anchor positioning.
• Wayne State University: Detroit's public research university and direct geographic competitor for Detroit-area students, faculty, and grant funding. Comparable urban-anchor mission, professional programs (medicine, law, nursing), and Detroit-area community engagement.
• Xavier University: Jesuit, private university in Cincinnati with similar enrollment scale (~6,500 students), professional program mix (business, nursing), and Midwestern urban/suburban positioning. Comparable peer for Jesuit identity at mid-sized scale.
• Loyola University Chicago: Jesuit, urban, private university with a comparable professional-school portfolio (law, nursing, business) and similar enrollment scale. Most direct peer for Jesuit identity combined with urban-anchor positioning in a major Midwest city.
• John Carroll University: Jesuit, private university in suburban Cleveland with similar enrollment scale (~3,000-4,000 students) and comparable professional program mix (business, nursing, sciences). Most direct peer for Jesuit identity at sub-5,000 enrollment scale.
• Creighton University: Jesuit, private university with strong health-professions programs (pharmacy, dental, nursing, OT/PT) — comparable as a mid-sized Jesuit peer expanding into allied health professions, mirroring UDM's Whitty Center OT/PT investment thesis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UDMDetroit
• YouTubeyoutube.com/UDMDetroit
• Facebookfacebook.com/90851818895
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-detroit-mercy
• Instagraminstagram.com/detmercy
• TikToktiktok.com/@detmercy

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors4 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Detroit Mercy