Mercy College to Welcome Largest Freshman Class in Over a Decade
The 2023-2024 incoming class, estimated at 1,100 students, is fueled by record applications and campus visits, and reflects significant programmatic and campus improvements at the College.
Mercy College will welcome its largest freshman class in 12 years to its Dobbs Ferry, Manhattan and Bronx campuses this September. The 2023-2024 incoming class, currently estimated at 1,100 students, is fueled by record applications and campus visits and reflects the College’s significant programmatic and campus improvements. This class will arrive with the highest academic profile in College history and impressive resumes filled with leadership roles, creative endeavors, and work experience. For example, students studying Nursing bring an impressive average GPA of 3.7 while the Business Honors Program cohort of 33 students boasts a GPA of 3.9.
“Mercy College has been investing in its students and its infrastructure during a difficult time in higher education,” said Tim Hall, president of Mercy College. “We’ve recently welcomed so many students and their families back to our campuses to meet with faculty and get a sense of the culture and community of Mercy, and we are delighted that so many see the value of attending Mercy to pursue their education.”
Mercy College, the largest private, non-profit minority-serving institution in the region and as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), received national attention last year when it earned the prestigious Seal of Excelencia from Excelencia in Education, a national certification for intentionally serving Latino students. Mercy is the first private college in the country, as well as the first HSI in New York State, to receive this certification. This year, half of freshman acceptances and 60% of committed students identify as Hispanic/Latino and about 85% of the freshman class will identify as a student of color, highlighting the diversity that has been the hallmark of the College.
Mercy has long been committed to college access and has one of the lowest tuition rates of private, four-year colleges in the region. This year, nearly 75 percent of new freshmen are eligible for Federal Pell Grants providing them additional assistance to an already low tuition rate.
Vice President for Enrollment Management Adam Castro believes the College has been able to stand out in the crowded higher education market in New York by remaining true to its mission and making several key improvements in areas like the campus visit experience, financial aid packaging and presentation, and connecting prospective students and families with Mercy faculty. The College’s participation in two national direct admissions pilot programs – The Common Application and College Greenlight has also yielded students into the incoming class.
“It is incredibly rewarding to work at an institution like Mercy that is so deeply committed to its mission of providing students access to quality higher education,” said Castro. “Being able to achieve such a strong enrollment result by leaning into that mission is an incredible feeling. Mercy strives to be an integral part of the communities in which we reside, and we try to build lasting, meaningful relationships with students, families, school counselors, community leaders, and the business community. Those relationships serve as the foundation of this exceptional class.”
In recent years, Mercy College has been focused on transformational strategies to serve its students and position them to succeed. This includes the implementation of a series of evidence-based practices known to increase rates of academic achievement for all students, intrusive advising through the PACT mentoring program, introductory courses redesigned with academic supports, and career-focused curricula. Mercy has also invested in site improvements on the Dobbs Ferry, Manhattan and Bronx campuses to enhance the overall student experience. These include renovated academic, residential and athletic facilities and innovative learning environments such as clinical simulation labs, a music recording studio, a business school trading room, and cybersecurity labs for hands-on learning.
Fall classes begin on September 6. Mercy College offers rolling admissions for freshman and transfer applicants. To apply for Mercy College online, visit www.mercy.edu/apply.