Mercy University Renews Partnership With Common App to Continue to Increase Access to Higher Education

Today, Mercy University announced it has joined Common App’s direct admissions program for the second consecutive year to connect more students to postsecondary opportunities. Mercy joins over 70 colleges and universities nationwide in a program that provides over 200,000 first-generation and low and middle-income students who are interested in attending college. In partnering with Common App, Mercy can continue to increase access to higher education for both traditional and nontraditional students.

“Mercy University’s partnership with Common App has proven to be successful in reaching students who would benefit most from the supportive, inclusive and quality education Mercy University has to offer,” said Adam Castro, vice president for enrollment management at Mercy University. “Mercy welcomed its largest freshman class this fall thanks, in part, to direct admissions programs like Common App.”

“We are excited for Mercy University to join our direct admissions program where even more students will now know that they are worthy and wanted on a college campus,” said Jenny Rickard, president & CEO of Common App. “Overall, direct admissions is about changing the narrative of a college education from one of scarcity to one of opportunity, by ensuring students know that college opportunity is an abundant resource — and one that’s available to them.”

Common App has piloted a direct admissions program since 2021, offering admission to students who created a Common App account and provided enough academic information – but had not yet completed all – of their open applications. The latest iteration of the pilot offered admission to 330,000 students at 14 participating institutions, including Mercy University, and over 800 students accepted the offer. Results showed the impacts of the intervention were strongest for Black or African American, Latinx, and first-generation students.

Last year, 30 students enrolled through the direct admissions program and Mercy expects enrollment to increase in year two of the program.

To learn more about Common App, click here.

Click here to watch News 12 Westchester coverage of this announcement.