Awards & Recognitions
Mercyhurst University stands out in many ways. We are proud of our hard-working, dedicated students and the paths we have paved for our stellar, innovative programs. Here, we highlight the prominent awards and recognition Mercyhurst has received.
Carnegie Elective Classification
Mercyhurst earned the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, one of the nation’s highest recognitions of institutional commitment to meaningful community partnerships.
Mercyhurst is among 277 colleges and universities nationwide to receive the classification in the 2026 cycle from the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Valid through 2032, this designation honors the university’s long-standing engagement with local, regional, national, and global communities and its commitment to creating lasting impact.
Goldwater Scholarship Recipient
Mercyhurst Applied Forensic Science major Kailey Tyler ’27 earned a Goldwater Scholarship in 2026, one of the most prestigious undergraduate awards in the United States for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). She was among 450 students selected from more than 5,000 applicants. The highly competitive scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and strong potential for research careers in the sciences.
Tyler receives mentorship from faculty in the sciences, including Dr. Raj Mohan in the Department of Biology, and was nominated through Mercyhurst’s academic programs.
National Collegiate Business Championships
Mercyhurst earned seven national awards at the 2026 National Collegiate Business Championships in Nashville, Tennessee, including two team championships, three individual titles, and two Top Teaching Awards across the Innovation and Sport Analytics divisions.
Dr. John Parente (Innovation) and Brian Fuller (Sport Analytics) received Top Teaching Awards in their respective divisions.
These accomplishments reflect the university’s instructional, academic, and competitive excellence at the national level.
National Historic District Designation
Mercyhurst’s historic campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2026. Granted by the National Park Service, the designation recognizes the campus’s architectural significance, including Old Main’s Collegiate Gothic design, as well as its historic role in educating women and later transitioning to a coeducational institution. With this recognition, Mercyhurst joins a distinguished group of institutions across Pennsylvania and notable historic districts throughout Erie.
U.S. News and World Report
In its 2026 Best Colleges report, U.S. News & World Report ranks Mercyhurst among the Best Regional Universities in the North, Best Value Schools, Best Colleges for Veterans, and one of the nation’s Top Performers on Social Mobility.
U.S. News determines its rankings based on various widely accepted indicators of excellence, customized to each category, to create a guide for discovering the best-fit schools based on academics and personal considerations.
At Mercyhurst, a successful and enjoyable experience for everyone is the goal, and being acknowledged by U.S. News reaffirms that accomplishment.
2024-25 NEC Institutional Academic Record
Mercyhurst set a new conference academic record and received the 2024-25 Institutional Academic Award. With a cumulative GPA of 3.536, this achievement highlights the strong academic commitment of Mercyhurst’s student-athletes.
Five Mercyhurst teams also earned 2024-25 NEC Team GPA Awards: Men’s Basketball, Women’s Basketball, Women’s Cross Country, Football, and Softball.
These accomplishments reflect the university’s shared dedication to achievement, on the field and in the classroom.
Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst (AIM)
The Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst (AIM) is among the top college programs for students on the autism spectrum, according to the American Autism Association, Great Value Colleges, and Applied Behavior Analysis Programs Guide.
College Choice ranks Mercyhurst among the top 50 disability-friendly colleges and universities.
- AIM is recommended by College Autism Network, Autism Speaks, College Autism Spectrum, CollegeXpress, Saving For College, and Think College.
- In 2024, Mercyhurst received a $250,000 allocation of federal funds through the Department of Education and office of U.S. Sen. Bob Casey in support of AIM 2.0, an expanded effort to enhance the program's success and widen its reach in its commitment to helping neurodiverse students in their college experience.
- Program highlights include assistive technology, peer mentoring programming, meal gathering groups, and specialized housing arrangement priority.
The AIM program focuses on building a foundation of self-advocacy, social skills, and sound academic progress. Mercyhurst has become a leader and resource for many other institutions across the country.
Colleges of Distinction
Mercyhurst has earned recognition from the Colleges of Distinction in 2024-25 for best Pennsylvania, Catholic, Business, Education, Nursing, Career Development, and Military Support College.
Colleges of Distinction picks schools with careful consideration, affirming their ability to provide a personalized education tailored to students’ interests while upholding excellence in Student Engagement, Teaching, Community, and Outcomes.
Mercyhurst strives to be a place where students receive exceptional preparation to succeed and an appreciation for art, culture, and community, and these efforts are reflected in this recognition.
Military Support
Mercyhurst is designated a Purple Heart University by the Military Order of the Purple Heart for its services and programming for veterans and their families, making it the second university in Pennsylvania to receive this honor.
Mercyhurst proudly participates in the Yellow Ribbon program, which offers recipients help paying tuition.
Mercyhurst is ranked as one of the Best Colleges for Veterans (U.S. News & World Report) and a Military Support College of Distinction (Colleges of Distinction) in recognition of its efforts.
Student Training & Education in Public Services (STEPS)
Student Training & Education in Public Services (STEPS) ranks Mercyhurst 25th among the top 50 schools nationwide for its online Cyber Security master’s degree program, placing Mercyhurst alongside only 13 percent of colleges and universities in the U.S. for the 2024 academic year.
The job outlook for cybersecurity graduates is high and predicted to continue to grow by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Being identified as a school with a strong online program is a significant accomplishment when enrollment in online degree programs is high, with 60 percent of students taking at least one class online and 30 percent enrolling exclusively in online courses, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
- For the 2023-24 academic year, Mercyhurst achieved the highest institutional average GPA in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, with a 3.518 combined GPA across 17 Laker teams.
- Seven Mercyhurst University teams were recognized for conference-high GPAs.
- Mercyhurst Women’s Soccer secured the second-highest GPA, with a 3.81, across all NCAA divisions out of 241 women’s soccer teams.
- Mercyhurst Women’s Softball earned the fourth-highest GPA, with a 3.789, among Division II and has remained in the top 10 for four years straight.
Mercyhurst Athletics consistently receives academic recognition, proving our commitment to excellence both in the classroom and in our sports.
Mercyhurst became the first school in Pennsylvania to establish a college Stunt team in 2023. Stunt is designated an emerging sport by the NCAA across all divisions. This opportunity showcases our reputation as a university that strives to recognize and uplift athletics opportunities for women.
Stunt at Mercyhurst has transitioned to Division I alongside all other sports.
Graphic Design Program
The Mercyhurst Graphic Design program is ranked #4 nationwide by CollegeChoice.
This recognition showcases the program’s ability to effectively teach students to develop high-level skillsets in art and design. Mercyhurst provides students with firsthand experience and high-tech tools to best prepare them for this field.
Two Graphic Design majors received awards at the 2023 AdFlux Intercollegiate Advertising and Design Competition for their coursework.
- Joe Bronco placed third in the “Websites” category for his website design for Beard Brothers Co.
- Allison Lineman placed third in the “Social Causes” category for her activism poster, Ivory Belongs to Our Elephants.
Universities in the top five are the University of Florida, Harding University, Judson University, Mercyhurst University, and Michigan State University.
Examples of companies Mercyhurst graduates have worked for: DICK'S Sporting Goods, Wegmans, Express, and L'Oréal.
Best Chapter Award
Mercyhurst’s Chi Epsilon chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honors Society, earned a Best Chapter Award for 2021-22. This award recognizes local chapters active in their institutions and communities and embodies Pi Sigma Alpha’s mission to stimulate scholarship and intellectual interest in political science.
Mercyhurst’s outstanding commitment to developing activities and supporting civic engagement/preparation for law school is highlighted in receiving this award.