The future is bright for the 2026 graduates of the University of Detroit Mercy Nursing (UDM) program at Aquinas College. This past spring, 100% of these graduates passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) on their first attempt. This standardized test is required in the United States for those seeking licensure to practice safe, entry-level nursing, and this year’s graduates have already washed their hands of it and donned their scrubs. 

This accomplishment continues a remarkable trend, marking the second consecutive year Aquinas/UDM graduates have achieved a flawless NCLEX pass rate. 

“Our NCLEX pass rates have always been above the state and national average. We have had years with only one student who had to retake the NCLEX, but this is our first time in our 25-year history at Aquinas College that we have had a 100% first-attempt NCLEX pass rate.  Our program is rigorous, but with our goal for students to be successful, we prepare the nursing students to pass the NCLEX throughout their nursing education,” said Suzanne Keep, Ph.D,  Prelicensure BSN Site Program Director.

About the Program
The UDM direct admit nursing program, in collaboration with Aquinas College and Trinity Health Grand Rapids, offers a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. This unique partnership allows students to benefit from a liberal arts education and helps them to develop a diverse skill set while still pursuing their nursing aspirations. 

All nursing classes are taught by experienced UDM faculty, with the entire program based in Grand Rapids. Students gain clinical nursing experience at Trinity Health Grand Rapids and several other leading facilities across the city. And back at home, they benefit from Aquinas’ state-of-the-art Albertus Magnus Hall of Science, campus life activities and support services, and of course, the renowned scenic wooded campus, located just a few short minutes from downtown. 

In addition to the excellent test scores, 100% of our graduates are employed or attending graduate school within six months of graduation, year after year. 

“It brings us great joy and satisfaction to witness the nursing students evolve from freshmen to confidently leading their final immersion clinical experience, fully prepared for their professional nursing roles,” said Dr. Keep. “We believe our McAuley School of Nursing mission defines who our students become as nurses. Many of the alumni return to become clinical faculty." 

Is Nursing in YOUR Future? 
High school students seeking entry into this program benefit from direct admission. 

Typically, students must first be accepted to a college or university, then reapply to the nursing program in their sophomore year. Aquinas College’s streamlined process removes that extra step, allowing students to begin the nursing program on their first day as freshmen with no additional application and no uncertainty.

For questions, contact admissions@aquinas.edu or (616) 632-2923. We’re happy to help! 

About University of Detroit Mercy
University of Detroit Mercy (UDM) is Michigan’s largest and most comprehensive Catholic university, sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). UDM is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 50 institutions of higher education and offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional academic degrees and programs through eight schools and colleges. Detroit Mercy educates the whole person, focusing on the value of excellent academics, service to the community and a deeper spirituality to prepare graduates for lives of integrity and purpose. For more information, please visit www.udmercy.edu.