Mercy University was recently ranked the No. 1 college in New York for women, according to a new ranking by Newsweek. The recognition places the university among the top institutions in the country for creating an environment that supports women’s success, safety, and opportunity.
But beyond rankings and recognition, what does that look like for the women who experience campus life every day?
For many students, the answer begins with something simple: feeling safe.
“Safety is number one,” said senior Kamila Romero. “Also feeling included and having other women here.”
Romero, who commutes to campus, said that even with late classes ending as late as 9 or 10 p.m., she has consistently felt comfortable leaving campus.
“I feel safe,” she said. “Even at night.”
That sense of security was echoed by multiple students, who pointed to both campus environment and visible safety measures as contributing factors.
“Security makes me comfortable,” said freshman Sheena B. “I haven’t faced any dilemmas on campus.”
Still, while students largely described Mercy as a safe space, some noted that safety is not something that should be assumed but it should be continuously reinforced.
“Mercy needs to listen to women more,” said Maria Damiani. “It needs to be safe.”
Her comment reflects an important distinction: safety is not just about the absence of harm, but the presence of active listening and responsiveness to student needs.
For others, support goes beyond physical safety and extends into everyday interactions and campus culture.
“I think it is supportive,” said senior Kelann Carrington. “I’ve been here for a while, and I haven’t seen anything misogynistic or against women. I see everyone interacting, both men and women.”
Carrington described a supportive campus as one where women feel free to exist without discomfort or pressure.
“Some place where I can feel safe to do what I want to do, wear what I want to wear, and be safe around male and female peers,” she said. “Some place where it’s not ‘hey, can I get your number,’ but somewhere that feels like a second home.”
That idea of comfort of being able to move through campus without fear or unwanted attention was a recurring theme in student responses.
At the same time, students emphasized that support is not just cultural, but structural.
Romero pointed to resources like counseling services and the presence of women in leadership roles as meaningful contributors to that environment.
“There’s a lot of women groups, a lot of women professors, and I feel like the free counseling is supporting women also,” she said.
These institutional supports align with the criteria often used in national rankings, which consider factors such as access to resources, representation, and campus policies.
However, students also made it clear that small, everyday improvements can have a significant impact.
“There should be pads and tampons in classrooms or bathrooms,” Carrington said. “Sometimes a girl doesn’t have everything they need.”
Romero agreed, noting inconsistencies in access.
“Sometimes there’s only one or two in the bathroom, or sometimes there’s none,” she said. “Access to painkillers when you’re on your period would also help.”
These suggestions highlight a broader point: while large-scale recognition matters, it is often the smaller, practical details that shape a student’s daily experience.
Support, for many women, is measured not just in policies, but in preparedness.
Other students pointed to emotional and academic support systems as equally important.
“I feel like every time I have an issue, my PACT mentor and the navigators are always quick to ask me or comfort me,” said Shanttal L. “They’ll approach me and ask if I’m okay, which I appreciate because they don’t have to do that.”
Her experience underscores the importance of accessibility and care not just formal resources, but human connection.
“They try to include women and what they like to do,” she added, referencing campus organizations and athletics, especially Mercy’s women lacrosse team.
Across interviews, one thing remained consistent: most students do feel supported at Mercy, but they also have a clear vision of what continued support should look like.
For some, that means more resources. For others, it means maintaining the culture that already exists.
“I haven’t seen anything bad, and I don’t want anything changed,” Carrington said.
But even within that satisfaction, there is still room for growth.
Students are not asking for a complete overhaul of campus life. Instead, they are calling for intentional improvements listening more closely, providing consistent access to resources, and continuing to prioritize safety.
The Newsweek ranking may validate Mercy University’s efforts, but student voices reveal a deeper truth: being a “top college for women” is not just about recognition. It is about consistency, responsiveness, and the ability to evolve alongside the needs of the women it serves.
At Mercy, many students already feel safe, heard, and supported.
Now, they are asking for that support to be sustained and strengthened.
