Chestnut Hill College

Nestled on 45 picturesque acres overlooking the Wissahickon Creek at Philadelphia's northwestern edge, Chestnut Hill College began its journey in 1924. Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph as Mount Saint Joseph College, it quickly established itself as a Catholic, four-year liberal arts institution primarily for women. Renamed Chestnut Hill College in 1938, it has since evolved into a vibrant private college, continuously adapting its educational offerings to meet the diverse needs of its student body.

From its inception, the college's core mission has been to provide a comprehensive liberal arts education, blending humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. This holistic approach aims to prepare students for life's complexities, fostering intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and social development. While originally awarding degrees solely to young women, Chestnut Hill College demonstrated its commitment to expanding access by establishing a continuing education department in 1972, now known as the School of Continuing Studies, to serve mature women and men with flexible evening and weekend classes.

The commitment to inclusive education deepened with the establishment of the coeducational School of Graduate Studies in 1980, which expanded to include a doctoral program by 1997. A pivotal moment arrived in 2003 when the traditional undergraduate program welcomed male students, transforming the 78-year-old College for Women into the School of Undergraduate Studies. This transition led to dramatic enrollment growth, soaring by 80% by 2005 and exceeding 2,000 students in the 2010s. Furthermore, Chestnut Hill College enhances student opportunities through its membership in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Consortium for Higher Education (SEPCHE) and the Association of Colleges of Sisters of St. Joseph (ACSSJ), providing avenues for collaborative learning and enriching study-abroad experiences.