Humphreys University

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

Humphreys University, formerly known as Humphreys College, is an independent, non-profit institution of higher education with campuses in Stockton and Modesto, California. Serving the central San Joaquin Valley continuously since 1896, it holds the distinction of being the region’s first institution of higher learning. The university offers a wide range of academic programs, including certificates, associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, and houses the Humphreys College Laurence Drivon School of Law, which awards the Juris Doctor degree. Humphreys University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities, while its law school is approved by the California State Bar Committee of Bar Examiners. The institution traces its formal founding to 1896 when John R. Humphreys, Sr. assumed leadership of the Stockton Business College, Normal School, and Telegraphic Institute, though records indicate educational activity in Stockton as early as 1875. Over time, the school underwent several name changes and mergers, ultimately incorporating as a non-profit university in 1947 under its current name. The main Stockton campus relocated from downtown to the North Stockton Sherwood area in 1967 and has since expanded significantly, including major renovations and new academic and law facilities in the mid-2000s. A second campus was established in Modesto in 1987, later expanding rapidly to meet growing enrollment. Humphreys also operated a Sacramento-area campus from 1990 to 2001 and partnered with local school districts to support charter high school initiatives during the 2000s. The university introduced graduate education programs in 2009 and continued physical expansion through 2011. Despite periods of growth, Humphreys University faced financial and enrollment challenges in the early 2010s, including the loss of eligibility for California state financial aid and subsequent cost-reduction measures, marking a significant transition period in its long history.