Jessup University (William Jessup University)

William Jessup University is a private Christian university located in Rocklin, California, with additional campuses in San Jose, California, and Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1939 as San Jose Bible College by William Lee Jessup, the institution has undergone several name changes and campus relocations, ultimately becoming William Jessup University in 2004. The move to Rocklin occurred after the administration was unable to find a suitable new location in the Santa Clara Valley. The current Rocklin campus, previously a Herman Miller Furniture Factory, features buildings designed by architect Frank Gehry. Over the years, the university has expanded its academic offerings and now provides 25 undergraduate majors, 10 graduate programs, 5 degree completion options, and 9 fully online programs across six academic schools. Jessup has also developed research and service centers, including the Center for American Sign Language, the Center for Hispanic/Latino Ministry, and the Institute for Bio-Diversity and the Environment. The university made headlines in 2023 with the launch of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and its merger with Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon. It was also accepted into NCAA Division II and will begin competing in the Pacific West Conference in 2024, expanding its athletics program beyond the NAIA. Jessup fields 16 varsity sports teams known as the Warriors. While the university once partnered with Bethel Church to launch Bethel Music College and Bethel School of Technology, this relationship appears to have ended by 2024. Jessup has continued to grow through online and graduate enrollment, despite shifts in traditional undergraduate numbers. The university is regionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission and maintains a mission grounded in Christian values, leadership development, and academic excellence.