Marywood University

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

Marywood University is a private Catholic university located in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1915 by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and currently enrolls over 2,800 students across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. The university features a national arboretum with more than 100 types of trees and shrubs. Its origins trace back to the Sisters’ arrival in Scranton in 1878, when they founded St. Cecilia's Academy for young women. In 1902, Mount St. Mary's Seminary was opened as a place for serious academic study for young women, distinct from finishing schools of the time. The seminary was part of the sisters’ broader vision to establish a women's college. Marywood College officially opened in 1915 with 34 students, making it the fifth Catholic women’s college in the United States. Early graduates earned degrees such as Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Letters, and by the 1930s the curriculum had expanded to include social sciences and pre-medical studies. In 1937, the sisters declined a merger proposal with St. Thomas College (now the University of Scranton). During the 1970s, as many single-sex Catholic colleges began admitting male students, Marywood followed suit, becoming co-educational in 1989. Finally, in 1997, the Pennsylvania Department of Education granted Marywood college university status, marking its official transition to Marywood University.