Salve Regina University

Salve Regina University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Newport, Rhode Island. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, it operates within the Mercy higher education tradition and welcomes students of all faiths. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs across the liberal arts, sciences, business, education, nursing, and international relations. Its campus is situated along the Atlantic coast and includes several historic Gilded Age estates. Salve Regina University serves a primarily undergraduate population while also offering select master’s and doctoral programs. Students are often drawn to its coastal setting, emphasis on service and social justice, and programs that integrate professional preparation with a liberal arts foundation.

Salve Regina University was founded in 1934 when the Sisters of Mercy of Providence received a charter from the state of Rhode Island to establish Salve Regina College. The institution opened in 1947 in Newport, Rhode Island, after the donation of Ochre Court, admitting its first class of 58 women. Mary Matthew Doyle, a leader of the Sisters of Mercy, served as the first president. During the 1950s, additional historic Newport estates were acquired, expanding the coastal campus. Salve Regina became coeducational in 1973 and introduced graduate programs in 1975. In 1991, the college achieved university status and adopted the name Salve Regina University. Over time, the university expanded academic offerings, developed centers such as the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy, and continued preserving its historic campus buildings while growing into a comprehensive institution.