Samuel Merritt University

Samuel Merritt University is a private health sciences university based in Oakland, California, with additional campuses and learning sites in Sacramento, Foster City, and Fresno. Founded in 1909, it focuses exclusively on healthcare education and offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in fields such as nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, podiatric medicine, and kinesiology. The university evolved from a hospital-based nursing school into a comprehensive health sciences institution. Students are typically drawn to Samuel Merritt University for its clinically oriented programs, strong emphasis on licensure preparation, and location in the San Francisco Bay Area, which provides access to diverse healthcare settings and patient populations.

Samuel Merritt University was founded in 1909 in Oakland, California, as a hospital school of nursing established through the legacy of physician and civic leader Samuel Augustus Merritt. Originally created to train nurses for Merritt Hospital, the institution began as Samuel Merritt Hospital School of Nursing and later became Samuel Merritt College. During the late twentieth century, the college expanded beyond nursing, launching programs in physical therapy in 1990 and occupational therapy in 1992, followed by a physician assistant program in 1999 and the California School of Podiatric Medicine in 2002. In 2009, Samuel Merritt College was officially renamed Samuel Merritt University to reflect its growth into a multi-disciplinary health sciences institution offering bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Over time, Samuel Merritt University has expanded its academic offerings and campus facilities, strengthening its role as a healthcare-focused university in the Bay Area.