Simmons University

Simmons University is a private university located in Boston, Massachusetts, in the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood. Founded in 1899, the institution began as a women’s college and continues to offer women-centered undergraduate education while providing coeducational graduate programs. Simmons offers programs in the liberal arts, social work, nursing and health sciences, business, and library and information science. The university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and is a member of the Colleges of the Fenway consortium. Students are often drawn to Simmons University for its urban campus setting, professional-focused academic programs, and its historical commitment to expanding educational and career opportunities for women.

Simmons University was founded in 1899 in Boston, Massachusetts, following a bequest from clothing manufacturer John Simmons, who envisioned an institution that would help women achieve economic independence. On May 24, 1899, the Massachusetts legislature granted a charter to incorporate Simmons Female College. The institution opened with a mission to combine liberal arts education with professional preparation for women. Early leadership under first dean Sarah Louise Arnold helped shape its academic direction. Throughout the twentieth century, Simmons University expanded its academic offerings, added graduate programs, and joined the Colleges of the Fenway consortium. In 1976, it absorbed Garland Junior College. Reflecting its broader academic scope and expanded graduate education, Simmons College officially became Simmons University in 2018. Today, Simmons University maintains its women-centered undergraduate focus while offering coeducational graduate programs.