Trinity Washington University

Trinity Washington University is a private Catholic university located in Washington, D.C. Founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, it began as Trinity College, the nation’s first Catholic liberal arts college for women. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs through multiple schools, including arts and sciences, education, nursing and health professions, business, and professional studies. While it maintains a historic women’s college, Trinity Washington University also serves coeducational graduate and professional students. The institution is known for its commitment to access, social justice, and educating students from diverse backgrounds, particularly women and students from the Washington metropolitan area.

Trinity Washington University was founded in 1897 as Trinity College by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Washington, D.C., becoming the nation’s first Catholic liberal arts college for women. Chartered by an Act of Congress on August 20, 1897, Trinity opened its first classes in 1900 in Main Hall, which housed classrooms, residence space, and the convent. In its early decades, Trinity Washington University focused on educating Catholic women at a time when they had limited access to higher education. Enrollment declined in the 1970s and 1980s as many colleges became coeducational, prompting the creation of innovative programs for working adult women. Under President Patricia McGuire, appointed in 1989, the institution expanded professional and graduate offerings and strengthened outreach in Washington, D.C. In 2004, Trinity College officially became Trinity Washington University, reflecting its broader academic structure and mission.