University of Bridgeport

University of Bridgeport is a private university located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, along the Long Island Sound. Established in 1927, it offers undergraduate and graduate programs across fields such as engineering, business, health sciences, education, and the arts and sciences. The university is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and operates on a campus that includes historic buildings near Seaside Park. University of Bridgeport is known for programs in dental hygiene, chiropractic, nutrition, and engineering, as well as for serving a diverse student population that includes international students. In 2021, the university became affiliated with Goodwin University while retaining its own name and academic programs.

University of Bridgeport was founded in 1927 as the Junior College of Connecticut, the first junior college in New England. Established in Bridgeport, Connecticut, by E. Everett Cortright, Alfred Fones, and Sumner Simpson, the institution was created to expand access to higher education in a city that lacked a college. In 1947, following post–World War II enrollment growth fueled by the GI Bill, the school was chartered as a four-year institution and renamed University of Bridgeport. The campus expanded onto the former P. T. Barnum estate near Seaside Park. During the mid-20th century, University of Bridgeport added graduate programs and developed strengths in health sciences, including dental hygiene and chiropractic studies. In 1991, it established a university-based chiropractic college. In 2021, Goodwin University acquired University of Bridgeport, preserving its operations while supporting its long-term stability and growth.