University of Saint Joseph

University of Saint Joseph is a private Catholic university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, it offers undergraduate and graduate programs grounded in the liberal arts and professional studies. The university began as a women’s college and became fully coeducational in 2018. Academic offerings include programs in health professions, education, business, social sciences, and the arts and sciences, along with graduate and doctoral degrees. The campus also operates laboratory schools that support teacher training and community engagement. University of Saint Joseph attracts students seeking a smaller campus environment, a values-based education rooted in the Catholic tradition, and proximity to the Hartford metropolitan area.

University of Saint Joseph was founded in 1932 in West Hartford, Connecticut, by the Sisters of Mercy as the first Catholic women’s college in the Hartford area. Established to combine liberal arts education with professional preparation, the institution emphasized service, ethical development, and academic rigor. In its early decades, University of Saint Joseph expanded its campus and academic programs, adding graduate studies in 1959 and later developing specialized professional offerings. Laboratory schools, including the School for Young Children and the Gengras Center School, were created to support teacher education and community needs. In 2011, the university introduced professional doctoral programs, reflecting its academic growth. A significant milestone occurred in 2018 when University of Saint Joseph became fully coeducational, transitioning from its long-standing identity as a women’s college to a broader university model while maintaining its Catholic heritage and Mercy tradition.