University of the Pacific

University of the Pacific is a private university based in Stockton, California, with additional graduate and professional campuses in San Francisco and Sacramento. Founded in 1851, it is California’s oldest chartered university. The institution is historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church and offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs across schools such as business, engineering, education, health sciences, law, pharmacy, and dentistry. University of the Pacific is known for its professional programs, including the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and the McGeorge School of Law. Students are often drawn to its combination of liberal arts education, professional preparation, and access to major Northern California cities.

University of the Pacific was founded on July 10, 1851, in Santa Clara, California, originally as California Wesleyan College, less than a year after California achieved statehood. It opened in 1852 under the name University of the Pacific and is recognized as California’s oldest chartered university. In 1858, it established the first medical school on the West Coast, later becoming part of Stanford University. The campus moved to San Jose in 1871, where it became the first independent coeducational campus in California. In 1923, University of the Pacific relocated to Stockton, where its main campus remains today. During the twentieth century, the university expanded its academic offerings, adding professional schools in dentistry, law, business, engineering, and health sciences. Today, University of the Pacific operates campuses in Stockton, San Francisco, and Sacramento, reflecting its growth into a comprehensive private university in Northern California.