HISTORY

In 1862, the Pennsylvania Military Academy (after being  founded in 1821 as the Bullock School for boys in Wilmington, Delaware) moved to West Chester, Pennsylvania, where it was granted collegiate powers and privileges by the Pennsylvania legislature.

After spending two years in Upland, Pennsylvania, the Academy settled on what is now the Main Campus and became the Pennsylvania Military College (PMC) in 1892. Starting in 1946, when returning World War II veterans were admitted as non-cadets, PMC evolved from an exclusively all-male military college to a coeducational liberal arts college. 

In 1966, PMC was renamed PMC Colleges, a combination of the original name and the Penn Morton College that sponsored the undergraduate civilian curriculum.  PMC Colleges was structured into three divisions and a school: the Liberal Arts Division, the Science Division, the Division of Economics and Management, and the School of Engineering.

By 1972, educating civilian students became PMC Colleges' primary objective. With academic divisions, then including several master's degree programs, the current organization of colleges and schools began to take shape. During that time, the name Widener College (recognizing Philadelphia's Widener family) was adopted and the PMC Corps of Cadets disbanded. In 1975, Widener acquired the Delaware Law School, which now is home to Widener's School of Law. In 1979, Widener achieved university status. The School of Law's Harrisburg Campus was added in 1989.

Today, chartered in Pennsylvania and Delaware, Widener has four-campuses and offers more than 150 programs of study leading to certificates and associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Widener University now includes the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration, School of Engineering, School of Hospitality Management, School of Human Service Professions, School of Law, School of Nursing, and University College.

Main Campus
One University Place
Chester, PA 19013
tel: 610-499-4000

Harrisburg Campus
School of Law
3800 Vartan Way
Harrisburg, PA 17110
tel: 717-541-3900

Exton Campus
University College
825 Springdale Drive
Exton, PA 19341-2843
tel: 484-713-0088