A History of Innovation and Breaking Barriers

Peirce College was established in 1865 as Union Business College to provide career-focused education for soldiers returning from the Civil War and was one of the country’s first schools to embrace women as students.

Today, Peirce continues its tradition of serving the unique needs of working adults and employers through the ongoing evolution of programs that provide students with academic excellence, flexibility and personalized support. In addition to online courses, students can earn credit for college-level knowledge gained through years of work, professional and military training and other experiences. Students can also embed industry-recognized professional certifications into their programs - and earn credit for those certifications. 

Peirce is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI)  by the U.S. Department of Education, and is the only college or university in Pennsylvania dedicated exclusively to serving adults.

Peirce At A Glance

Leadership at Peirce

Accreditation & Approvals

Consumer Information