Penn History

Possessing a high regard for education, Quaker pioneers established a college that would encourage a disciplined search for truth. They boldly named the college after William Penn, the seventeenth-century Quaker statesman. The first lectures were delivered in 1873, and the first class graduated in 1875.

In accordance with those ideals, William Penn University has always provided equal access to a quality education without attention to a person's race, gender, age, religious preference, or national origin. We also stand as a second-chance portal of opportunity for students. Our success with this student segment is both profound and inspirational. All who come to the campus are treated with tolerance, dignity, respect, and with recognition that we are equals.

Penn graduates possess a quality education that blends critical thinking and skilled applications. Our focus is creating leaders for success in a global society.