Better & Stronger Together

Peirce College & Lackawanna College



Lackawanna College and Peirce College have announced that they intend to merge, based on the shared belief that both institutions are better and stronger together and aptly positioned to help more residents of Pennsylvania transform their lives.

Pending the required approvals, Peirce will become part of Lackawanna College.

The combined institution will be the largest private, nonprofit open enrollment institution in Pennsylvania at the undergraduate level, with an expanded geographic and programmatic presence to serve students in eight locations and online.

The partnership will leverage Lackawanna’s dedication to degrees, certificates and innovative learning experiences with Peirce’s commitment to career-focused, flexible academic programs and student services designed around the unique needs of busy adults, empowering learning at all stages of life.

The institutions will leverage their core competencies and expand programs to better serve more students throughout Pennsylvania, including adults and other nontraditional learners, and increase the pipeline of diverse talent through education and workforce training.

Students and alumni may be wondering, “What does this mean for me?”

The merger will have no impact on students or their ability to complete their degrees and advance their education. Peirce is not going anywhere and will continue to be in Philadelphia for students and our alumni.

If you are a current student, you will see no change to your program or the student experience at Peirce. There will be no disruptions to academic programs or to personalized student and alumni services. Peirce alumni will continue have access to lifelong career and professional development services.

The institutions will work closely on integration planning as they seek the required approvals from the appropriate accrediting and government agencies.

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FAQs

Why are Peirce College and Lackawanna College merging?

We share a foundational belief that our institutions are better and stronger together. We also believe that we have a responsibility to continue evolving to meet the changing needs of our students and partners.

Both institutions are financially strong, but we recognize that the higher education market continues to be increasingly challenging and volatile. This merger is a strategic, proactive move between two institutions committed to expanding access for our students to gain the skills and credentials needed to transform their lives. It also reflects our commitment to providing flexible, accessible, career-focused education to more students throughout Pennsylvania and the personalized support they need.

Why Lackawanna College?

We believe Lackawanna is the best partner for Peirce for many reasons.

  • Our missions are aligned and we are both open admissions at the undergraduate level.
  • We are both dedicated to innovation that transforms the lives of our students.
  • We share a long-term commitment to providing flexible, accessible education throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  • We are both committed to expanding access to serve more students, including adult learners and those in underserved communities.

 

What are the key goals of the partnership?

We plan to leverage our core competencies and expand our programs to better serve more students throughout Pennsylvania, including adults and other nontraditional learners, and increase the pipeline of diverse talent through education and workforce training. We also plan to create tangible benefits to our current students and develop new pathways for future students. We will also expand our geographic footprints with an expanded portfolio of programs and services, including certificates, dual enrollment programs, undergraduate degree completion programs, bachelor-to-masters pathways, graduate programs and prior learning assessment opportunities.

How will the colleges merge? What is the approval process and timeline?

Pending the required approvals, Peirce will become part of Lackawanna College and the colleges will operate as a single institution under the Lackawanna name.

Peirce and Lackawanna are currently working on gaining the approvals required, which is a two-part process. The first part is gaining approval from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and other regulatory approvals, which allows Peirce to merge into and become part of Lackawanna College. We are hoping to gain this approval by June 30, 2025. The second part is gaining approval from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). We will keep our respective communities updated on the estimated timeline for DOE approval.

What impact will the merger have on current students?

The merger will have no negative impact on our students or their ability to complete their degrees and advance their education. If you are a current student, you will see no change to your program or to the student experience. There will be no disruptions to our academic programs or our personalized student and alumni services. Once the merger is finalized, students will have even more opportunities with expanded programming that range from stackable certificates and bachelor’s-to-master’s pathways to new programs and course delivery options.

Will Peirce College retain its name?

Once the merger is completed, Peirce will become a school within Lackawanna College. We expect to share more details on this in the coming months.

Will Peirce continue to have a campus in Philadelphia?

Peirce College will continue to call 1608 Walnut Street in Philadelphia home as we work toward finalization of the merger and subsequent integration of our two institutions. Upon approval of the merger, the Walnut Street location in Philadelphia will become a new location of Lackawanna College. While the combined institution will have a wider geographic reach, we will also continue to serve students in Philadelphia, including adult learners and those in underserved communities.

What does this agreement mean for the Peirce College alumni community?

Peirce and Lackawanna will remain committed to providing a quality alumni experience for Peirce graduates that honors Peirce’s legacy and provides important career connections between students and alumni and lifelong access to career development services.

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