Emmanuel College (Massachusetts)
Emmanuel College is a private Catholic college in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1919 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur as a women’s college and became coeducational in 2001. It is part of the Colleges of the Fenway consortium and also runs a living-learning campus in Roxbury.
Campus and facilities: The 17-acre urban campus near the Longwood Medical District has 11 buildings—seven academic spaces and four residence halls. Key buildings include the historic Administration Building (built in 1919), the Cardinal Cushing Library, the Jean Yawkey Center, Marian Hall, and the Maureen Murphy Wilkens Science Center (2009). In 2018, an 18-story St. Julie Hall opened to provide apartment-style housing for upperclass students and students from nearby schools. The campus also hosts renovated fields used for multiple sports and community events.
History and partnerships: A notable moment in Emmanuel’s history is a 75-year agreement with Merck, which provided on-campus research space and about $50 million in funding, helping stabilize finances and support growth. John F. Kennedy served on the college’s advisory board from 1946 to 1963. Leadership changed in 2022–2024, with Beth Ross becoming the president in 2024 after interim leadership.
Academics: Emmanuel offers more than 70 majors and minors across six academic divisions, with degrees in the liberal arts and sciences, business, education, and nursing. Most programs require at least 128 credits, and first-year students participate in a seminar on Knowledge, Values and Social Change. The college earned accreditation from NECHE, and in 2019 the nursing program received initial approval for a four-year BSN. Internships are central to the experience, and 100% of graduates complete one. The college also runs online graduate programs in management, nursing, and education for about 700 graduate students.
Student life: About 50 clubs and organizations cover a wide range of interests, including arts, culture, service, publications, and student government. Emmanuel has faced campus safety discussions and student protests related to sexual assault cases and Title IX processes, leading to listening sessions and a campus climate task force.
Athletics: Emmanuel’s sports teams are the Saints, competing in NCAA Division III in the GNAC. The college offers 16 varsity sports, plus clubs and intramurals. The campus also hosts athletic facilities used by local schools and community groups.
Endowment and enrollment: The endowment was about $173.2 million in 2024. As of fall 2025, the college enrolls about 1,954 students (1,847 undergraduates and 107 graduates), with roughly three-quarters living on campus.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 18:39 (CET).