About
Simmons University encompasses the many benefits of a small university in the nation's best "college town."
Learn why students love it here
Located in the heart of Boston, Simmons University is a private university, home to a respected women’s undergraduate program, as well as coeducational graduate programs in nursing and health sciences, liberal arts, business, communications, social work, public health, and library and information science.
Simmons has established a model of higher education that only today other colleges and universities are beginning to adapt: the combination of education for leadership in high-demand professional fields with the intellectual foundation of the liberal arts. The result is a Simmons graduate prepared not only to work, but to lead in professional, civic, and personal life — a vision of empowerment that Simmons calls preparation for life’s work.
The Simmons story is one of growth, innovation, and a solid foundation — fueled by on-the-ground and online enrollment, and investments in its campus and technology.
Simmons at a glance
- Simmons is a four-year, private, non-profit, non-sectarian university
- Simmons is home to 1,700 undergraduate women and 2,400 graduate men and women
- 12:1 student to faculty ratio
- Simmons offers over 60 majors and programs
- Our students can participate in over 80 clubs and organizations
- We have 243 full-time faculty, 74% are women
- Nearly 90% of our liberal arts faculty have doctorates in their fields or terminal degrees
- Faculty have received research awards from the Ford Foundation, Freeman Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the United States Institute of Peace
- Our average class size is 14
- 94% of undergraduate first-year students live on campus
- 91% of Simmons undergraduates are employed or in graduate school within 6 months of graduation
- 30% of Simmons undergraduate identify as having a multicultural background
- Our undergraduate students choose from over 90 study abroad opportunities
- 22 countries and 47 states are represented in our undergraduate class
Learn more
Since its founding in 1899, Simmons’ raison d’etre has been to expand opportunities for women, forging fields that advance equity and justice locally and globally.
Our Mission & History
For more than 100 years, Simmons has put the needs of our students first. Through an education that combines intellectual leadership with professional preparation, we help students lead meaningful lives and build successful careers for the 21st Century.
Our Future
At Simmons, innovating and adapting to the needs of the modern world is key to our history, and our future. Simmons is a small university and a diverse urban university at a time when the landscape of higher education is constantly evolving. We're committed to enhancing Simmons by building on our strengths, preserving our Mission, and creating a sustainable structure for the future.
University Leadership
Accessible and accountable, our administration leads by example. And we hold firm to one purpose: to work for you.
Meet our leadership team
Work at Simmons
You’ll find that people who work here are truly committed to our mission of preparing students to become champions of social justice and leaders in their professions and their communities.
Work at SimmonsCampus & Community
SLIS students and professionals gather at the 2019 Allen Smith Symposium. On April 12 & 13, students, faculty, and professionals within the library and information science field gathered at Simmons for the 2019 Allen Smith Symposium, “From Community to Curriculum:...
Libraries, Archives, and Museums Today: Insights from the Field seeks to understand how institutions are adapting to the challenges of working with digital information. Peter Botticelli, Martha R. Mahard, and Michèle V. Cloonan collaborated on Libraries, Archives, and Museums...
Math and computer science students present at the 2019 Undergraduate Symposium! Mathematics and computer science students had an impressive showing at the Simmons Undergraduate Symposium on April 23. In addition to poster presentations, a student project was chosen for a...
Grants from the Alumnae/i Association Executive Board fund new experiences for Simmons students. Creating a Climate Camp and getting students into the gym for Club Gymnastics are just two of the ways grants from the Alumnae/i Association are supporting new...
Seniors present their Capstone research projects. On April 23, seniors in the School of Business presented their Capstone research projects to faculty, friends and fellow students. Professors Indra Guertler, Špela Trefalt, Susan Sampson, and Charlene Spiceland guided...
Archival experts from around the world to speak at Allen Smith Symposium 2019. Over the past decade, archival concerns have increasingly focused on social issues as records professionals recognize and confront the responsibilities and challenges of documenting a complex global...
Take a look at all the excitement from the Conference! The Simmons Leadership Conference was filled with inspiring messages and powerful leaders — we’re still buzzing with excitement! The day featured incredible speeches from Susan O'Malley, Katherine Switzer, Julia Gillard,...
Rick Berke and Mentor-in-Residence, Nancy Ancrum discussed Gwen Ifill's lasting legacy. “Conversations that matter.” That’s how Brian Norman, Dean of The Gwen Ifill College of Media, Arts, and Humanities introduced the March 26 Ifill College community meeting. That was an...
Resources
Experience Boston
Simmons draws on many of the city’s cultural, historical, economic, scientific, and educational resources to offer an unparalleled student experience.
Community engagement
For more than 100 years, Simmons University has inspired its students to combine learning with action for a more just and equitable world.
Your Simmons
Our commitment to the success of our students guides our vision and is clear in our values.
Commitment to inclusivity
Simmons is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual’s community experience.
