History

Elms College is a co-educational, Catholic, liberal arts college, and the College affirms its original goal of combining education for life with education for a career. Founded to educate women, the College offers liberal arts and professional education at the baccalaureate and masters levels, and is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the accrediting agency for schools and colleges in the six New England states.

A Storied Past and a Noble Heritage

The Sisters of St. Joseph and the Diocese of Springfield co-founded the College of Our Lady of the Elms as an academy that evolved into a normal school between 1908 and 1910. The College of Our Lady of the Elms became a baccalaureate-granting institution in 1928, with a specialization in education.

The Founding Sisters of Elms College

Commitment to service is a hallmark of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, and the tradition is alive and well today at the college they helped build.