Arcadia University

Beaver Female Seminary

Arcadia's history began in 1853 with two students, Sylvania Jones and Juliet A. Poundstone, who left their family homes in Lafayette County, Pennsylvania, to pursue an education. The students accompanied Sheridan Baker, principal at the Brownsville School they had attended, to the newly chartered Beaver Female Seminary in Beaver, Pennsylvania.

Led by Baker, Beaver taught liberal arts, ancient history, rhetoric, logic, and analogy. In 1872 the school renamed itself Beaver College and Musical Institute.

Beaver College

In the late 19th century, the college became coeducational for the first time. In 1907, Beaver College and Musical Institute was simplified to Beaver College. Enrollment was again limited to women.

In 1925, the college moved east across Pennsylvania to Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, to the Beechwood Hall estate. This location afforded larger facilities, an adequate campus, and greater development opportunities, increasing enrollment but maintaining the advantages of a small college. In 1928, the trustees secured a nearby estate in Glenside, Pennsylvania. This spacious property offered unique stone buildings, including the now iconic Grey Towers Castle. Its former main building in Beaver is currently in use as College Square Elementary School in the Beaver Area School District.

Beaver College constructed eight new campus buildings, established the Center for Education Abroad, and, in 1973, became coeducational again. In the mid-1960s the institution consolidated all campuses to Glenside.

In 1985, Bette E. Landman was appointed president, the first female president in the institution's history. Her tenure saw the dedication of the Kuch Athletic and Recreation Center, the establishment of Preview, joining the NCAA Division III, and, in 1992, membership of the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference. Under her leadership, Beaver College achieved university status and was led through the transition from Beaver College to Arcadia University.

Arcadia University

On November 20, 2000, it was announced that Beaver College would become Arcadia University. The official change of name and status occurred at a formal ceremony on July 16, 2001. During the first quarter of the 21st century, the university established six academic colleges and schools, including the College of Global Studies as the first college of a university dedicated to international education.

In July 2022, the university expanded its campus size, purchasing 125 Royal Avenue, the site of the former Bishop McDevitt High School.