Gratz College Melrose Park

Gratz College is a private, non-profit liberal arts college located in Melrose Park, Pennsylvania, recognized as the oldest independent and pluralistic college for Jewish studies in North America. Dedicated to advancing both general education and applied Jewish wisdom, the college serves a diverse and global student population through a unique blend of Jewish-rooted values and modern academic professionalization. While deeply anchored in the Jewish tradition, Gratz operates as a trans-denominational institution that welcomes students of all backgrounds to explore its specialized programs in education, leadership, and communal service.

The college traces its formal origins to 1895, but its foundations were laid in 1856 when Hyman Gratz, a prominent Philadelphia banker and philanthropist, established a deed of trust to create a college for the education of Jews in Philadelphia. Following the death of his last heir in 1893, the trust became available, and the college was officially founded under the leadership of Moses A. Dropsie. From its inception, Gratz held a progressive identity, becoming the first institution of advanced Jewish learning to accept women on an equal basis with men. Throughout the 20th century, it expanded from a teacher-training institute into a comprehensive college, merging with the Hebrew Education Society in 1928 and eventually moving to its current suburban campus in Melrose Park to better serve the evolving needs of the regional and global community.

Gratz College stands as a historic and innovative pillar of higher education, balancing a 130-year legacy of Jewish learning with cutting-edge professional training. By specializing in high-impact fields such as genocide prevention, interfaith leadership, and nonprofit management, the college ensures its graduates are equipped to "repair the world" (Tikkun Olam) in practical, modern ways. Its transition from a local Philadelphia teachers' college to a global online university underscores its resilience and its enduring commitment to the Gratz family's vision of education as a tool for communal and social progress.