History

In 1962, the New Hampshire Legislature chartered Franklin Pierce College, named for the 14th President of the United States (1853-57) and the only U.S. President from New Hampshire. Founder Frank S. DiPietro served as the College’s first president. Originally located in the center of the town of Rindge, the College began by sharing the town's library and study facilities. In the institution's founding year, President DiPietro also bought the hilltop estate overlooking Pearly Pond, where the University's main undergraduate campus is located today.

In 1962, the New Hampshire Legislature chartered Franklin Pierce College, named for the 14th President of the United States (1853-57) and the only U.S. President from New Hampshire. Founder Frank S. DiPietro  served as the College’s first president. Originally located in the center of the town of Rindge, the College began by sharing the town's library and study facilities. In the institution's founding year, President DiPietro also bought the hilltop estate overlooking Pearly Pond, where the University's main undergraduate campus is located today.

The first class of students enrolled in 1963.This inaugural class consisted of 97 students supported by nine faculty and administrators. As the institution began to expand in size and reputation, President DiPietro maintained a vision that "only the small college can provide the intimate relationships between those who learn and those who teach."

In 1965, the New Hampshire Legislature granted the College statutory authority to grant baccalaureate degrees. Since then, Franklin Pierce has grown in breadth and depth of programming. Through the 1990s and early 21st century, Franklin Pierce increased its undergraduate academic offerings. In recognition of its place in higher education, Franklin Pierce College was formally recognized as a University on July 1, 2007. The name change to Franklin Pierce University reflected the growth of undergraduate opportunities at the Rindge campus, the addition of graduate-level degrees, including doctoral programs, and the institution's expanding global reach. The University currently maintains four centers for graduate programs, located in Manchester and Lebanon, New Hampshire; Goodyear, Arizona; and Round Rock, Texas.

The University’s academic programs are organized under the College of Health and Natural Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts, Business, Social Science, and Education. This structure prioritizes intentional faculty connections and curricular pathways for our students according to their related graduate and undergraduate disciplines.

Through Career Paths@Pierce, Franklin Pierce University continues to prioritize advising and mentorship, as well as internships and other opportunities for experiential learning that lead to job opportunities. Through ongoing and expanding outreach to partner organizations, FPU is ensuring that all students have available meaningful internships and engage in purposeful career readiness-related courses and activities throughout their FPU education.