Rockford University

Work & Study Amenities

• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible entrance, Wheelchair accessible parking lot

About Rockford University

In 1847, during one of the great college-building eras in American history, Rockford Female Seminary was chartered by the Illinois legislature. The citizens of Rockford (population 2,500) pledged $3,500 to erect a building for the ambitious enterprise. In the 1840s, when Americans still doubted the value of educating women, the decision to make the curriculum at Rockford Female Seminary as demanding as that of a men's college was a bold one. In 1882, Rockford Female Seminary granted its first bachelor's degrees including that of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Jane Addams. In 1892, Rockford Female Seminary became Rockford College(r). In 2013, Rockford College(r) became Rockford University.