2 Eastern PA Colleges To Merge

ROSEMONT, PA — Two historic institutions of higher learning on the Main Line are merging to "preserve the legacy and heritage" of one of those schools.

Rosemont College and Villanova University announced a merger agreement Monday.

Over the next several years, Rosemont College will continue operating as a separate entity, providing students the opportunity to graduate with Rosemont College degrees. The first phase of the transition will start in 2027.

During phase one, Rosemont College's educational and many extracurricular activities will continue as planned—supported by Rosemont faculty and staff.

Rosemont students who have not completed their degree by 2028 will have multiple options, which include the ability to transfer to Villanova’s College of Professional Studies, where they will have the opportunity to complete a degree.

"We are committed to securing the best possible options for our students, faculty and staff and believe this merger with Villanova offers the best opportunity to ensure that the Rosemont College history and legacy endures," Rosemont College President Jim Cawley said.

Following the transition, Rosemont will become "Villanova University, Rosemont Campus," and the campus will honor the legacy of Rosemont's founders, the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.

Additionally, the chapel will be preserved as a place of gathering and inspiration, and an endowed scholarship will be established supporting the mission of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus.

The terms of the merger are subject to approval from The Middle States Commission on Higher Education, as well as state and federal regulators, officials said.

More information on the merger will be shared as it becomes available.

"The leaders of both boards have worked to create a true partnership that recognizes the changing higher education landscape while ensuring a smooth transition for Rosemont students, faculty, staff and alumni," Maria Feeley, chair of the Rosemont College Board of Trustees, said. "Rosemont is proud to announce this next chapter, which will build on our decadeslong relationship with Villanova and preserve Rosemont’s mission."

"Villanova and Rosemont enjoy a longstanding connection, and many families in the Greater Philadelphia region celebrate alumni from both institutions," Villanova University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, said. "This merger agreement represents a unique and powerful opportunity for our two institutions given our shared commitment to advancing Catholic higher education, our close physical proximity and deep alumni connections."