Holy Names University

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Holy Names University (HNU) was founded by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary in 1868 on Lake Merritt's shores. In 1957, the campus was moved from Lake Merritt to a wooded, sixty-acre site in the Oakland Hills. An academic community committed to each student's full development, Holy Names offers a liberal education rooted in the Catholic tradition, empowering a diverse student body for leadership and service in a complex world.
HNU students can choose from 15 bachelor's degree programs, seven master's degree programs, and four-degree completion programs (for adults). Holy Names University is consistently ranked as one of the most diverse universities globally and received the highest accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (2016 – 2024).
The Holy Names campus provides a close-knit, supportive environment that allows for rigorous learning and personal development. Students experience close partnerships with distinguished faculty and learn to question, experiment, research, and sharpen professional skills that they will use throughout their lives. Students also have many chances to have fun, volunteer, assume leadership roles, and express their creativity.
Holy Names University is located on 60 wooded acres in the Oakland hills. The unique location offers a breathtaking, panoramic view of Oakland, San Francisco, and the Bay. Nestled among the hills, the campus provides a haven and an excellent study atmosphere. At the same time (BART) makes it easy to reach museums, sporting events, and world-class performing arts within minutes. Convenient day-long or weekend trips may be made to Yosemite National Park, the Sierra Gold Country, Lake Tahoe, Monterey Bay, and Carmel, and the Napa Valley and Sonoma County wineries. Parks surrounding the campus offer numerous opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, or bicycling.
The Bay Area's climate reflects its coastal location. The winter months are temperate, fall, and spring offer sunny and clear days, and the summers provide foggy early mornings and sunny, breezy afternoons. Any time of year is perfect for work or leisure.
Together with the Bay Area location, the Holy Names University setting delivers an experience that you will never forget. Holy Names University, rooted in Catholic intellectual and spiritual traditions, empowers a diverse student body for leadership and service. Guided by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary's core values, HNU is a progressive, inclusive, and rigorous academic community offering liberal arts and professional education. We prepare students to think critically and imaginatively, understand and employ the various modes of knowledge, communicate clearly and persuasively, and promote the common good.
Compelling Undergraduate Majors, exceptional faculty, and outstanding Graduate and Adult Programs in a highly diverse, personalized, and interactive setting — this is the HNU Educational Experience. At Holy Names University, the general education requirements are designed to assure that students attain proficiency in the skills that identify an educated person and sufficient breadth of knowledge to appreciate and contribute to a complex and rapidly changing world.
The most exciting thing about the HNU experience is that you can be anything you want once you are here. If you are wondering what is next after high school, interested in advancing or changing your career, or looking for an edge as you advance in your career— HNU can help you change what is possible. Wherever you are academic, take the first steps of your future at Holy Names University.
For nearly 150 years, HNU has had a tradition of empowering a diverse student body for leadership and service in a complex world. We are committed to inspiring students. We will work with you to develop your full potential and use your talents and abilities to make a difference.
Holy Names University offers a personalized educational experience with unbeatable support from active professors in their field. At Holy Names University, we offer a caring, student-focused environment to help you succeed and graduate.
We are transfer-friendly! You only need 24 credits to be considered a transfer student to HNU. Want to know how many of your credits will transfer here? We are happy to help.
Holy Names University accepts international students regularly. This is done to provide a genuine, cross-cultural educational experience for both international and domestic students.
Holy Names University's financial aid philosophy provides federal, state, and institutional funding to make obtaining a college degree as affordable as possible. We aim to help students learn and grow academically and personally through affordable access and financial learning experiences. Our financial aid promise is to provide easily accessible official aid information as soon as possible and to provide estimations or easily accessed tools to estimate aid when we cannot.Official and guaranteed aid information will be provided when we have the necessary information. However, we will provide an NPC with reasonably accurate aid information for students to assist in enrollment decisions and four-year financial planning.
Holy Names University is committed to your success, and we put money behind our commitment. Almost 100% of our traditional students receive a scholarship from us that recognizes their unique talents and potential for success – it is what we call the HNU Experience.

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