When Did Strayer College Become Strayer University?
Strayer University is a for-profit university that used to be called Strayer College. Learn more about when Strayer College became Strayer University, as well as the past and present of the university.
Strayer University is a private, for-profit university headquartered in Washington D.C., but it used to be called Strayer College.
Keep reading to discover when Strayer College became Strayer University and learn about the university's past and present.
When Did Strayer College Become Strayer University?
Strayer College became Strayer University in 1998, after being Strayer College for more than a century. We've broken down the history of Strayer University below.
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History of Strayer College
Strayer College was originally named Strayer Business College. Dr. Siebert Irving Strayer founded the college in 1892 in Baltimore.
The goal of Strayer Business College was to teach business skills, such as accounting, shorthand, and typing, to farm workers.
Enrollment gradually increased through the following decade, and in 1904, the college opened a second branch in Washington, D.C.
During the early 1900s, enrollment continued to increase, especially as World War I increased the need for office clerks in the federal government.
In the 1930s, the Washington, D.C., board of education authorized Strayer Business College to offer accounting degrees.
After becoming licensed to offer Bachelor of Art and Bachelor of Science degrees, Strayer Business College was renamed Strayer College in 1970.
In 1981, Strayer College gained regional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and was approved to open campuses in Virginia.
The college became authorized to offer master's degrees in 1987. Through the '80s and '90s, enrollment continued to increase, and by 1997 the college enrolled about 9,000 students.
The college began offering online courses in 1996. In the same year, Strayer Education, Inc. was established to raise funds for expansion.
From Strayer College to Strayer University
In 1998, the District of Columbia Education Licensure Commission granted Strayer College university status and the institution was renamed Strayer University.
The university continued to grow through the early 2000s, both physically and in enrollment. Campuses were added in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
By 2010, Strayer University had an enrollment of 60,711, but after that, enrollment began to drop. This was largely due to several scandals involving the college's student loan default rate and fraudulent transcripts.
Strayer University shifted gears by closing 20 Midwest campuses in 2013 and installing a new president in 2015.
In 2018, Strayer Education, Inc. merged with Capella Education Company to create Strategic Education, Inc., which now runs both for-profit systems.
After this merger, Strayer University continued opening new campuses. However, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all campuses were closed, most temporarily but some permanently.
Strayer University Today
Today, Strayer University is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and enrolls over 36,600 students in associate, bachelor's, master's, and certificate programs.
Students can earn degrees online or through campuses in 17 states:
- Alabama: Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and Montgomery
- Arkansas: Little Rock
- Delaware: Wilmington
- Florida: Jacksonville, Miramar, Orlando, Tallahassee, Tampa
- Georgia: Augusta, Chamblee, Cobb County, Columbus, Lithonia, Macon, Morrow, and Savannah
- Maryland: Anne Arundel, Prince George, Rockville, and White Marsh
- Mississippi: Jackson
- New Jersey: Piscataway
- North Carolina: Greensboro, North Charlotte, North Raleigh, South Charlotte, and South Raleigh
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
- Pennsylvania: Allentown, Center City, and Lower Bucks County
- South Carolina: Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville
- Tennessee: Knoxville, Nashville, Shelby, and Thousand Oaks
- Texas: Cedar Hill, El Paso, Fort Worth, Killeen, North Dallas, Northwest Houston, San Antonio
- Virginia: Alexandria, Arlington, Chesterfield, Fredericksburg, Loudon, Newport News, and Virginia Beach
- Washington D.C.
- West Virginia: Teays Valley
The university continues to hold accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This accreditation covers all campuses and online programs.
Programs Offered at Strayer University
The majority of students at Strayer University are in bachelor's degree programs, but the university also offers master's degrees, associate degrees, and certificate programs.
We've broken them down below.
Associate Degree Programs at Strayer University
Strayer University offers five associate degree programs. These are Associate of Art degrees in:
- accounting
- acquisition and contract management
- business administration
- information technology
- marketing
Associate degrees at Strayer University require 20 courses, and each course is 11 weeks long.
Bachelor's Degree Programs at Strayer University
Six bachelor's degree programs are available at Strayer University. These are:
- Bachelor of Applied Science in management
- Bachelor of Business Administration, with multiple concentrations
- Bachelor of Science in accounting
- Bachelor of Science in criminal justice, with multiple concentrations
- Bachelor of Science in health services administration, with multiple concentrations
- Bachelor of Science in information technology, with multiple concentrations
Bachelor's degree programs require a total of 40 courses, which includes 15 general education courses.
Master's Degree Programs at Strayer University
Strayer University offers nine types of master's degrees. Students can earn:
- Master of Business Administration, with multiple concentrations
- Master of Educational Design and Technology, with multiple concentrations
- Master of Health Services Administration, with two concentrations
- Master of Human Resource Management, with two concentrations
- Master of Public Administration
- Master of Science in accounting, with four concentrations
- Master of Science in information security and assurance
- Master of Science in information systems, with multiple concentrations
- Master of Science in management, with three concentrations
Certificate Programs and Bootcamps at Strayer University
Several graduate certificates are available through Strayer University to help students further their careers.
These include certificates in:
- artificial intelligence systems management
- cybersecurity management
- digital entrepreneurship
- education in corporate learning
- education in education administration
- instructional design and technology
Additionally, students can earn a diploma in acquisition contract management or learn coding through one of several coding bootcamps.
Strayer University, Formerly Strayer College
Strayer College was founded in 1892 and became Strayer University in 1998. Today, it offers a variety of programs both online and on campus.
