Gratz College is a private, liberal arts university in Melrose Park, Pennsylvania.
Founded in 1895, Gratz College is the oldest independent college for Jewish studies in the whole of North America. Its origins can be traced back further still, to 1856, when community leader and philanthropist Hyman Gratz joined with the Hebrew Education Society of Philadelphia to establish a Hebrew teacher training college in the region.
Gratz College offers a number of courses across graduate and undergraduate level in arts, humanities and sciences, but specialises in Judaism, genocide and Holocaust studies – of which there are several specialised degree programmes. Enrollment is open to applicants from all religious and secular backgrounds, but selected courses have Hebrew language proficiency requirements.
The university prides itself on the fact it was an early adopter of online learning, and there are currently students enrolled in a range of online and distance-learning degree courses across 36 US states and six countries worldwide. The university hosts influential speakers for talks that are open to students and the local community throughout the year.
Located around 12km north of Philadelphia, Gratz College is set in a green, suburban area surrounded by plenty of parks and historical gardens. The town is also well placed for exploring the east coast – Atlantic City is a 90 minute drive away, and public transport links can take students to New York City in just over two hours.
Gratz College boasts a long list of notable alumni, one of the most well known names being the scholar and political activist Noam Chomsky, who studied for his PhD at the college.
