About Jefferson
Jefferson is rewriting the rules and resetting the odds. We are changing higher education to provide our students with unparalleled value. Jefferson is a model professional university born out of a unique merger of Philadelphia University and Thomas Jefferson University. Through our distinctive and award-winning curriculum, we are preparing students with the skills they need to succeed and lead now and in the future of work. At Jefferson, we are helping you to redefine what’s possible.
Mission
We Improve Lives.
Thomas Jefferson University is a national leader in professional education, preparing students for the future of work, while also engaging in groundbreaking research and creative discovery. Dedicated to inclusive and experiential learning, Jefferson fosters transdisciplinary collaboration, embraces social responsibility, and celebrates the value of diverse identities and perspectives.
Vision
Reimagining health, education and discovery to create unparalleled value.
Values
- Put People First
- Do the Right Thing
- Pursue Excellence
Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Jefferson holds itself accountable, at every level of the organization, to nurture an environment of inclusion and respect, by valuing the uniqueness of every individual, celebrating and reflecting the rich diversity of its communities, and taking meaningful action to cultivate an environment of fairness, belonging & opportunity.
Our History
From Jefferson Medical College to Sidney Kimmel Medical College, and Philadelphia Textile School to Philadelphia University — we have a rich legacy. In fact, through unifying two widely acclaimed and highly honored legacies of innovation, education, research and professional excellence we’ve surpassed 300 years of combined history.
Thomas Jefferson University was founded in 1824 as Jefferson Medical College, and Philadelphia University was founded in 1884 as the Philadelphia Textile School. Both were ahead of their time and focused on the importance of experiential learning. The new Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University) was established on July 1, 2017 as a result of the merger of our two respected universities.
Virtual Tour Take a Virtual Tour
Experience an immersive virtual tour of our both Jefferson campus locations — East Falls and Center City — including inside looks at labs, campus academic buildings, program-specific videos, athletic fields and more.
Jefferson Advantage The Future Class Is Here
At Jefferson, our students cross disciplines to discover new possibilities, and work with expert faculty who know just what it takes to break the mold. By combining two Universities forged from excellence, we’re propelled into a new era of education — one where we redefine what exists, and all that can be.
of undergraduates reporting are employed, enrolled in a graduate program or taking a gap year. (First Destination Report)
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Where Inspiration & Action Meet
Our campus locations span the Philadelphia area, from bustling Center City to scenic East Falls, and reach the suburbs of Montgomery, Bucks and Delaware Counties, and New Jersey.
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Community & Civic Engagement
The Office of Community Service Learning is committed to connecting student volunteers with community partners, hosting service-learning days and fundraising events, and helping every student help those less fortunate.
Celebrating Our History in Philadelphia Historical Walking Tour
Having celebrated the 200th anniversary of its founding as Jefferson Medical College in 1824, Thomas Jefferson University is an institution steeped in rich history. Today, many of the original college's sites remain close to the university's Center City Campus. We invite you to take a self-guided tour — beginning at Washington Square and winding west to Broad and Chestnut Streets — highlighting the rich history of the country’s fifth medical school.
University News
The Jefferson Enterprise
Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Health and Jefferson Health Plans are partners in educating the professionals of tomorrow in a variety of disciplines, providing excellent clinical and compassionate care for our patients throughout eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, and discovering new knowledge that will define the future.
As Philadelphia’s second largest employer, we are over 65,000 people strong — reimagining health, education and discovery to create unparalleled value. With 10 colleges, three schools, 32 hospital campuses and a rich history that spans nearly 200 years, we are deeply committed to the communities we serve and to improving lives.