Over more than nine decades, our diplomas have borne five names: New Jersey State Normal School at Glassboro (1923), New Jersey State Teachers College at Glassboro-also known as Glassboro State Teachers College (1937), Glassboro State College (1958), Rowan College of New Jersey (1992) and Rowan University (1997).
As the successive names suggest, the institution has continually reinvented itself. What started 100 years ago as a small school to prepare teachers for South Jersey classrooms is today a multi-campus comprehensive public research university boasting prestigious accreditations and Carnegie R2 (high research activity) status.
In addition to the main Glassboro campus and long-standing Camden academic campus, Rowan has developed a thriving online education program, the South Jersey Technology Park in Mantua and Harrison townships, and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden. It has also integrated the School of Osteopathic Medicine and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Stratford and added a second campus in Sewell. Rowan is one of just three universities in the nation to offer both the M.D. and D.O. degrees.
Extraordinary Growth and Opportunity
Begun with just 236 students and 16 faculty, Rowan today enrolls about 23,000 students and employs more than 4,250 people, more than 2,505 of them faculty. The University offers 98 bachelor’s degrees, 58 master’s degrees, 19 doctoral degrees, three professional (medical) degrees and roughly three dozen certificates across its academic colleges, schools and the multidisciplinary, John H. Martinson Honors College. The other colleges and schools include the:
- William G. Rohrer College of Business
- Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts
- College of Education
- Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering
- College of Humanities & Social Sciences
- Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences
- College of Performing Arts
- College of Science & Mathematics
- School of Earth & Environment
- School of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
- Rowan-Virtua Rita & Larry Salva School of Nursing & Health Professions
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering & Science
- Schreiber School of Veterinary Medicine (opens 2025)
Rowan is noted for its student-faculty ratio of 17:1, which is similar to the student-faculty ratios of smaller, private schools. Exceptionally gifted students find even greater academic challenge in the endowed, interdisciplinary Bantivoglio Honors program. Among Rowan’s brightest, 25 students have earned coveted Fulbright Program scholarships since 2000. Others qualified for prestigious Goldwater and Boren awards.
Accolades and Headlines
Since 2001, Rowan University consistently has placed in regional and national indices, including The Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac, which in 2023 named Rowan the nation’s fourth fastest-growing public doctoral institution, the fourth year Rowan made the publication’s Top 10 list.
Top Rankings:
- U.S. News & World Report ranked Rowan #88 among national public research universities in 2023 and, in 2021, ranked the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering #19 among programs that primarily enroll undergraduates.
- The Broadcast Education Association placed the Ric Edelman College of Communication & Creative Arts #9 overall in international rankings, with radio/television/film programs #3 in audio, #6 for documentary, #9 in film and video, and #18 for news programming.
- The Princeton Review, in partnership with Entrepreneur magazine, in 2022 ranked Rowan’s entrepreneurship program 44th nationally and #12 in the Northeast.
Two of Rowan’s most celebrated moments came during events that earned international attention. While still Glassboro State College and best known for excellent teacher education programs, the institution in 1967 became the focus of the world when it hosted the landmark summit conference between U.S. President Lyndon Johnson and Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin. Today, Hollybush Mansion displays memorabilia from the momentous international event as well as local history.
The institution again gained worldwide attention in 1992 when businessman Henry Rowan and his wife, Betty, contributed $100 million to Glassboro State. The gift was the largest to date to a public institution, granted with the request to transform engineering education. The gift enabled the institution to create the award-winning and highly ranked Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering and served as a catalyst for growth and change throughout the institution, which was renamed to honor its donors.
Milestones and Goals
Rowan’s extraordinary growth and success reflect the University’s determination to address changing demands in education, health care, business, communication and other fields. Rowan’s resources and influence are driving the region’s economic growth, especially through public-private partnerships, research collaborations and commercialization.
Drawing on institutional agility, strength and vision that continue to shape its future, Rowan University has in the last decade:
- nearly doubled enrollment to 23,000 while maintaining quality and increasing diversity to 36%;
- more than tripled research awards and earned Carnegie R2 research status for high research activity. The classification makes possible more undergraduate and graduate programs and enhances Rowan’s increased focus on research initiatives and developing marketable solutions for real-world problems;
- partnered with Virtua Health to create an academic health system that will transform and advance medical and health sciences education, clinical care and research, supported by Virtua’s $85 million philanthropic investment;
- began the process to create New Jersey’s first School of Veterinary Medicine, which is planned to open in 2025;
- exceeded its ambitious goal for Rising: The Campaign for Rowan University. More than 22,000 donors gave more than $120 million to support new discoveries, create inspiring spaces for learning and living, and most importantly, improve the lives of students;
- completed the $426 million public-private Rowan Boulevard redevelopment project that brought housing, office, classroom, professional and retail space to downtown and revitalized the corridor that joins the Glassboro main campus to the historic downtown;
- formed one of the nation’s first university divisions to support diversity, equity & inclusion
- invested in, partnered with and encouraged more than $1.58 billion in construction and design projects on and around Rowan campuses that built new academic, research and clinical facilities, plus private and public development;
- integrated the School of Osteopathic Medicine and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in Stratford, which is nationally known for clinical services and research supported by prestigious private and public funders;
- opened Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, offering the first four-year M.D. program in southern New Jersey. The innovative curriculum and urban-based mission of the School address the State’s most pressing medical education challenges;
- opened Discovery Hall and new buildings for the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering and the William G. Rohrer College of Business to accommodate students and develop more partnerships with business, industry, K-12 schools and the community at large;
- preserved a historic tract in Mantua Township, the site of paleontology research for decades, with plans to open the Jean & Ric Edelman Fossil Park & Museum in 2024, supported by the alumni donors’ commitment to STEM education;
- partnered with community colleges in South Jersey to improve access to and affordability of obtaining four-year undergraduate degrees. Though still independent, the institutions changed their names to Rowan College at Gloucester County (2014), now Rowan College of South Jersey, and Rowan College at Burlington County (2015) to reflect the closer ties;
- opened a new facility to expand osteopathic medical education and Rowan Medicine clinical services in Sewell;
- responded to the coronavirus pandemic with an unprecedented effort to provide remote learning, protect health and safety and provide more than 60,000 COVID-19 vaccinations, among other innovations and interventions with private and public health partners.
Poised for the Future
Building on its proud and proven record over 100 years, Rowan’s mission involves teaching students to lead New Jersey’s bright future. Many are the first in their family to earn a college degree (first-generation college students make up about a quarter of enrollment) and most will be become long-term New Jersey residents, helping build thriving communities and businesses as they invest themselves in their neighborhoods and professions.
With a remarkable history, proud alumni, able partners and extraordinary potential, Rowan University is dedicated to leading progress, creating opportunities and encouraging excellence. This is the legacy of Rowan University. This is the pride of all who are part of the Rowan community.
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