Gannon University was first established in 1933 as the two-year Cathedral College by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Erie. In 1944, the school became the four-year men's school Gannon College of Arts and Sciences, named in honor of the then-Bishop of Erie, John Mark Gannon, the driving force behind its opening and development. The college became coeducational in 1964 and gained university status in 1979.
The all-girls school Villa Maria College, which was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1925, merged with the university in 1989. Its Villa Maria School of Nursing retains the name of the original institution.
OUR MISSION
Gannon is a Catholic, Diocesan university dedicated to excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. Our faculty and staff prepare students to be global citizens through programs grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and professional specializations. Inspired by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, we offer a comprehensive, values-centered learning experience that emphasizes faith, leadership, inclusiveness and social responsibility.
We are located in Pennsylvania's fourth largest city and one of the busiest ports on the Great Lakes. Gannon’s urban campus, in the middle of downtown Erie, is within a two hour drive of Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh. Our unique location and facilities create a special atmosphere conducive to learning, scholarship, research, service, and personal growth.
Gannon University has been ranked as a national university for the third consecutive year, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s recent release of “America’s Best Colleges.”
U.S. News ranked Gannon 227th out of 391 national universities. The university was ranked 227th out of 389 in the previous year’s report.
The U.S. News & World Report also ranked Gannon in the following categories with new recognitions for undergraduate nursing and computer science programs.
- 129th out of 239 top colleges and universities that offer undergraduate degrees in engineering
- 192nd out of 391 colleges and universities for social mobility, which measures how well schools enrolled and graduated students who were awarded Pell Grants
- 432nd out of 694 for best undergraduate nursing programs
- 347-538 out of 538 schools for best computer science programs
National universities are those that offer a full range of undergraduate majors, in addition to master’s and doctoral programs, and emphasize faculty research or award professional practice doctorates.
Additionally, the U.S. News & World Report announced the 2022 Best Graduate Schools, ranking Gannon in the following categories:
- 46th out of 170 for best physician assistant programs
- 81st out of 110 for best nursing-anesthesia schools
- 129th out of 198 for best occupational therapy programs
- 168th out of 239 for best physical therapy programs
