Women at Pacific

Ever since its founding in 1849, Pacific University has educated women students alongside men. It was one of the first schools in the world to offer a co-educational college program and also was one of the first to be co-founded by a woman, Tabitha Brown. Though ahead of its time in many ways, Pacific treated women differently from men for much of its history. For about 40 years, women could only pursue a 3-year degree called the "Ladies' Course." While that distinction disappeared in the late 1800s, differences related to housing, athletics and social activities persisted for much longer. This site provides views of some of the ways that women have experienced their studies and life at Pacific.