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Better & Stronger Together

Peirce College & Lackawanna College

Lackawanna College and Peirce College have announced that they intend to merge, based on the shared belief that both institutions are better and stronger together and aptly positioned to help more residents of Pennsylvania transform their lives.

Pending the required approvals, Peirce will become part of Lackawanna College.

Latest Updates on the Merger:

  • Peer Review Visit: Peirce and Lackawanna successfully hosted a virtual visit by the Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE) Peer Review team in support of the Complex Substantive Change applications submitted for the merger. This marks a major milestone in our progress and positions the approval and change of control to take place at the end of June 2025.

  • IT Integration: The IT integration process is underway with a focus on assessing key process areas, determining the needs of each area and creating a roadmap to building an IT infrastructure for the combined institution that supports students, faculty and staff. Other operational integrations are also underway, including the areas of enrollment management, student services, academics, finance, marketing, and advancement.

  • 90-day Student Notification: The regulatory process requires Peirce to send students and prospective students a notice of our plans to merge with Lackawanna College 90 days before the anticipated approval from Middle States and change of control. The notice was sent on March 28 and can be viewed here.

The combined institution will be the largest private, nonprofit open enrollment institution in Pennsylvania at the undergraduate level, with an expanded geographic and programmatic presence to serve students in eight locations and online.

The partnership will leverage Lackawanna’s dedication to degrees, certificates and innovative learning experiences with Peirce’s commitment to career-focused, flexible academic programs and student services designed around the unique needs of busy adults, empowering learning at all stages of life.

The institutions will leverage their core competencies and expand programs to better serve more students throughout Pennsylvania, including adults and other nontraditional learners, and increase the pipeline of diverse talent through education and workforce training.

Students and alumni may be wondering, “What does this mean for me?”

The merger will have no impact on students or their ability to complete their degrees and advance their education. Peirce is not going anywhere and will continue to be in Philadelphia for students and our alumni.

If you are a current student, you will see no change to your program or the student experience at Peirce. There will be no disruptions to academic programs or to personalized student and alumni services. Peirce alumni will continue have access to lifelong career and professional development services.

The institutions will work closely on integration planning as they seek the required approvals from the appropriate accrediting and government agencies.

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We share a foundational belief that our institutions are better and stronger together. We also believe that we have a responsibility to continue evolving to meet the changing needs of our students and partners.

Both institutions are financially strong, but we recognize that the higher education market continues to be increasingly challenging and volatile. This merger is a strategic, proactive move between two institutions committed to expanding access for our students to gain the skills and credentials needed to transform their lives. It also reflects our commitment to providing flexible, accessible, career-focused education to more students throughout Pennsylvania and the personalized support they need.

We believe Lackawanna is the best partner for Peirce for many reasons.

  • Our missions are aligned and we are both open admissions at the undergraduate level.
  • We are both dedicated to innovation that transforms the lives of our students.
  • We share a long-term commitment to providing flexible, accessible education throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  • We are both committed to expanding access to serve more students, including adult learners and those in underserved communities.

We plan to leverage our core competencies and expand our programs to better serve more students throughout Pennsylvania, including adults and other nontraditional learners, and increase the pipeline of diverse talent through education and workforce training. We also plan to create tangible benefits to our current students and develop new pathways for future students. We will also expand our geographic footprints with an expanded portfolio of programs and services, including certificates, dual enrollment programs, undergraduate degree completion programs, bachelor-to-masters pathways, graduate programs and prior learning assessment opportunities.

Pending the required approvals, Peirce will become part of Lackawanna College and the colleges will operate as a single institution under the Lackawanna name.

Peirce and Lackawanna are currently working on gaining the approvals required, which is a two-part process. The first part is gaining approval from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and other regulatory approvals, which allows Peirce to merge into and become part of Lackawanna College. We are hoping to gain this approval by June 30, 2025. The second part is gaining approval from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). We will keep our respective communities updated on the estimated timeline for DOE approval.

The merger will have no negative impact on our students or their ability to complete their degrees and advance their education. If you are a current student, you will see no change to your program or to the student experience. There will be no disruptions to our academic programs or our personalized student and alumni services. Once the merger is finalized, students will have even more opportunities with expanded programming that range from stackable certificates and bachelor’s-to-master’s pathways to new programs and course delivery options.

Once the merger is completed, Peirce will become a school within Lackawanna College. We expect to share more details on this in the coming months.

Peirce College will continue to call 1608 Walnut Street in Philadelphia home as we work toward finalization of the merger and subsequent integration of our two institutions. Upon approval of the merger, the Walnut Street location in Philadelphia will become a new location of Lackawanna College. While the combined institution will have a wider geographic reach, we will also continue to serve students in Philadelphia, including adult learners and those in underserved communities.

Peirce and Lackawanna will remain committed to providing a quality alumni experience for Peirce graduates that honors Peirce’s legacy and provides important career connections between students and alumni and lifelong access to career development services.

Other Resources

View the Press Release

View the Letter from Presidents

90 Day Student Notification

90 Day Student Notification (sent on March 28, 2025)

As announced on August 14, 2024, Peirce College (“Peirce”) intends to merge with Lackawanna College (“Lackawanna”). Lackawanna and Peirce expect the First Step, as described below, to happen on or about June 30, 2025, but the First Step will not occur until approval has been granted by both the Pennsylvania Department of Education and by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the institutional accreditor for both institutions. Both institutions are committed to ensuring this transition is as seamless as possible, with minimal disruption to your day-to-day student life. Lackawanna and Peirce are committed to continuing Peirce’s tradition of career-focused, flexible academic programs and student services designed around the unique needs of busy adults, empowering learning at all stages of life.

To comply with educational regulatory requirements, the merger will be accomplished in two steps.[1]

First Step

In the First Step, Lackawanna will acquire control of Peirce, but Peirce will remain an independent, accredited, degree-granting educational institution until the merger is approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Lackawanna and Peirce expect to complete the First Step on or about June 30, 2025.

Question: How does this First Step impact me as a student at Peirce?

Answer: You will see few changes, if any.

  • You are still a student enrolled in your program at Peirce.
  • You will take classes in the same manner as you did before the First Step occurred.
  • You will have the same professors and adjunct faculty.
  • You will use the same syllabus.
  • The cost of tuition and fees will not increase for the 2025-2026 academic year.
  • So long as you have successfully completed all degree requirements before the Second Step is completed, you will receive a degree from Peirce.
  • You will continue to receive the same high-quality education.
  • If you choose not to continue at Peirce College and wish to transfer to another institution, Peirce will provide transfer advising to help you explore alternative options.
  • You will also receive guidance on the financial and academic implications of completing your degree at Peirce versus transferring, empowering you to make informed decisions about your educational future.

Second Step

Once the merger is approved, Peirce will no longer operate as an independent, accredited, degree-granting institution. Instead, Peirce will merge into and become part of Lackawanna. Both institutions aim to complete this second phase during the 2026/2027 academic year. However, since this step is subject to approval from the U.S. Department of Education, the timeline may vary and could be completed earlier or later than anticipated.

Question: How does this Second Step impact me as a student at Peirce?

Answer: After the Second Step, you will be a student of Lackawanna.

  • You will be enrolled in Lackawanna College.
  • You will be able to attend classes in the same manner that you did before the second step occurred.
  • You will have expanded program and course options to consider from Lackawanna.
  • All of your Peirce credits will transfer to Lackawanna.
  • Your degree will be conferred by Lackawanna.

Question: My expected graduation date is after the First Step, but before the Second Step. What school will I receive my degree from?

Answer: All Peirce students who complete their program before the Second Step will receive a degree from Peirce.

***PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL INFORMATION IN THIS NOTICE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL AND PENNSYLVANIA EDUCATIONAL REGULATORY AGENCIES AND ACCREDITORS***

This letter serves as a formal notification required by 34 C.F.R. § 600.20(g)(4) and applicable guidance. We will continue to communicate with you regularly about the status of the merger and how it will impact you as students. 

For more information on the merger and how it may impact you, please see the Integration FAQ at: https://www.peirce.edu/about-peirce/lackawanna/

[1] See 34 C.F.R. §600.20(g)(1)(i) and GEN-24-54, Compliance with the Change in Ownership 90-Day Advance Notification (May 6, 2024).

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