Business & Management, Master of Business Administration (MBA)
North America, United States of America (USA)
Study abroad now Book free call
Learn why students love it here
Located in the heart of Boston, Simmons University is a private university, home to a respected women’s undergraduate program, as well as coeducational graduate programs in nursing and health sciences, liberal arts, business, communications, social work, public health, and library and information science.
Simmons has established a model of higher education that only today other colleges and universities are beginning to adapt: the combination of education for leadership in high-demand professional fields with the intellectual foundation of the liberal arts. The result is a Simmons graduate prepared not only to work, but to lead in professional, civic, and personal life — a vision of empowerment that Simmons calls preparation for life’s work.
The Simmons story is one of growth, innovation, and a solid foundation — fueled by on-the-ground and online enrollment, and investments in its campus and technology.
Simmons at a glance
*Numbers as of fall 2019 unless otherwise noted
See our Common Data Set for more information about Simmons University.
Rooted in Tradition, Thriving on Change
Decades before women in America gained the right to vote, Boston businessman John Simmons had a revolutionary idea — that women should be able to earn independent livelihoods and lead meaningful lives. It was this same spirit of inclusion and empowerment that produced the first African-American Simmons graduate in 1914, and made Simmons one of the only private colleges that did not impose admission quotas on Jewish students during the first half of the 1900s.
Since 1899, Simmons has offered a pioneering liberal arts education for undergraduate women integrated with professional work experience. Today, Simmons also encompasses the many benefits of a small university, including renowned coeducational graduate programs in health sciences, education, liberal arts, library and information science, management, and social work.
For more than 100 years, a Simmons education has integrated professional preparation, intellectual exploration, and community orientation, because all three approaches are necessary for success. At Simmons, we value the many dimensions of identity — including race, class, ethnicity, and sexual identity — and reflect that in our curriculum, affiliated organizations, and community partnerships.
Simmons consistently ranks among the nation’s top schools in its category in U.S.News & World Report, the Princeton Review and Forbes. That’s no surprise. Simmons educates people who share a passion for learning, a commitment to community, and the determination to make a difference.
Our Founder, John Simmons
John Simmons, 1796—1870, left his boyhood home in Little Compton, Rhode Island, in 1814 to become a tailor in Boston. In 1818, he opened a clothing store and by 1844 was the owner of the largest wholesale clothing business in New England, having revolutionized the menswear industry by offering ready-made suits in standard sizes.
With the proceeds of his successful clothing business, Simmons was able to make large investments in prime Boston real estate. When he died in 1870, his will provided for his surviving family—two daughters and two granddaughters—as well as for the founding of an educational institution:
“It is my will to found and endow an institution to be called Simmons Female College, for the purpose of teaching medicine, music, drawing, designing, telegraphy, and other branches of art, science, and industry best calculated to enable the scholars to acquire an independent livelihood.”
The founding of a college that would reflect Simmons’s innovative vision was delayed due to the destruction of most of his properties in the Great Boston Fire of 1872. Rebuilding took many years; it was not until 1899 that sufficient funding was available to establish the college that Simmons had envisioned. On May 24, 1899, the Massachusetts legislature granted the charter to incorporate Simmons Female College, and the newly selected Corporation members began meeting to transform the broad outline of John Simmons’s will into reality.
Subject area | Ranking | Source |
Business Administration & Management | #134 or top 15% of all colleges and universities in the USA | College Factual 2021 |
Health Professions | #31 in the USA | College Factual 2021 |
Library and Information Studies | #11 in the USA | U.S. News Best Graduate Schools 2022 |
Nursing | #13 in the USA | College Factual 2021 |
Physical Therapy | #83 in the USA | U.S. News Best Graduate Schools 2022 |
Public Health | #42 in the USA | niche.com 2021 |
Public Policy | #87 in the USA | niche.com 2021 |
Social Work | #36 in the USA | U.S. News Best Graduate Schools 2022 |
International Guest House key features
Book the International Guest House residence in Boston through us and you’ll enjoy:
See the Boston housing guide below for more details.
The Simmons University Library fully supports the educational needs of all members of the Simmons Community— students, faculty, staff, alumnae/i, and guests.
Our Mission
The Simmons University Library is an active participant in the student learning experience, an essential component of a Simmons education, and a vital asset to the University, fostering an institution-wide culture of academic inquiry and knowledge cultivation.
Our Commitment
The Simmons University Library is committed to the support of teaching and learning; inclusivity and accessibility; sustainability; and thought leadership and professional engagement.
America’s College Town
Boston is home to over 100 colleges and universities, welcoming over 250,000 students from around the globe. It ranks as one of the 15 best academic cities in the world (QS Best Student Cities 2018), which also attracts professional opportunities. Employers rank Boston the 2nd best city in the world for recruiting university graduates (QS 2018).
Cultural and historic heart
Follow the Freedom Trail for a trip through American Revolutionary history, then walk over to the beautiful green lawns of Boston Common, America’s oldest public park. The city also hosts world-class music, dance and theater companies, first-rate museums, and lively festivals celebrating Boston’s multicultural heritage.
Sports central
Sports fans have several big-name teams to watch, including the Boston Red Sox (baseball), Boston Celtics (basketball), New England Patriots (American football) and Boston Bruins (ice hockey). Every April, runners from all over the world compete in the country’s oldest and most celebrated running event, the Boston Marathon. There’s always something going on in Boston’s exciting sports scene.
Close connections
Boston’s relatively small size and reliable public transportation make it easy and cost-effective to travel around the city. It is within an hour’s flight from New York City, Philadelphia and Montreal, and New England offers plenty of options for day trips to charming historic towns and stunning natural parks.
Athletic activity at Simmons centers around the William J. Holmes Sports and Fitness Center, a $10 million, 60,000 square foot facility located just steps from Simmons’ nine residence halls and Bartol Dining Hall. Opened in 1989, the Center houses state-of-the-art training equipment, plus hardwood courts, an indoor running area, swimming pool, and much more. In 1992, the Holmes Sports Center received the Athletic Business Architectural Award.
Preview this program in
Recommended programs
Marj3 became Emonovo. Read announcement 📣
Note: The scholarship database is no longer available on Emonovo.