University of Bridgeport

The University of Bridgeport (UB) is a non-public institution of higher education located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The New England Commission of Higher Education has granted the institution its accreditation status.

In 1927, the institution that would later become the university was established as Connecticut's first junior college. The founders of the school, E. Everett Cortright, Alfred Fones, and Sumner Simpson, identified a need in Bridgeport, which at the time was one of only six communities in the United States with more than 100,000 population that did not have a college or university. The university had a major expansion, during which it included dorms as well as a business school. The school became a four-year college in 1947 and changed its name to the University of Bridgeport at that time. It had previously been known as the old P. T. Barnum mansion and bordering acreage close to Seaside Park.

On the 25th of July, 2019, the University of Bridgeport and Marlboro College made public their intentions to engage into a merger that would combine the resources of both schools to become a larger university with stronger ties between professional programmes and the liberal arts. It was reported in September 2019 that the merger was no longer being considered at this time. On April 2, 2020, Laura Skandera Trombley tendered her resignation as president in order to take over as president of Southwestern University, which is located in Texas. Tarek Sobh, vice president for research and economic development as well as dean of the College of Business, Education, and Engineering, was named temporary provost when Stephen Healey, the current provost, was given the title of interim president.

The non-profit Goodwin University made the announcement in January 2021 that it would be acquiring the University of Bridgeport and running it as a subsidiary; nonetheless, the University of Bridgeport would continue to operate under its original name and brand.

In March of 2021, Paier College, which had previously been known as Paier College of Art, made the announcement that it intended to relocate its campus to Bridgeport, Connecticut, before the beginning of the fall 2021 session. The new location would be in buildings that had been occupied by the University of Bridgeport.