Hollins University

What is the history of Hollins University?

Hollins University is a private institution in Roanoke, Virginia, with roots in women's education dating to 1842. It began as Valley Union Seminary and later became Hollins Institute, named for benefactors John and Ann Hollins.

Under the leadership of Charles Lewis Cocke, the school developed a sustained focus on women's education. It became Hollins College in 1911 and adopted the name Hollins University in 1998, reflecting the range of its undergraduate and graduate programs. Today, its undergraduate college remains centered on women's education, while its graduate programs have different admissions populations.

What are the faculties and departments at Hollins University?

Hollins offers undergraduate liberal arts and sciences programs alongside selected graduate degrees. Its academic organization is smaller and less divided into separate professional schools than that of a large research university.

Undergraduate students can explore fields including English, biology, psychology, business, political science, public health, and the visual and performing arts. Hollins is also known for work in creative writing, dance, and theater. Graduate offerings include programs in writing and other specialized fields; applicants should check the current catalog for each degree's format, prerequisites, and admissions requirements.

The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 7 to 1. That describes an institution-wide relationship between enrollment and instructional faculty, not a promise that every course or studio will have seven students.

What is the location of Hollins University?

Hollins University is in Roanoke, Virginia, in the Roanoke Valley of southwestern Virginia. Its campus has a residential setting outside downtown Roanoke, so students can access the city without attending school on a downtown campus.

Roanoke offers health-care employers, arts venues, and regional transportation connections that may matter for internships and day-to-day errands. Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport is the nearest commercial airport. Students planning to commute or travel frequently should assess their transportation options rather than assume that every off-campus destination is within walking distance.

What is the mission and vision of Hollins University?

Hollins states that its educational purpose is to prepare students for lives of leadership and meaningful engagement. Its identity as a women's undergraduate college is central to that mission; graduate study forms a separate part of the university's work.

The institution emphasizes liberal learning, close faculty interaction, and opportunities to apply classroom work through creative projects and experiences beyond campus. Those are statements of educational priorities, not guarantees about any individual student's career or personal development. Applicants should distinguish the undergraduate admissions policy from eligibility rules for a particular graduate program.