The University of Guam is a public, land-grant university in Mangilao. It began in 1952 as the Territorial College of Guam, established to expand access to higher education on the island. The institution later became the College of Guam and adopted the University of Guam name in 1968.
Its development reflects two roles that still shape its academic work: providing degree programs for Guam residents and conducting research relevant to Guam and the wider Western Pacific. Research units such as the Micronesian Area Research Center and the Marine Laboratory give students and faculty opportunities to study the region's history, cultures, and environment.
The University of Guam offers undergraduate and graduate study across the liberal arts, sciences, business, education, health, and engineering. Its academic organization includes the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the College of Natural and Applied Sciences, and professional schools serving fields such as business, education, engineering, and health.
Representative subjects include biology, computer science, English, psychology, accounting, public administration, teacher education, nursing, and civil engineering. Prospective students should examine the catalog for the credential they want: admission to the university does not necessarily establish eligibility for a professional program, clinical placement, or teacher-licensure pathway. The university's regional research centers may also matter to students interested in Pacific studies, marine science, or environmental research.
The University of Guam's main campus is in Mangilao, on the eastern side of Guam. Its location places students within reach of government offices, schools, health facilities, and employers elsewhere on the island, but travel times depend on road conditions and where a student lives.
Most students commute, so transportation is a practical part of planning for classes, work, and campus activities. Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport serves the island and is relevant to students arriving from elsewhere in the United States or abroad. Applicants should distinguish the Mangilao campus from any particular off-campus course or placement when checking where they will need to attend in person.
The University of Guam frames its purpose around learning, discovery, and service, expressed in its institutional motto, "Ina, Diskubre, Setbe." As a public land-grant university, it describes education, research, and work with communities as connected responsibilities.
Its stated priorities give particular attention to Guam and the broader Micronesian and Western Pacific region. For prospective students, that mission is most concrete in the university's regional research centers and in programs connected to local educational, health, environmental, and public-service needs. These are institutional aims, not assurances about any individual student's experience or outcome.
Name of the institution
University of GuamLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PublicSetting type
Suburb: MidsizeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1952University of Guam is institutionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degreeData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.