Walden University

What is the history of Walden University?

Walden University was founded in 1970 by Bernie and Rita Turner to serve adults seeking advanced education without following a conventional residential-college schedule. Its early emphasis on graduate study helps explain its continuing focus on working professionals.

Walden began offering online education in the 1990s and expanded into undergraduate programs. Laureate Education acquired the university in 2004; Adtalem Global Education acquired it in 2021. Today, Walden is a private, primarily online university based in Minneapolis rather than a traditional campus-centered institution.

What are the faculties and departments at Walden University?

Walden offers bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and certificate programs, with a strong emphasis on health care, education, business, psychology, and public service. Its academic organization includes the College of Nursing, the College of Management and Human Potential, the College of Health Sciences and Public Policy, the College of Psychology and Community Services, and the Richard W. Riley College of Education and Human Sciences.

Representative areas of study include nursing, public health, business administration, information technology, counseling, psychology, and education. Program formats differ: a course-based degree follows scheduled classes, while some programs use a competency-based format with different pacing and billing rules. Applicants should compare the specific catalog requirements for their intended degree, especially clinical placements, residencies, and licensure-related coursework.

What is the location of Walden University?

Walden University is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but most students participate online from elsewhere. Its Minneapolis address identifies the institution's headquarters; it should not be mistaken for a residential campus where online students routinely attend classes.

Federal enrollment figures for 2024-25 indicate that about 2% of students lived in Minnesota and about 98% came from other U.S. states. Location still matters for students whose programs require in-person residencies, clinical training, or fieldwork. Those requirements may involve travel or an approved placement near a student's home, and state authorization or professional-licensing rules may affect enrollment.

What is the mission and vision of Walden University?

Walden states that its educational mission centers on accessible higher education for working adults and on applying learning to positive social change. That is a statement of institutional purpose, not evidence that every program produces a particular career or community outcome.

The emphasis appears in Walden's online delivery, professional programs, and service-oriented activities. Prospective students can assess how it applies to a particular degree by examining its curriculum, faculty qualifications, fieldwork expectations, and graduate outcomes. Walden is not presented as a religiously affiliated university.