
Waynesburg University began as Waynesburg College in 1849 and adopted its university name in 2007. Founded in southwestern Pennsylvania by members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, it has retained a Christian identity while expanding beyond its original liberal-arts curriculum.
The change in name reflected a broader range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including professional fields such as nursing, education, and business. Its history matters to applicants because faith, academic study, and community service remain connected in the university's stated educational purpose.
Waynesburg University offers undergraduate majors alongside graduate and professional programs. Its academic offerings span the liberal arts and sciences, business, education, nursing, communication, criminal justice, and other applied fields.
Undergraduates can consider subjects such as biology, psychology, computer science, accounting, journalism, teacher education, and nursing. The university also offers graduate study for students pursuing advanced credentials or professional development. Program requirements differ substantially: a nursing or teacher-education student, for example, should review clinical placements, fieldwork, progression standards, and any requirements tied to licensure - not just the university's general degree requirements.
Waynesburg reports a student-to-faculty ratio of 12 to 1. That institution-wide measure suggests the scale of instruction, but it does not establish the size of a particular lecture, laboratory, or clinical group.
Waynesburg University is in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, the county seat of Greene County in the state's southwestern corner. Students should expect a small-town setting rather than an urban campus.
The surrounding community puts local services and organizations within reach, while opportunities farther afield may require a car or advance transportation planning. The university permits first-year students to register or park a car on campus. Pittsburgh International Airport is the principal regional airport for students traveling longer distances; prospective students should account for the trip between the airport and Waynesburg rather than assuming airport transit serves the campus directly.
Waynesburg University describes its mission as helping students connect faith, learning, and service so they can contribute to their communities and the wider world. Its Christian, Presbyterian heritage is part of the institution's identity.
For applicants, that mission is relevant to the university's approach to general education, service opportunities, and campus programming. It is a statement of institutional purpose, not a measured outcome for every student. Applicants weighing religiously affiliated colleges may find it useful to examine how faith-related activities fit into their intended academic program and everyday campus life.
Name of the institution
Waynesburg UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Town: DistantInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Protestant (Presbyterian Church of U.S.A.)School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1849Waynesburg University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 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
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 5, 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.