Historic women's college founded 1852, now part of Northeastern University's Oakland campus.
Mills College offers undergraduate and graduate programs with emphasis on experiential learning and social innovation. Graduate programs include Educational Leadership (MA), with minors in Creative Writing and Sustainability Studies. The college is known for pioneering computer science education (first women's college to offer a CS major in 1974) and maintains a strong music program through the Center for Contemporary Music. Most popular undergraduate majors include Psychology, English, Sociology, Health Policy Analysis, and Biology.
The 135-acre Oakland campus features the F.W. Olin Library (240,000+ volumes), Mills College Art Museum, Center for Contemporary Music, and athletic facilities including Trefethen Aquatic Center, Meyer Tennis Center, and Hellman Soccer Field. Over 50 student organizations host art exhibitions, performances, and cultural events. Fifty-six percent of undergraduates identify as students of color; over half live on-campus. Graduate students are predominantly commuters (75%).
Mills was founded in 1852 and became the second women's college west of the Rockies. In 1990, it became the first US women's college to reverse a decision to go coeducational. In 2014, Mills became the first single-sex college to formally welcome transgender students. Following financial challenges in 2017, the college implemented a 36% tuition reduction and merged with Northeastern University in 2022, becoming Mills College at Northeastern University.
The Center for Contemporary Music, established in 1966, is internationally recognized for innovation in experimental music and electronic composition. The F.W. Olin Library houses the Heller Rare Book Room with 12,000 volumes and 10,000 manuscripts, including a Gutenberg Bible leaf. Mills College Children's School (established 1926) was the first laboratory school for teachers west of the Mississippi.