Although its roots extend 130 years, the University of Hartford officially came into being in 1957 when the Hartford Art School, Hartt College of Music, and Hillyer College merged. Originally constructed on 150 acres of farmland that Hillyer had previously purchased, the university has continued to grow, adding nearly 200 acres, academic buildings, student dorms, and the Harry Jack Gray Center, which - in addition to classrooms - houses auditoriums, an art gallery, a restaurant, and more.

Thanks to this Connecticut university's location between Hartford and the towns of Bloomfield and West Hartford, the school lives up to its billing as a private university in the public service as students and local residents are able to benefit through interaction and integration with each other. Not only do residents regularly attend the University of Hartford's Division I athletics games, Hartt's Community Division provides music, theatre, and dance classes to the public. Students at the University of Hartford also benefit from hands-on experience, as various degree programs allow them to work in conjunction with area companies.

Most encouraging is that the University of Hartford's close-knit community - the result of thousands of students from dozens of regions working together. Currently, more than 7,000 undergrad and graduate students hailing from 55 countries are enrolled.