The Oakland Hills Campus

Founded in 1868 by the six Sisters of the Holy Names, HNU was a beacon of education, empowerment, and service for over a century and a half in Oakland.

Rooted in the Catholic tradition and guided by the values of social justice and human dignity, HNU new campus opened in 1958. The university offered a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, fostering intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning. Expanding in 1994, Valley Center of Performing Arts opened.

Since that historic beginning over 155 years ago, HNU has served the Oakland community and the East Bay in many ways. The University has contributed significantly to the professional workforce of the area—graduating thousands of teachers, nurses, and science majors; counseling psychology majors who have gone on to practice as marriage and family therapists; and business majors who have been an important part of the city’s thriving business community. HNU closed its doors in May 2023.

The current ownership, BH Properties, plans to continue the educational tradition on the HNU Campus.