University of the Pacific (United States)

University of the Pacific
Former names
College of the Pacific (1911–1961)
California Wesleyan College (1851)
TypePrivate university
EstablishedJuly 10, 1851 (July 10, 1851)
Religious affiliation
United Methodist Church
Academic affiliations
NAICU
IAMSCU
Endowment$568.2 million (2022)
PresidentChristopher Callahan
Academic staff
829 (2022)
Administrative staff
1,120 (2022)
Students6,944 (2024)
Undergraduates3,249 (2024)
Postgraduates2,067 (2024)
Other students
1,628 (2024)
Location,
U.S.

37°58′46″N 121°18′45″W / 37.97944°N 121.31250°W / 37.97944; -121.31250
CampusUrban, 175 acres (71 ha)
Colors    Orange and black
NicknameTigers
Sporting affiliations
NCAA Division IWCC
MascotPowercat
Websitepacific.edu

University of the Pacific (Pacific or UOP) is a private university originally founded as a Methodist-affiliated university with its main campus in Stockton, California, United States, and graduate campuses in San Francisco and Sacramento. It was the first university in the state of California, the first independent coeducational campus in California, and the first conservatory of music and first medical school on the West Coast.

Pacific was chartered on July 10, 1851, in Santa Clara, California, under the name California Wesleyan College. The school moved to San Jose in 1871 and then to Stockton in 1923. Pacific is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. In addition to its liberal arts college and graduate school, Pacific has schools of business, dentistry, education, engineering, international studies, law, music, pharmacy, and health sciences.

It is home to the papers of environmental pioneer John Muir in Pacific's Holt-Atherton Special Collections and Archives. The university also has a John Muir Center that hosts a Muir Symposium to encourage the use of John Muir's Papers. At Pacific's William Knox Holt Memorial Library, there is a museum style presentational space for Muir's Papers. The Muir Experience has on display physical and digital exhibits to inspire user interaction with Muir's work.