University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia was founded in 1821 as the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, the first institution of higher learning in the United States dedicated to the discipline. Benefactor Marvin Samson held the role of Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The university officially merged into Saint Joseph's University on June 1, 2022, ending its independent operation after two centuries. Prior to the merger, the endowment stood at an estimated $146.1 million (Altss estimate), positioning it as a modest institutional pool by national standards. The university's asset base included a concentrated portfolio of commercial and residential real estate on Woodland Avenue between 42nd and 45th Streets, with named properties such as Griffith Hall, Rosenberger Hall, Osol Hall, and the Integrated Professional Education Complex. The institution maintained a tangible cultural-asset collection through the Marvin Samson Center for the History of Pharmacy, which houses the Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Archives and a collection of pharmacy artifacts and rare books. The merger with Saint Joseph's University consolidated both academic and financial operations. In connection with the transaction, the Belmont Neighborhood Educational Alliance, led by Michael Karp, purchased 15 campus buildings, reshaping the physical footprint of the former USciences campus in University City. The institution was a member of NACUBO and held NCAA Division II athletic affiliations in the CACC and ECAC. Its collaborative network included the University City Science Center in the Philadelphia innovation district. The structural legacy of USciences now flows through Saint Joseph's University, with its real estate portfolio partly liquidated into the community via the Karp-led alliance. The Marvin Samson Center for the History of Pharmacy remains a distinct, endowed cultural asset housed in Griffith Hall, preserving the institution's 200-year pharmaceutical heritage inside a larger university system.