# University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

University of the Sciences in Philadelphia is an Endowment / Foundation based in Philadelphia, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Philadelphia, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Philadelphia, PA, United States
- **Founded:** 1821
- **Assets under management:** $146.1M (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** www.usciences.edu
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-the-sciences-in-philadelphia/

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

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.

## Sectors

- Education
- Real Estate

## People

- Marvin Samson — Benefactor and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees

## Questions

### What happened to the University of the Sciences endowment after the merger?

The endowment was consolidated into Saint Joseph's University effective June 1, 2022. The university's real estate assets were partially separated: the Belmont Neighborhood Educational Alliance, led by Michael Karp, purchased 15 campus buildings in the University City neighborhood.

### Who was Marvin Samson's role at USciences?

Marvin Samson was a major benefactor and served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees. His philanthropic imprint is most visible through the Marvin Samson Center for the History of Pharmacy, located in Griffith Hall on the former Philadelphia campus.

### Does USciences still exist as an independent entity?

No. The university officially merged into Saint Joseph's University on June 1, 2022. Its academic programs were absorbed by Saint Joseph's, and its independent institutional identity was dissolved.

### What were the university's principal non-financial assets?

Beyond the endowment, the university held a notable cultural collection: the Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Archives and a set of pharmacy artifacts and rare books, all housed at the Marvin Samson Center for the History of Pharmacy in Griffith Hall.

### Who acquired the USciences campus buildings?

The Belmont Neighborhood Educational Alliance, a nonprofit led by Michael Karp, purchased 15 campus buildings. This transaction followed the merger with Saint Joseph's University and transferred a large portion of the physical campus to a local educational-focused entity.

## Related profiles

- [Stichting Pensioenfonds AZL](https://altss.com/profile/stichting-pensioenfonds-azl)
- [University of London Endowment](https://altss.com/profile/university-of-london-endowment)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/university-of-the-sciences-in-philadelphia

Maintained by Altss — https://altss.com — methodology: https://altss.com/methodology