Walden University is a private institution of higher education, organized as a Public Benefit Corporation and headquartered in the Mill District in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Walden University offers Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, Master of Business Administration, Master of Public Administration, Master of Public Health, Education Specialist, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Business Administration, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in a number of academic fields.

Walden is a part of a global network of 80 universities across 29 countries owned or managed by Laureate Education Inc. The network includes a mix of both for-profit and public benefit universities, with most of those operations located outside of the United States. The network also includes traditional non-profit education partnerships with established institutions such as The University of Liverpool, University of Roehampton, and Monash University. In 2015, Laureate Education converted to a public benefit corporation. In an effort to measure public benefit performance against an objective third-party standard. Laureate chose to be assessed by B Lab, an independent non-profit organization.

Walden University was an historically black college in Nashville, Tennessee. It was founded in 1865 by missionaries from the northern U.S. on behalf of the Methodist Church to serve freedmen. From 1865 to 1925, Walden University provided education and professional training to African Americans.

Meharry Medical College, established as one of Walden's departments in 1876, was the first medical school in the South for African Americans. In 1915, it was chartered separately and became a separate institution. It is one of the constellation of colleges in Nashville.

After regrouping as a junior college in 1922 and offering a two-year associate's degree, Walden College closed in 1925 due to financial difficulties and competition with state-run colleges. Since 1935, its second campus (acquired in 1922) has served Trevecca Nazarene University.

History

Walden University was founded in Nashville in 1865 by missionaries from the northern Methodist Episcopal Church. They first organized a basic community school for freedmen. Classes attracted both children and adults, as people eagerly embraced the chance for literacy and learning.