University of the Pacific is celebrating its 175th anniversary with record-high rankings, the strongest enrollment and fundraising years in recent history and transformational new initiatives that will shape not only Pacific’s future but also the state of California. 

Pacific President Christopher Callahan shared details on the tremendous progress and insight on what’s to come during his fifth annual State of the University address Sept. 3.

Among the expansive new initiatives is the School of Medicine, which was announced in May. The university has already received more than $30 million to fund the new school, including $2 million in seed money recently awarded by the state. A search for the inaugural dean is underway. The school is designed to address the severe and growing shortage of physicians across a 19-county region in central California.

“We use the word transformational too loosely in higher education. This is transformational,” Callahan said. “This is transformational for our university. This is transformational for our region to try to close the health care disparities that exist across central California.”

A multi-year partnership with the San Francisco 49ers launched last fall has created new opportunities for students. As the organization’s official higher education partner, students have access to career development, internships and hands-on learning, including a series of guest lectures from key members of the 49ers organization.

To meet increasing need, Pacific has launched six new academic programs, a master’s degree in midwifery and new Conservatory of Music degrees, and added two new sports—STUNT and men’s volleyball. 

The expansions come as Pacific enjoys its highest rankings. The Wall Street Journal ranked Pacific No. 85 among all schools and colleges nationwide in its most recent report. The Journal also put Pacific at No. 36 for social mobility, which the president highlighted as a point of pride for the university.

“The ability to take our students, first-generation students and students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, and give them the opportunity to receive a Pacific education—it changes the trajectory of their lives,” he said.

The university received national recognition for its contributions to the community earlier this year, earning the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement. This is the second Carnegie classification for Pacific. Last year, Pacific was designated an “Opportunity College and University,” which measures earnings after college and the ability to access a college education regardless of socioeconomic background.

As many universities around the country are facing immense enrollment and financial challenges—with 150 colleges and universities closing in the past decade—Pacific has had its highest enrollment numbers over the past four years and record fundraising in 2025-26, with $63 million raised to support major initiatives and student resources

The increasing momentum will continue throughout the next year, with the opening of a student-athlete and sports medicine center, ambulatory surgical center in San Francisco and the Jie Du Inn.