Founded in 1885, it was the first woman's institution to offer graduate degrees
including the Ph.D. The first class included 36
undergraduate women and eight graduate students. It was originally affiliated with the Society of Friends (Quakers), but by 1893 had become non-denominational.In 1912, Bryn Mawr began offering the United States' first doctoral degree in social work
through the Graduate Department of Social Economy and Social Research. This department became the Graduate School of Social Work
and Social Research in 1970.In 1931, Bryn Mawr began accepting males as graduate students, while remaining
women-only at the undergraduate level.