Nazareth University (NAZ)

Nazareth is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good.

Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.

Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of big universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing them for the professions and society of today and tomorrow.

In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth graduates launch lifetimes of change making leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.

Under the guidance of faculty, students frequently find themselves working with peers (including students from other disciplines) in clinical and lab settings, and on projects and productions. As one student recently mentioned: "There's a community feeling on campus and the surrounding area of Rochester is welcoming to students. The school offers variety and diversity and I believe the school is dedicated to their students' wholeness, health, and overall well being. It's not ALL about your academic success but your overall growth along with personal maturity and life preparation. The advisors are truly dedicated to ensuring you are on the right path and advise instead of tell."

Professors and advisors encourage students to link their studies with practical experiences, including study abroad, service-learning, research, and internships.

Students can support or discover their varied interests through involvement in over 50 clubs and organizations ranging from academic clubs, athletics, culture and entertainment, and interfaith groups. It's common for a math major to be a member of the dance team, a physical therapy major to minor in music, or a biochemistry major to minor in legal studies.

Student Clubs:
Active Minds
Adventure Club
American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)
American Sign Language (ASL) Club
American String Teachers Association (ASTA)
AMTAS-Naz (Music Therapy)
Art Club
Association of Social Work Students (ASWS)
Ballroom Club
Best Buddies
Black Student Union (BSU)
BLM @ Naz
Call4Backup
Campus Activities Board (CAB)
Chinese Club
Communications Sciences and Disorders Association (CSDA)
Club Italianissimo
Community Youth Development (CYD) Collective
Crocheting for a Cause
Dare2Dance
Decks and Dice Club
Education Club
El Barrio
Esports club team
Fermata Thin Air
French Club
Full Out
Future Business Leaders of American (Phi Beta Lambda)
German Club
Gerontology Club
Helping Hands at Nazareth
History Club
Interfaith Leadership Cohort (ILC)
IPAW Club
Lambda Association (LGBTQ+)
LASMA (Spanish Club)
Math Club
Marketing Club
Meditation & Mindfulness (M&M) Club
Musica Mundana
National Association for Music Educators (NAfME)
Nazareth Dance Organization (NDO)
Naz Composition Club
Naz Recordz
Nursing Club
Oak Tree Program
Performance Therapy Club
Physical Therapy (PT) Club
Politics & Law Club
Pre-Health Professionals Club
Psychology Club
Residence Hall Council (RHC)
Science Club
Special Olympics at Naz
Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA)
Theatre League
USITT Nazareth Chapter (theatre tech)
WNAZ The Beat (radio station)
Women & Gender Studies Student Association (WGSSA)
Women in the Industry

For more: naz.edu/student-activities

Club Sports:
Rugby
Rowing
Basketball
Women Volleyball
Soccer
ESports
Cheer

Division 3 Varsity Athletics:
basketball
cross country
equestrian
field hockey
golf
ice hockey
lacrosse
rowing
rugby (division 1 club level)
soccer
softball
swimming & diving
tennis
track
volleyball

This “very welcoming and inclusive” community fosters a general sense of Naz nice, wherein “if you need help, it’s almost guaranteed that it will [be] noticed and someone will help you.” A student assures: “It is incredibly easy to make friends at Nazareth University,” especially if you’re artistic or athletic, which are two of the main categories that come up when describing the population, along with being academically strong. There’s also a sense that “my peers believe in human rights and equality and stand with diversity.” Many here “have jobs on campus, or off campus,” and “many people are on sports teams.” People “tend to be part of many different circles and know a wide variety of people,” perhaps due to the “campus-wide events that make everyone at Naz feel like one big family.” A student sums up, “Our campus is inclusive, welcoming, and provides support in so many ways.”

“It’s always so gorgeous” at Nazareth, particularly for “walking in the beautiful trails on campus,” which speaks to why, of the more than 50 student organizations, “clubs and events, specifically arts- and hiking-oriented, are very popular.” This is also true for athletics, “with about 1/3 of the population being on a sports team” and engaging in “recreational athletics with friends,” including basketball, pickleball, and volleyball. Students also point to the “many on-campus free events to attend,” which include things like “grocery bingo, midnight breakfast, [and] relaxation night.” In fact, the student government puts on so many “fun activities such as Springfest, Fun Fridays, and Wellness Wednesdays that help [students] feel more welcome and at home” that one student says the school never fails to keep students busy and entertained.” Where students quibble is with the dining hall options, which with few exceptions are said to be “the same thing day in and day out, just prepared slightly different.” That said, some areas like the school’s café, Millie’s, are praised as a “great comfortable area to relax and study,” and there’s nearby shopping and restaurants. All in all, Nazareth “offers a good number of things to do to make new friends along the way while keeping up with schoolwork.”