Samuel Merritt University Expands Bay Area Presence with New Foster City Campus

OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Samuel Merritt University (SMU), a leader in healthcare education for more than a century, today announced the opening of its newly relocated San Francisco Peninsula campus in Foster City, a modern learning environment designed to support student success and expand access to health sciences education across the Bay Area.

The new campus replaces SMU’s previous San Mateo location and offers significantly more space for classrooms, simulation labs and student gathering areas. Located on the first floor of a Class A building across from Leo J. Ryan Park, the campus provides a bright, open setting designed to encourage collaboration, connection and hands-on learning.

“With this newly reimagined SMU campus, we are expanding access to high-quality health sciences education on the San Francisco Peninsula,” said Ching-Hua Wang, MD, PhD, president of SMU. “This purpose-built campus has the highest quality facilities and equipment that strengthens hands-on clinical preparation and interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring our graduates are ready to meet the region’s growing healthcare workforce needs while forming lasting connections within the communities they will serve.”

The Foster City campus will host SMU’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, which prepares students to enter the nursing profession through an intensive program focused on clinical skill development and real-world patient care.

The campus was designed to support the day-to-day student experience. Alongside modern classrooms and expanded simulation labs, the campus includes a student lounge, library, wellness room and collaborative study areas where students can meet up, hang out between classes and work together.

Its waterfront location also adds something the previous campus lacked: access to outdoor space. Students will have nearby walking paths, green space and dining options, adding a bit of balance to the academic day.

The expansion comes at a time when healthcare workforce shortages continue to challenge California and the Bay Area. The larger, modernized campus allows SMU to educate more students and prepare the next generation of clinicians who will serve hospitals, clinics and communities throughout the region.

For students living on the Peninsula and in surrounding communities, the Foster City campus offers a more convenient option, reducing the need to travel to SMU’s Oakland, Sacramento or Fresno locations. The campus is also close to public transportation, housing and nearby healthcare facilities where students gain the hands-on clinical experience that is central to SMU’s programs.

To learn more about Samuel Merritt University and its programs, visit www.samuelmerritt.edu.

About Samuel Merritt University

Since 1909, Samuel Merritt University (SMU) has been a leader in healthcare education, preparing students to meet critical workforce needs across California. With campuses in Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco Peninsula and Fresno, SMU has continually expanded its impact, becoming a doctoral-granting institution in 2002. In 2024, SMU opened its Fresno campus to address Central Valley healthcare challenges. Earlier in 2026, SMU opened its new City Center Campus in downtown Oakland to support hands-on training for future healthcare professionals.

To learn more about programs and admissions, visit www.samuelmerritt.edu.