Pine Manor College

Pine Manor College was a private liberal arts college in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, founded in 1911. The institution focused on undergraduate education and became known for serving a highly diverse student body, including many first-generation college students and students from the Boston area. Its academic model emphasized small classes, close faculty mentoring, and career-connected learning in fields such as business, psychology, biology, and the liberal arts.

The college also operated the Solstice Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing Program, a named graduate program that drew writers from across the United States. Solstice combined online study with residency periods and became one of Pine Manor College’s most visible academic offerings beyond its undergraduate campus. In addition to degree programs, the college maintained a mission centered on access and student support, with a long-standing commitment to women’s education before later becoming coeducational.