As Luzerne County's first four-year institution of higher learning, Misericordia University was founded in 1924 to educate the daughters of local coal miners. The name Misericordia means "heart of mercy" which still resonates today within our charisms of mercy, service, justice, and hospitality. Misericordia is a broad-based liberal arts and pre-professional studies university and has been co-educational since the 1970s. Misericordia is nationally and regionally ranked among the best colleges and universities. According to the Princeton Review, Misericordia has been recognized as one of the top colleges and universities in the northeastern United States.