Seton Hall University is a private Catholic research university located in South Orange, New Jersey. Founded in 1856 by Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley, the first bishop of Newark, it is named after his aunt, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint. Seton Hall is recognized as the oldest diocesan university in the United States .

Seton Hall was established with the vision of being “a home for the mind, the heart, and the spirit,” reflecting its commitment to intellectual, ethical, and spiritual development. From its inception, the university embraced diversity, enrolling over 500 freshmen from 17 states and six foreign countries within its first 12 years. In 1937, Seton Hall began admitting women through its University College, and by 1968, the South Orange campus became fully coeducational .