Hildegard of Bingen, or St. Hildegard, was a medieval polymath, or entrepreneur. Hildegard wrote musical compositions, made medicine, wrote philosophy and theology, and created plays. Hildegard is our namesake because she represents the unity of all areas of knowledge, the arts, and social engagement, combined in service to her community.

Hildegard is not like most colleges.

We offer a single degree that combines Liberal Arts and Entrepreneurship, two areas of learning that are typically kept away from one another.

We intentionally keep a small student body because Hildegard students do not spend time in a typical college classroom. They discuss Great Texts in small cohorts, connect with industry mentors, and build real world products and programs as a team.

Hildegard also espouses a unique financial model. We avoid participation in federal financial aid programs and instead offer affordable, accessible tuition, donor-based scholarships, and opportunities for students to graduate debt-free.

Fellows Program and Undergraduate tuition is $16,000 per year. Need-based scholarships are available, and students are encouraged to work and partner in college-building as a path to reduce tuition and graduate debt-free.

As of 2023, Hildegard College is authorized by California to offer postsecondary education leading to a B.A. degree. Hildegard College is pursuing eligibility with an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Hildegard College is located at FLDWRK in Costa Mesa, CA, 4 miles from the Newport Beach coast. FLDWRK is a work collective and peer coaching space designed to launch and incubate businesses, creatives, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs whose endeavors aim at the common good. Fellows and students of Hildegard hold membership to FLDWRK’s common work space, community events, and on-site coffee shop, Buenas.

We believe that an effective education promotes real-world application. Hildegard students live in the community, staying in local apartments and homes with one another.

Studying entrepreneurship is not the same as studying business. An “entrepreneur” is a modern term for what used to be known as a “polymath,” like Hildegard herself — someone proficient in many areas of knowledge and work rather than specialized in only one.

We believe that the best way to learn to do meaningful work is to learn how to build meaningful work. Entrepreneurship is the study of leadership, business, and adaptive thinking from the ground up.

The Great Texts (or Works, or Books) are the most seminal works of human civilization. Their authors are figures like Homer, Aristotle, Thomas Aquinas, Dante, Shakespeare, Rousseau, Wollstonecraft, and Freud.

Some authors are virtually always included in lists of Great Texts, while others are the subjects of debate. Hildegard College views the Great Texts as a living canon. We champion reading and open discussion. We never censor or label certain topics off-limits.