Effat University was originally founded in 1999 as Effat College. The college offered a range of academic programmes in English to women in Saudi Arabia in order to prepare them for the job market. In 2002 Effat became one of three colleges affiliated with King Faisal Private University. Three years later, the college was granted full university status and became Effat University.
The university is the first private institution of higher education for women in Saudi Arabia. It is named after Queen Effat who is considered the founding mother of Saudi education. Queen Effat established the Taif model school and the first girl＊s college in Saudi Arabia. Her legacy of excellence and passion for education is at the heart of the university.
When the university was first established as a college it had just two departments: computer science and kindergarten. Today there are four academic colleges within the university: Effat College of Humanities, Effat College of Business, Effat College of Engineering, and Effat College of Architecture and Design. Each college offers a range of both undergraduate and graduate degree programmes.
The university is located in Jeddah, a port city in western Saudi Arabia.
