Grace Murray (Hopper) was born in New York City on December 9, 1906, the oldest of three children. Hopper’s parents provided a strong foundation for her inquisitiveness into many areas, particularly mathematics. Her mother, had a love of math that she passed on to her daughter, at a time when serious study of math was thought improper for a woman. Her father, a successful insurance broker despite his handicap, encouraged all of his children through his voice and example, to go after what they wanted. Grace’s great-grandfather, Alexander Russel, a Rear Admiral himself, inspire Grace’s interest in the Navy, a position she filled in her lifetime.

Grace’s parents firmly endorsed her pursuit of higher learning because of their positive views of education for women. In 1923, at age 16, Grace applied for Vassar College. However, after failing a Latin exam, requiring her to wait another year. She spent the academic year at Hartridge School in Plainfield, New Jersey, then entered Vassar the following year. Grace quickly distinguished herself at Vassar in the disciplines of science, particularly mathematics and physics. In 1928, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Physics. Grace then went on to Yale, where she obtained her Master’s in Mathematics in 1930, and her PhD in 1934. During that time, "Amazing Grace", taught mathematics at Vassar from 1931 to 1943.