Albertus Magnus College

Albertus Magnus College is a private Catholic university located in New Haven, Connecticut, founded in 1925 by the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs, now known as the Dominican Sisters of Peace. The college is named after St. Albertus Magnus, a medieval scholar and philosopher. Originally established to educate women to become thinkers and leaders, the institution began in Rosary Hall, a Palladian-style mansion that now serves as the main library. Located in the Prospect Hill neighborhood near the Hamden border, the campus expanded by 1940 to cover 50 acres, incorporating several Gilded Age mansions as dormitories and offices. Known for its rigorous liberal arts curriculum, the college initially required four years of Latin or Greek study. Albertus Magnus remained a women’s college until 1985, when it became coeducational under the leadership of President Julia M. McNamara, becoming the last college in Connecticut to make the transition. During the 1980s, the campus underwent significant expansion with the construction of new classrooms and an athletic center. In 1992, the college introduced its first graduate program, a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies. The institution is governed by a board of trustees, with a 1968 reorganization allowing 80 percent of the board to be comprised of secular members while reserving 20 percent for Dominican Sisters. Academically, Albertus Magnus offers a wide range of undergraduate majors, minors, and concentrations, including pre-professional programs. Its graduate offerings include degrees in art therapy, mental health counseling, addiction counseling, leadership, liberal studies, education, business administration, and creative writing. As of 2022, the college has a 100 percent acceptance rate, with a student body that is approximately 85 percent female and 15 percent male. Albertus Magnus continues to emphasize its mission of providing a values-based, liberal arts education in a supportive learning environment.