Manhattan University

ABOUT UNIVERSITY

Manhattan University, formerly known as Manhattan College, is a private Catholic university located in New York City, United States. Founded in 1853 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers as the Academy of the Holy Infancy, the institution began as an academy for day students and was later chartered as a college by the New York State Board of Regents in 1863. Originally situated in Lower Manhattan, the college relocated several times due to growth, moving to Manhattanville in Harlem before settling permanently in the Riverdale section of the Bronx in 1922. Although no longer located on the island of Manhattan, the institution retained the name Manhattan College for over a century, which often caused confusion. In August 2024, the institution officially changed its name to Manhattan University as part of a strategic effort to improve enrollment and visibility. The Riverdale campus once included Manhattan College High School, a preparatory school that operated until its closure in 1971. Originally an all-male institution, Manhattan University expanded access through a cooperative program with the College of Mount Saint Vincent in the 1960s and became fully coeducational by the mid-1970s, with the partnership ending in 2007. The university has experienced notable philanthropic support, including a landmark $25 million donation in 2018 from alumnus Thomas O’Malley, leading to the renaming of its business school as the O’Malley School of Business. In recent years, however, the institution has faced significant challenges due to declining enrollment and financial pressures. Between 2020 and 2024, enrollment dropped by more than 30%, prompting the elimination of numerous academic programs, substantial faculty reductions, internal restructuring of academic schools, and a negative outlook from bond-rating agencies. Despite these difficulties, Manhattan University continues to position itself as a Lasallian institution committed to academic excellence, ethical leadership, and service within the urban context of New York City.