
Courtesy of Daemen University
Daemen University began in 1947 as Rosary Hill College, a women's college founded by the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity. It later became coeducational, took the name Daemen College in 1976, and adopted its current name in 2022.
Those changes help explain the institution's present identity: Daemen is a private university with liberal arts programs alongside health, education, and professional studies. Its Catholic founding is part of its history, but applicants should not assume that its current academic programs or admissions policies require a religious affiliation.
Daemen offers undergraduate and graduate study across the arts and sciences, business, education, and health-related fields. Its academic organization is best understood through the current program directory and catalog, since requirements and departmental arrangements vary by degree.
Representative areas include biology, psychology, visual arts, business, education, nursing, social work, physician assistant studies, and physical therapy. Students considering a licensed profession should examine the specific degree's accreditation, clinical-placement requirements, and eligibility rules in the state where they hope to practice. Admission to the university does not necessarily mean admission to every professional program.
Daemen's main campus is in Amherst, New York, a Buffalo suburb. The setting gives students access to a suburban campus and the broader Buffalo-area network of employers, clinical sites, cultural institutions, and colleges.
Commuting is a significant part of campus life: roughly 64% of students are reported as commuters. Prospective commuters should account for travel time and winter weather when comparing schedules, while residential students should consider how they will reach off-campus placements or activities. Buffalo Niagara International Airport is the nearest major airport.
Daemen presents its educational purpose as combining broad intellectual development with preparation for professional and civic life. Its stated priorities include inquiry, ethical responsibility, and learning that connects academic work with practice.
The university's origins are religious, but its present-day identity should not be confused with a requirement that students share its founders' beliefs. Mission statements describe institutional aims, not measured outcomes; applicants can assess how those aims appear in the curriculum, advising, and opportunities available in their intended major.
Name of the institution
Daemen UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1947Daemen University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.