Fordham University

What is the history of Fordham University?

Fordham University began in 1841 as St. John's College, founded by Bishop John Hughes in what is now the Bronx. The college came under Jesuit direction in the 1840s and adopted the Fordham University name in 1907.

Its development from a small college into a university helps explain its present structure. Fordham added professional and graduate study alongside its undergraduate liberal arts programs; its law school, for example, dates to 1905. The university now teaches at its historic Rose Hill campus, its Lincoln Center campus in Manhattan, and other locations. Applicants should not assume that a program offered by Fordham is available at every campus.

What are the faculties and departments at Fordham University?

Fordham offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional education through several schools rather than one university-wide academic program. Its undergraduate schools include Fordham College at Rose Hill, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, the Gabelli School of Business, and the School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

Graduate study includes arts and sciences, business, education, law, religion and religious education, and social service. Undergraduate choices span fields such as biology, computer science, economics, English, psychology, communication, accounting, and finance. The Gabelli School houses business programs, while students interested in law or social work should distinguish undergraduate preparation from the separate professional degrees required for many careers in those fields.

Fordham reports a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1. That institution-wide measure does not describe the size or format of any particular course; prospective students can compare the curriculum, campus, and course offerings for their intended major.

What is the location of Fordham University?

Fordham's two principal undergraduate settings are Rose Hill in the Bronx and Lincoln Center in Manhattan. Rose Hill is a traditional campus near the New York Botanical Garden and Bronx Zoo; Lincoln Center places classrooms in a denser Midtown Manhattan setting.

The campus distinction affects commuting, housing, and daily routines. Rose Hill is served by the Fordham Metro-North station and city transit, while Lincoln Center has subway and bus connections. Fordham also operates intercampus transportation, but students planning classes or activities at both locations should account for travel time rather than treating the campuses as one walkable site. The university's Westchester location serves additional programs and students.

What is the mission and vision of Fordham University?

Fordham identifies as a Jesuit and Catholic university. Its stated educational approach combines rigorous study with ethical reflection, service, and attention to the wider social consequences of students' work.

That affiliation shapes parts of the curriculum and campus life, including opportunities for religious practice and community engagement. It does not mean that every student follows the same faith. Prospective students comparing Fordham with a nonsectarian institution may want to review the core curriculum and their intended school's requirements to see how the university's stated priorities appear in coursework.