Manhattan University

What is the history of Manhattan University?

Manhattan University is a private Catholic institution founded in 1853 by the De La Salle Christian Brothers. It began in Manhattan as Manhattan College, originally serving students in a Catholic educational tradition, and moved to its present Riverdale campus in the Bronx in 1923.

The institution adopted the name Manhattan University in 2024. The change reflects its range of undergraduate and graduate programs; it did not mean a move out of the Bronx. Its engineering, business, education, health, liberal arts, and science offerings sit alongside a continuing Lasallian emphasis on education and service.

What are the faculties and departments at Manhattan University?

Manhattan University offers undergraduate and graduate study across the arts and sciences, business, education and health, and engineering. Prospective students can explore majors such as biology, communication, accounting, finance, computer science, psychology, teacher education, and several engineering disciplines.

Its academic offerings also include graduate programs. Because school names, departmental arrangements, and available concentrations can change, applicants should check the current academic catalog for the program that will award their degree. Engineering and teacher-preparation applicants, in particular, should confirm the exact curriculum, fieldwork or clinical requirements, and any professional-licensure implications before enrolling.

The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 14 to 1. That institution-wide measure does not indicate the size of a particular introductory class, laboratory, or upper-level seminar.

What is the location of Manhattan University?

Manhattan University's main campus is in Riverdale, a residential neighborhood in the northwest Bronx, New York. Despite the university's name, students attend its principal campus in the Bronx rather than Manhattan.

The location offers access to New York City while placing students in a neighborhood setting. The nearby Van Cortlandt Park area provides outdoor space; subway, bus, and commuter-rail options can connect students with other parts of the city and region. Travel time depends considerably on the route and time of day, so commuters should test the trip from their own address rather than assume that proximity on a map means a short journey.

LaGuardia Airport is a relevant regional airport for students traveling longer distances. As with commuting, airport travel time varies with traffic and transit connections.

What is the mission and vision of Manhattan University?

Manhattan University describes its educational mission through its Catholic and Lasallian identity. Its stated priorities include academic learning, ethical development, service, and attention to social justice.

The Lasallian tradition comes from the educational work of Saint John Baptist de La Salle and the Christian Brothers. That affiliation is part of the university's institutional identity; it should not be confused with a requirement that every student share a particular faith. Applicants who want to understand how the mission affects daily study can look at a prospective major's curriculum, service opportunities, and campus ministry activities rather than treating a mission statement as proof of any particular student experience.