Manhattan College Changes Name to Manhattan University After 171 Years

After 171 years, Manhattan College, a private Catholic college in the Bronx, New York, is changing its name to Manhattan University.

With immediate effect, the change aims to help the university attract a more diverse student population from around the world. The school will start the next semester under the new name, which was chosen after surveying more than 3,000 students, faculty, staff, administrators, Board of Trustees, and alumni on potential names for the institution.

After the majority preferred switching to “university”, the NYS Board of Regents approved it on August 1, 2024. The university expects this change will also facilitate recognition of more than 100 programs and degrees it offers, Erudera.com reports.

“I’ve always thought of Manhattan College as something bigger, given the number of disciplines in the three schools we operate, the superb quality of our faculty, and the growing international reach of the student body.” Milo Riverso, President of Manhattan College, now Manhattan University said.

The institution was founded in 1853 in Manhattan as a Lasallian Catholic College. It relocated to the Bronx in 1923. It now has 3,495 enrolled students, among which 2,928 are undergraduates and 567 graduates.

Riverso described the change as a reflection of the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, emphasizing dedication to enrolling a broad and diverse student body, especially international students.

“We are dedicated to having a broad and diverse student population with an enhanced emphasis on increasing our international student populations,” he said.

Commenting on the recent transition, the New York State Higher Education Committee of the Board of Regents said there is competition from institutions in other states recruiting students across the nation and worldwide where “college” is a challenging term.

According to the US News and World Report rankings, Manhattan College is among the nation’s best regional colleges and universities, ranking 13th. Among the most popular majors at the newly renamed university are civil engineering, mechanical engineering, communication, finance, and psychology.

Earlier this year, Mississippi University for Women (MUW) also announced plans to change its name to Mississippi Brightwell University after continuing to enroll men since 1982.

“Marketing to some male students, as well as female students, is a challenge, because our name doesn’t reflect who we are,” the university says in a notice on its website.

However, officials failed to agree on a name during a ceremony held on February 13, pausing these plans for the third time. The university surveyed more than 4,300 people, including university faculty and staff, alumni, and others, for the potential name.

Image source: X account of Manhattan College News