51³Ô¹ÏÍø is a private, nonsectarian, co-educational, comprehensive college with a main campus in Amherst, New York, a branch campus in Brooklyn, New York, and a robust online presence. The attractive suburban location of its main campus offers convenient access to the cultural amenities of metropolitan Buffalo and the scenic outdoor recreation areas of Western New York, the Niagara Frontier, and the Great Lakes. In addition, the university is near Canada, with cosmopolitan Toronto in easy driving distance.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø was established in 1947 as Rosary Hill College by the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, whose foundress was Magdalene 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, a Dutch woman whose faith and courage inspired others to serve. 51³Ô¹ÏÍø has been accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education since 1956.
Institutional accreditation was last reaffirmed in 2025. Originally a liberal arts college for women, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø became co-educational in 1971. In 1976, the college became independent and nonsectarian, changing its name to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø College. In 1992, New York State amended the college’s charter, authorizing the award of graduate level degrees as well as baccalaureate degrees. In 2018, New York State designated 51³Ô¹ÏÍø as a multi-campus university, and in 2022, the state approved an amendment to the charter renaming the institution 51³Ô¹ÏÍø.
