History of St. Francis College
St. Francis College has a proud heritage of providing students with the preparation they need to take their places as contributing members of society. With a mission founded on the ideals and teachings of St. Francis of Assisi, the school has played an important role in the community and in the lives of its students and alumni.
A group of Franciscan Brothers first came to Brooklyn in 1858, opening St. Francis Academy several months later in 1859. It was the first private school in the diocese of Brooklyn. The school, which was opened to educate the boys of the diocese, started in a building on Baltic Street and grew quickly. In 1884, just 25 years later, the trustees of the School received permission from the state legislature to "establish a Literary College" under its current name and giving it the power to confer diplomas, honors, and degrees. In June 1885, St. Francis College conferred its first Bachelor of Arts degree, and seven years later the first Bachelor of Science degree was granted.
The School continued its meteoric growth and built a new facility on Butler Street in 1926. In 1957, the Regents of the University of the State of New York granted an absolute Charter to the Trustees of the College. In 1960, the School embarked on an expansion program. It moved to Remsen Street, where it had purchased two office buildings from Brooklyn Union Gas Company, allowing it to double its enrollment. Shortly thereafter, it became a co-educational institution and additional property was purchased on both Remsen and Joralemon Streets. The College expanded its facilities with the construction of a science building, physical education complex, and housing to accommodate the Franciscan Brothers and provide more space for faculty.
Today the School has about 2,159 students and 13,500 alumni. They come primarily from Brooklyn and the other boroughs of New York City, although their backgrounds are representative of some 80 countries. Every June, more than 350 degrees are conferred in the liberal arts and sciences. Many distinguished public servants, scientists, lawyers, business professionals, and teachers call St. Francis College alma mater, as do many of the priests and nuns within the Dioceses of Brooklyn-Queens and Rockville Centre.
St. Francis College is a private, independent co-educational college that welcomes students from all walks of life, providing a superior liberal arts education at an affordable price. The St. Francis student benefits from small classes taught by professors who are committed to provide an education in an atmosphere of support and friendship. By integrating liberal arts and pre-professional programs, the College promotes the development of the whole person. Both the Franciscan heritage and the Catholic tradition establish a cornerstone of academic excellence, social responsibility, and mutual respect throughout the entire College community.