Meet Monroe

Newsroom

Welcome to our online newsroom for reporters and others who are interested in learning more about who we are, what we stand for, and what’s happening on campus.

About Monroe

Monroe University is a private, proprietary institution founded more than 90 years ago by members of the Jerome family, who continue to lead it today.

We are a recognized leader in urban and international education, and are proud of our innovative programs to increase college access, affordability, and completion outcomes, especially among first-generation students, and for the national recognition received for our strong impact on graduates’ social mobility.

Our History at a Glance
The story of Monroe University begins in 1933, when teacher Mildred King established the Monroe Secretarial School in the West Farms section of the Bronx. The institution consisted of just four small classrooms with seven students. In 1963, the institution’s name was changed to Monroe Business Institute as offerings expanded. In 1972, Monroe became a junior college after the New York State Board of Regents authorized it to grant associate degrees. It became Monroe College following initial accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education in July 1990. In 2007, the University established a campus on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia in response to growing enrollment from the region.

Monroe achieved university status in late July 2024.

Monroe University Today
Monroe educates 9,000 students each year, offering Certificate, Associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree programs from New York campuses in the Bronx and New Rochelle, as well as in the Caribbean nation of Saint Lucia. Students may also pursue degree programs through Monroe Online.

Programs are offered through Schools of Allied Health Professions, Business and Accounting, Criminal and Social Justice, Education, Hospitality Management, Information Technology, and Nursing, as well as through its King Graduate School. Liberal arts and continuing education programs are also available.

Latest News Releases

March 15, 2023:
Aspiring Future Chefs Taste Victory at Monroe College’s Annual “America’s Best High School Chef” Competition

March 13, 2023:
Monroe College Hosts Young Women from Area High Schools for Powerful “My Sister’s Keeper” Program Designed to Inspire and Motivate

October 17, 2022:
Monroe College Celebrates the Class of 2022 and 2021 at Annual Commencement Ceremony for Saint Lucia Campus Graduates

August 15, 2022:
Culinary Competition Team from Monroe College’s Culinary Institute of New York Wins 2022 ACF National Student Team Championship

June 15, 2022:
Monroe College Confers Degrees on 2,357 Students Representing 75 Countries at 89th Annual Commencement

June 6, 2022:
Monroe College Helps More than 100 Local Residents Secure New Jobs Aboard Cruise Ships at College’s Largest Job Fair Event Ever Held in St. Lucia

April 22, 2022:
Special Event to Be Held Tonight in New York to Expand Monroe College’s Innovative Program with SEED Project to Increase Educational Opportunities for Students in Africa

April 6, 2022:
Monroe College Holds 13th Annual “America’s Best High School Chef” Competition for Aspiring Chefs and Pâtissiers

November 23, 2021:
Monroe College Expands Collaboration with Government of Antigua and Barbuda to Create New Academic and Vocational Training Opportunities for Local Residents

November 17, 2021:
Monroe College Hosts “Sisters In Law: Rising as We Climb” Event to Motivate and Empower Young Women of Color to Chase their Personal, Academic, and Professional Dreams

November 10, 2021:
Monroe College Hosts Special Male Empowerment “My Brother’s Keeper” Townhall Today for Area High School Students

September 6, 2021:
Monroe College and SEED Project Announce Innovative Program to Increase College Access and Affordability for Students in Africa

July 8, 2021:
Monroe College's School of Education Earns Prestigious CAEP Accreditation

June 15, 2021:
Monroe College Confers Degrees at 88th Annual Commencement

February 2, 2021:
Monroe College Launches Institute for Civic Engagement and Social Justice to Provide Civics Education, Social Justice Programming, Mentorship and Community Outreach

October 22, 2020:
Monroe College Celebrates the Class of 2020 at Annual Commencement Ceremony for St. Lucia Campus Graduates

October 22, 2020:
Monroe College Hosts “DiVA Talk 2020: Boots on the Ground” Virtual Event to Address Domestic Violence

October 21, 2020:
Monroe College Launches Au Pair Academy to Provide Special Academic and Cultural Enrichment Courses to Meet the Needs of Busy Au Pairs

June 17, 2020:
Monroe College Confers 2,457 Degrees at 87th Annual Commencement

May 12, 2020:
Monroe College Distributes $2.6 Million in First Round of CARES Act Emergency Relief Grants for Struggling Students

April 5, 2020:
Monroe College Postpones 2020 Commencement Until the Fall

March 11, 2020:
Monroe College Transitions On-Campus Classes to Online Format

November 15, 2019:
Monroe College Welcomes Education Leaders at 3rd Annual Beating the Odds, Building Opportunities for Students in Poverty Conference

October 22, 2019:
Monroe College Students, Faculty, and Staff Lend a Helping Hand to Neighboring Communities

October 16, 2019:
Monroe College Celebrates the Class of 2019 at Annual Commencement for St. Lucia Campus Graduates

October 3, 2019:
Monroe College Hosts “DiVA Talk 2019" Town Hall on Domestic Violence

June 25, 2019:
Monroe College Hospitality Management Students Win Prestigious CTO Competition for the Third Consecutive Year

Our Core Values

Outcomes drive us.

We are committed to remaining a national leader in delivering strong outcomes for students and always strive for continuous improvement.

Integrity guides us.

Honesty, transparency, accountability, and fairness are the bedrock of our work.

Relationships define us.

We build strong personal connections among students, faculty, and staff, as well as with external educational, corporate, and community partners.