Marist University

Marist University is a private university located in Poughkeepsie, New York, along the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Founded by the Marist Brothers, it began as a Catholic institution and later became an independent, secular university while maintaining its historical ties to the Marist tradition. Marist University offers undergraduate and graduate programs across the liberal arts, business, communication, science, and technology. The university is known for its emphasis on experiential learning, internships, and connections to industry, particularly in areas such as business, fashion, and communications. Its suburban campus setting and proximity to New York City attract students seeking a blend of small-campus environment and access to professional opportunities.

Marist University was founded in 1929 in Poughkeepsie, New York, when the Marist Brothers established the Marist Normal Training School to prepare members of the order as teachers. In 1946, the institution received a four-year charter from the State of New York under the leadership of founding president Brother Paul Ambrose Fontaine, FMS, and became Marian College. During the mid-20th century, the campus expanded with new academic buildings, residence halls, and a growing liberal arts curriculum. In 1963, the institution adopted the name Marist College and gradually broadened its mission beyond training members of the religious order to educating lay students. Over the following decades, Marist University developed undergraduate and graduate programs in business, communication, science, and professional studies. In 2003, it was formally recognized as a secular institution, and in 2025 it adopted the name Marist University, reflecting its expanded academic scope and graduate offerings.