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Lehman College

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A view of Lehman College's Music Building and a plaza on a cloudy day.

Lehman College is a public college in New York City, United States. It was founded in 1931 as the Bronx campus of Hunter College and became an independent college in 1967. The college is named after Herbert H. Lehman, a former New York governor, United States senator, and philanthropist. Today, Lehman College is a senior college of the City University of New York and offers more than 90 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and specializations.

History

The Bronx Branch of Hunter College started in 1931.

First flag raising, commissioning ceremonies for the U.S. Naval Training Center, Women's Reserve, Bronx, on February 8, 1943

During World War II, the campus trained women for the military. Before the United States in World War II, only women studied there for two years before moving to Hunter's Manhattan campus. During the war, the United States Navy used the buildings to train women volunteers for service.

After the war, the United Nations used the campus for its first Security Council meetings in 1946. The college became independent from Hunter College in 1968 and was named after Herbert H. Lehman, a former governor of New York.

The college offered study-abroad programs in Hiroshima, Japan, from 1990 to 1994.

Because of the coronavirus outbreak, the college moved to remote learning in March 2020. Most classes stayed online until May 2022, when the college held its first in-person graduation ceremony after the pandemic.

Campus

Lehman College has a beautiful 37-acre campus with a mix of old-style and modern buildings. It is located near the Jerome Park Reservoir at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West. The campus includes a multimedia center with studios and classrooms, and a large theater for performances.

Lehman College Plaza and Music Building

In 2012, the college opened a new Science Hall with modern labs and classrooms. In 2024, Lehman opened a new nursing building. The campus also has a fitness center and an art gallery.

Public transit access

The New York City Subway has a station called Bedford Park Boulevard–Lehman College, served by the train, close to the campus. It is named after the college. You can also take the Bx10, Bx25, Bx26, or Bx28 bus to reach the college.

Student life

Lehman College has students from many different backgrounds. They come from various ethnic groups, speak many languages, and have different social classes and backgrounds. The college also welcomes students from many countries around the world.

In the 2023–2024 school year, Lehman College had 11,227 undergraduate students and 1,884 graduate students, making a total of 13,111 students.

Undergraduate demographics as of fall 2023
Race and ethnicityTotal
Hispanic57%
Black27%
Asian7%
White4%
International student3%
Two or more races2%
Economic diversity
Low-income63%
Affluent37%

Academics

Lehman College has six schools and the Macaulay Honors College. It offers programs for students who want to study arts, education, science, business, health, human services, nursing, and more.

The Macaulay Honors College at Lehman gives special help to students, like paying for tuition, giving a laptop, and offering money for extra activities. These students need to keep good grades and learn about New York City.

The Lehman Scholars Program is for students who love learning and want to study in their own way. They get special classes and advice but must pass tests to join.

College Now lets some high school students take college classes during spring, summer, or fall.

The Freshman Year Initiative helps new students adjust to college life. All first-year students join classes together to build friendships and get ready for their studies.

Research

The Mexican Studies Institute at CUNY brings together teachers, students, and community groups to study and support Mexico and Mexicans in the U.S. It creates courses, holds events, and offers chances for students to learn through internships and research.

The CUNY Institute for Irish-American Studies is based at Lehman College and helps scholars and students explore Irish and Irish American history, culture, and society. They host events, offer online courses, and publish work.

The CUNY Institute for Health Equity works to support fair health for everyone by studying and teaching about health differences and working with communities.

Athletics

Lehman College teams, called the Lightning Bugs, compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division III and the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC). They play many sports, including baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming, and more for both men and women.

In 2012–13, the Lightning Bugs won CUNYAC Championships in men’s swimming and diving, and women’s outdoor track and field. Two athletes from the college became All-Americans in women’s outdoor track events.

Conference affiliations

Notable faculty

Billy Collins

Lehman College has about 400 full-time teachers. Some well-known teachers include:

Victor Pan
Dr. Ruth Westheimer

Notable alumni

Letitia James

Main category: Lehman College alumni

Murray Sabrin

Lehman College has many successful graduates who have made their mark in different areas. Some have become writers and professors, while others have gone on to work in politics, science, and the arts.

Ivan Seidenberg
David L. Spector

Images

A young girl plays baseball in front of the Old Gymnasium at Lehman College in the Bronx on a spring afternoon.

Related articles

Herbert H. Lehman
Public college
New York City
The Bronx
Hunter College
City University of New York

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