Manhattan College Establishes a New School of Health Professions

Manhattan College has announced the establishment of its new School of Health Professions (SoHP), which will provide students with programs such as nursing, physical therapy and health care informatics that will prepare them for transformative careers in the health professions. The new school will officially launch on July 1, 2023.  

SoHP builds on and adheres to Manhattan College’s Lasallian traditions and will strive to promote faith, respect, education, community and social justice. The School will be the center of high-demand areas of study and work that will prepare students to enter their respective fields as qualified health professionals with superior skills and leadership abilities. Several health specialties including nursing have experienced severe shortages in recent years, and the creation of the SoHP will help support employers attempting to keep up with demand. 

In recent years, the need for skilled healthcare professionals has grown exponentially, and the College is expanding its existing offerings along with many new programs to meet that growing need. The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics (DLS) estimates a 52.2% increase in demand for nurse practitioners (NP) between 2020 and 2030. The median pay for an NP is  $111,680. The DLS also forecasts a 21% increase in demand for physical therapists during that same time period with a median salary of $91,000 annually. There are similarly positive forecasts for physician assistants, speech language pathologists, athletic trainers, mental health counselors and health service managers. 

“For the better part of two centuries Manhattan College has been at the cutting edge of combining liberal arts education with professional training, producing engineers, teachers, scientists, business professionals and more,” said Kevin Cavanagh, ’96 ’00, vice president for enrollment management. “With the creation of SoHP, Manhattan is taking the next great step in its history by educating the health profession’s leaders of the future.” 

In fall 2023, the SoHP will offer already existing undergraduate programs in physical education, allied health, exercise science, nuclear medicine technology, radiation therapy technology, health care informatics, public health and graduate programs in marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, and school counseling.  

In addition to these programs, the SoHP will provide access to postgraduate opportunities in a wide range of disciplines, including osteopathic medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant, occupational therapy, and pharmacology through articulation agreements that give Manhattan  graduates preferential admission at a wide range of institutions.  

In fall 2024, the SoHP will launch its new nursing program. In the coming years, the School plans to launch additional programs including, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy/audiology, surgical technology, pharmacology and physician assistant. 

The establishment of the SoHP will allow the College to diversify and grow enrollment and revenue, strengthening the perception of Manhattan as an academic institution seeking to fill the gaps in an increasingly complex healthcare system. 

“We are proud and excited to announce the establishment of the new School of Health Professions at Manhattan College,” said Brother Daniel Gardner, FSC, president of Manhattan College. “By training the next generation of nurses, physical therapists, surgical technicians and other highly specialized health professionals, SoHP will continue the College’s tradition of providing service for the greater good. It will offer our students the chance to pursue in-demand careers that are also highly compensated. It also allows the College new opportunities for successful enrollment and donor support.”