Name Change Officially Approved for Upstate New York College
Students returning to an upstate New York college will be greeted in a brand new way... and with a brand new name for their institution.
Siena College, located just six miles north of the State Capitol building in Albany, NY, recently shared the news that their name change has been approved by the New York State Board of Regents... but what's the new name, and what will it mean for students?
Siena College Announces Upcoming Name Change
Siena College (soon to be "formally known as...") is a private Franciscan and Catholic college currently ranked 13th in regional northern universities by US News & World Report. College officials share that an increased focus on graduate programs ultimately led to the decision to alter its name.
Siena College Changing Their Name on September 18th 2025
"Big News: Our formal request to change our name has been granted by the New York State Board of Regents", began their announcement on social media (below). They continued to explain that their official "transition" would be complete by the beginning of the fall semester.
Why Is Siena College Changing Their Name?
This fall, Siena College will change their name to Siena University. While the move might seem small, the (soon to be) university explained the big implications:
Over the past 10 years, Siena has robustly expanded its academic offerings with a particular emphasis on strengthening our graduate programs... Research suggests that becoming a university can enhance Siena’s prestige, raise demand, and strengthen our reputation.
Officials shared that the recent addition of Siena's Master of Social Work program allowed the school to meet the Board of Regents' updated requirements to be recognized as a university, a designation that will become official on September 18th 2025.
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