History of The Graduate Center
History of The Graduate Center
The historic B. Altman building, current home of The Graduate Center.
— Former President William P. Kelly
The establishment of The Graduate Center in 1961 by the New York State Legislature, itself, had few precedents. This was to be the first publicly supported doctoral program in New York City.
It was a bold move that grew out of the historic commitment to public higher education in New York City, the need to provide advanced education for the growing post-World War II baby boom population, and the mission that defines The Graduate Center — graduate education for the public good.