Under the leadership of Maria College's first President, Sister Mary Borromeo, the focus on educating only religious sisters slowly changed, and the college received permission to open its doors to the public in 1964.

Originally chartered by the New York Board of Regents as a junior college, Maria College offered a number of associate degrees in areas ranging from early childhood education to business management.

The charter was changed in September 2013 to allow Maria College to become a baccalaureate degree-granting institution, offering degrees in Liberal Arts, Psychology, Healthcare Management, Occupational Therapy, and Nursing.

In 2020, Maria College's charter was changed to becoming a graduate degree-granting institution, and in Summer 2022 Maria's first class of Master's students graduated in the Occupational Therapy, MSOT program.

[1] The college offers certificates as well as associate and bachelor's degree programs in a variety of disciplines.