After Walter W. Law donated land and a building for the college, it operated at its location at 235 Elm Road in Briarcliff until 1977; closing due to low enrollment and financial problems.

[2]: 71  Briarcliff remained a junior college until 1957, shortly before the presidency of Charles E. Adkins and when it began awarding four-year bachelor's degrees.

The school prospered from 1942 to 1961 under President Clara Tead, who had a number of accomplished trustees, including Carl Carmer, Norman Cousins, Barrett Clark, Thomas K. Finletter, William Zorach, and Lyman Bryson.

[2]: 181–8 In 1944, Shelton House, a building across Elm Road, was purchased as a dormitory, and a classroom and office wing was dedicated in 1951.

Josiah Bunting III became president in 1973 and Pace University and New York Medical College of Valhalla began leasing campus buildings.

Rather than continue to struggle, the college's trustees voted to sell the campus to Pace University, a New York City-based institution.

[9] In October 2016, the Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society hosted an event at Dow Hall to raise awareness of the building and its history, in order to encourage its preservation.

Its cafeteria, known as the Briarcliff Dining Center, was used for the 2012 film Inside Llewyn Davis[12] and for the 2016 first-season finale of the show The OA.

In addition to their daily tasks, the students prepared monthly compositions which would be critiqued by the school's art director Frank DuMond through a lecture.

[16]: 13 Mrs. Dow's also held lessons in ear training, elementary harmony, guitar, mandolin, piano, singing, and violin.

The school also held occasional informal recitals, and allowed students to attend operas and concerts in New York City.

[16]: 9  Mrs. Dow's held psychology, history of philosophy, political economy, social science, and ethics and logic classes.

[16]: 13 In 1917, Mrs. Dow's required a physical examination for each student, including a doctor's certificate ensuring their heart and lung health.