It took its name from Saint Vincent de Paul, the 17th-century French priest who worked with the poor and founded the original Sisters of Charity, and from the geographic high point along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan known as McGowan's Pass.

[4] In 1911, the academy became a degree-granting institution and changed its name to the College of Mount Saint Vincent.

Fonthill once formed the architectural symbol of the university and housed the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

One of the original buildings on site, the Villa (or gardener's cottage) was built of ashlar, sometime prior to 1856 in mid-19th century "bracketed" style.

[6] From 1887 to 1911 the "Stone Cottage" (originally called "Lourdes Villa") housed the St. Aloysius Academy for Boys.

A fire started in half of Founders Hall in the summer of 2014 and the damage was restored later during the school year.

In 1906 the laundry moved to the newly constructed Rosary Hall and Maryvale housed science classes.

[13] Mount Saint Vincent teams participate as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division III.

Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, tennis and wrestling, while women's sports include basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and volleyball.

The Elizabeth Seton Medal, the university’s highest honor, is named after the native New Yorker, Saint, and founder of the Sisters of Charity.