The Sisters of Saint Dominic of Newburgh founded Mount Saint Mary College in 1930. Initially, the college was a Normal and Teacher Training School for the members of the religious community. In 1959 the college charter was amended by the Board of Regents of the State of New York to accept lay students. Since opening its doors in 1960, the college's goals have been the pursuit and dissemination of truth and the development of the capacity to use it.