Cabrini College to become a university

Cabrini College will soon become Cabrini University.

The Catholic institution in Radnor said Wednesday that the state Department of Education had approved its application for university status.

The change is effective July 1.

"The name change reflects the growth and success that this institution has seen since it was established nearly 60 years ago," President Donald Taylor said in a statement. "While the change to Cabrini University represents our broader academic offerings and expanded reach, we continue our strong tradition of student support and human rights advocacy."

Cabrini, which offers master's programs in education, accounting, leadership, religious and pastoral studies, and biological sciences, is also launching its first doctoral programs in organizational development in educational leadership.

The school, founded in 1957, enrolls about 1,300 undergraduates and 900 graduate students.

Cabrini is one of handful of Philadelphia-area colleges to seek university designation in recent years. Stockton University, Thomas Edison State University and Delaware Valley University were all granted university status in the past year and a half as they expanded their graduate programming.