Finch College

Finch College was a private women's college on Manhattan's Upper East Side occupying several connected townhouses between Madison and Park avenues on East 78th Street. The institution offered liberal arts courses with emphasis on international studies and practical preparation for careers.

Jessica Garretson Finch founded the school in 1900 with just 13 students and gradually expanded it into a full college in 1952. The institution closed in 1976 after operating for more than seven decades.

The college operated an art museum and a small theater that were open to the neighborhood, making art and performances accessible to local visitors. These spaces turned the location into a cultural hub where students and residents could encounter theater productions and visual art.

The college was located in a residential neighborhood with good public transit access, making it easy to reach. Since the buildings are no longer open to the public, visitors can view the exterior of the former townhouses along East 78th Street.

In 1960 the college launched a special exchange program offering financial support to students from underrepresented backgrounds for study abroad opportunities. This initiative showed the institution's early commitment to expanding access to international education for diverse students.

Location: New York

Inception: 1900

Founders: Jessica Garretson Finch

GPS coordinates: 40.77540,-73.96190

Latest update: December 20, 2025 12:20