In 1868, the academy was incorporated and on May 8, 1884 it was chartered: the trustees of the Academy received permission from the New York State Legislature to “establish a literary college in the City of Brooklyn under the title of St. Francis College, with the same powers to confer diplomas and literary honors possessed by the universities and colleges of New York State.” St. Francis Academy became St. Francis College, and in June 1885 bestowed its first Bachelor of Arts degree. By 1884, St. Francis College encompassed interconnected buildings that were on Baltic and Butler Streets, between Court and Smith Streets. The entrance to the College was on Baltic Street and the entrance to the monastery was on Butler Street. In June 1892, the college conferred it first Bachelor of Science degree. In 1896, St. Francis fielded the first collegiate men's basketball team in the New York City. Then in 1902 St. Francis received its charter from the State of New York in May. From this time on, the College's curriculum offered only a post-secondary course of study. By 1917, the College's enrollment dropped to half due to students enlisting in the military as the United States entered World War I. In 1926, the Franciscan Brothers opened a new facility on Butler Street after raising US$250,000 through a fundraising campaign dubbed the "Great Drive." Less than ten years later, its preparatory school moved out and eventually became a legally separate institution, St. Francis Preparatory School, and is now located in Queens.