Antioch College was founded in 1852 in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Horace Mann, Antioch College’s first president, was a renowned educator, architect of the American Public School System, social reformer and abolitionist. His goal was to create an educational environment that was stimulating and unconventional in its approach to learning.

As early as 1863, Antioch embraced a policy abolishing race as a criterion for acceptance. Since then, Antioch has been a dedicated advocate for social equity. Antioch College was also the first college in America to educate women on equal terms with men. In addition, Antioch was the first American college to hire female faculty on an equal basis with male colleagues and the first co-educational college to have a woman on its Board of Trustees.

The Antioch today is the legacy of Horace Mann’s original vision, and an example of the success of educational experimentation, innovation and diversity of thought. Antioch continues to break down educational barriers and rebuild them as educational opportunities. Since its creation in 1852 Antioch has evolved from a small liberal arts college to a multi-campus university system with five campuses located across the nation in Yellow Springs, Ohio; Keene, New Hampshire; Seattle, Washington; Santa Barbara, California; and Los Angeles, California.

Throughout its history, Antioch has reinvented itself to meet the needs of its students within an ever-changing world.

(picture at top) Antioch College as it looked in 1852