Albion College History

The National House Inn is located 10 miles west of Albion College. If you are visiting the campus, we invite you to stay with us. Albion College has a pioneering heritage, originally serving the educational needs of settlers' children and indigenous residents alike. Albion also is one of the earliest Midwest schools to introduce coeducation. Thanks to the efforts of Methodists who were early settlers of Michigan Territory, the College was awarded a charter by the Michigan Territorial Legislature in 1835. Early attempts at coeducation were made in 1850 when the legislature approved the founding of the "Albion Female Collegiate Institute." This school for women was controlled by the Wesleyan Seminary corporation until 1857 when the two schools merged under the name of "The Wesleyan Seminary and Female College at Albion." On February 25, 1861, Albion was fully authorized by the State legislature to confer a full four-year college degree upon both men and women. From the time the cornerstone was laid for the first permanent building in 1840 until today, Albion College has remained on the same site, the original part of which is now affectionately called "the Quad." In 1861 there were only two classroom buildings. By 1901, Albion had added a chapel, an observatory, a gymnasium, the chemistry building and a library. Today Albion stands on 225 acres with more than 30 major buildings. From 500 students in 1901, enrollment has grown to approximately 1,950 full-time students. As of next year, College officials predict total enrollment to be the highest in the history of the College. Full-time faculty today number 108, and the College has more than 17,000 living alumni. Emphasis on excellence in liberal arts education became the Albion College hallmark through the years, and in 1940 Albion was the first private college in Michigan to be awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Today the College remains true to its liberal arts commitment, recognizing that a liberal arts education is still the best preparation for making a good living and for living well. In the last 25 years, Albion has dedicated the Gerstacker International House, Herrick Center for Theatre and Dance, Sprankle-Sprandel Stadium, the Whitehouse Interpretive Nature Center, Dean Aquatic Center, Mudd Learning Center, Dow Recreation and Wellness Center, Frank Bonta Admissions House, the Mae Harrison Karro Residential Village, Kellogg Center, the William C. Ferguson Student, Technology, and Administrative Services Building, and the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center.  The $40-million science complex is formally dedicated in the fall of 2006. From the late 1990s into the 21st century, Albion College has distinguished itself as an innovative leader in using technology as a teaching and learning tool.  The College hosted one of the nation's first "Internet Open Houses," attracting visitors from across the globe to this unique Admissions event.  The College was further named two years in a row to Yahoo! Internet Life magazine's "Top 10 Wired Colleges in America.  Last but not least, Albion College has been recognized by national media for these other notable features; For the third consecutive year (2005), Albion is ranked in the top 20 of all colleges and universities in the percentage of alumni who donate to their almae mater. Albion was named for a record third straight year (2005) as one of 40 “Great Colleges at Great Prices” across the United States in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges.” Albion is ranked among the top 10 for colleges with “More to Do on Campus” by the Princeton Review (2005). Go to their Web site.