About Elmhurst College
Our President
Dr. S. Alan Ray
Elmhurst's 13th President is a Harvard-trained student of theology, an attorney and a scholar of federal Indian law.
Our History
'Nothing Short of Excellence'
That was the goal of H. Richard Niebuhr, who transformed a rural seminary into Elmhurst College. Here's the story.
Elmhurst In Depth
Selected Magazine Features
Our College magazine Prospect is a rich source of stories on topics from sports to spirituality to swing.
» About Elmhurst College
A Brief Sketch
Founded in 1871, Elmhurst is a private, four-year college affiliated with the United Church of Christ. The curriculum combines liberal learning and professional preparation to equip students for lifelong learning, service and achievement.
Our campus is a gathering place for the dynamic interaction of diverse people. We have a simple but resonant phrase for what happens here: the Elmhurst Experience.
The phrase refers to a contemporary framing of liberal learning. Its hallmarks are student self-formation and early professional preparation. Its goal is to educate the whole student for life in a global society.
This innovative model of higher education does much more than impart information to students. It also stimulates reflection, develops insights, challenges assumptions and sharpens judgments. It asks students to expand well beyond their comfort zones, through study abroad, service learning and rigorous collaborative research with faculty. It seeks the full realization of human potential.
The College offers more than 50 majors and nine graduate programs. It boasts a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1. The average class has 18 students; the largest class, about 35 students. By keeping our classes small, we promote discussion and inspire exploration.
Our robust academic environment is just the start of the Elmhurst Experience. Beyond the classroom, our students get plenty of opportunities to put their passions and talents into action—in more than 100 campus activities, including 18 athletic teams. Our teams participate in NCAA Division III and have won conference championships in five sports over the last decade.
How We Rank
The College consistently ranks among the best regional institutions of higher learning in the Midwest, according to “America’s Best Colleges,” the annual survey by U.S. News and World Report. The Princeton Review also lists Elmhurst among the best in the Midwest, citing its “excellent” internships, “gorgeous” campus and “intimate academic experience.”
Accreditation
Elmhurst College is accredited by the Department of Education of the State of Illinois, and by:
The Higher Learning Commission
A Member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
30 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
Chicago, Illinois 60602
(312) 263-0456
The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
One DuPont Circle NW, Suite 530
Washington, D.C. 20036
(292) 887-6791
Baccalaureate and Master's
