Defiance College

Defiance College’s academic foundation is the liberal arts, with an emphasis on research, problem-solving, connecting knowledge from different sources, and self-directed learning. Jacket Journey extends this approach across all four years, helping students translate their education into practical skills for professional life and personal purpose. The McMaster School for Advancing Humanity adds a focus on teaching, service, scholarship, and action aimed at improving the human condition worldwide.

The institution began in 1850 as Defiance Female Seminary and adopted the name Defiance College in 1903. It has been affiliated with the Christian Church, now the United Church of Christ, since 1902. Its mission is expressed through four commitments: To Know, To Understand, To Lead, and To Serve. Students are encouraged to connect intellectual work with global interdependence, diverse cultures, leadership, civic engagement, and service.

Located in the northwest corner of Ohio at the confluence of the Auglaize and Maumee Rivers, the college is about one hour from Lima and Toledo, Ohio, and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Defiance, a city of 18,000 residents, is also within reach of Detroit, Columbus, Cleveland, and Chicago. The campus community includes 650 students, small classes, faculty support, career preparation, and 20 athletics programs. International students can expect an education shaped by individual attention, practical preparation, and service.