Evangel University was founded by the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal Christian congregation, in 1914. It was originally called Evangel College and was the first national Pentecostal school of arts and sciences.
Evangel University’s motto, “Boldly Christian, Unquestioningly Academic”, reflects the school’s emphasis on providing a faith-led environment for students of secular fields.
The university offers more than 100 academic programmes across ten departments, ranging from music to kinesiology.
The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary is attached to the university. It offers master’s and doctoral courses in areas such as ministry, divinity, counselling, intercultural ministries, and theological studies. Undergraduates can study at the university’s School of Theology and Church Ministries.
Student life is highly active, with more than 80% of the student body involved in at least one club, sport or service. There are 50 student organisations covering a range of interests, but arts and music dominate, with 12 different ensembles including jazz, chorale and orchestra. One of the university’s oldest traditions is its yearly public lawn concert.
Originally, the university was based out of a former army hospital and barracks, but these structures were gradually demolished and replaced by modern facilities. These include a fitness centre with two basketball courts, an indoor running track, two racquetball courts and an aerobics room.
Evangel University is located in Springfield, Ohio, known as the “Birthplace of Route 66”. Although the famous Chicago to Los Angeles highway no longer passes through the town, it retains elements of old world Americana, such as the still-operational 1926 Gillioz Theatre.
