Heidelberg University was founded by the German Reformed Church in 1850 and is currently affiliated with the United Church of Christ. At that time, there were a significant number of German immigrants in Ohio, and the German Reformed Church had seventy-four churches in the state when members decided to establish the college. The College had an initial graduating class of five students. Heidelberg is affiliated with NCAA Division III athletics and is a member of the Ohio Athletic Conference, one of the oldest intercollegiate athletic conferences in the country.