Houghton College began in 1883 as Houghton Seminary, a coeducational high school founded by Willard J. Houghton, a Wesleyan Methodist minister. In 1899, the first few college classes were offered. Houghton College has been educating men and women in the liberal arts and sciences since 1883. Today, with over 1,000 students from across the nation and around the globe, Houghton stands as a nationally recognized institution focused on preparing students to serve God fully and faithfully in our world.