Graceland University - Independence

Graceland University, then Graceland College, was founded in 1895 with support and land donations from the Community of Christ. Not only did this land provide the space for the college to flourish, it also inspired Graceland’s identity; Graceland was named because of the graceful slope of the hill on which the university was built. The first building – now the administration building – housed the college in its entirety. It was dedicated on January 1, 1897. The Community of Christ church president, Joseph Smith III, said on the day of dedication that the college “should be free to all irrespective of faith or creed.” Graceland College became a four-year college in 1960. Graceland College became Graceland University on June 1, 2000. 

Today, Graceland University is a private, four-year liberal arts university offering thirty-one undergraduate majors, nine pre-professional programs, three master’s degrees and a doctorate program. Recognized by the Princeton Review as a “Best in the Midwest” from 2012 to 2020, Graceland University prides itself on providing a high-quality education to a diverse group of students who share a commitment to their values of learning, wholeness, and community.

Accordingly, since 1895, Graceland University has been developing students into people who will change the world by giving them the best experience and education possible. Graceland University also believes that providing a strong liberal arts learning environment is just one piece of the puzzle, just as important are their compassionate faculty, who care about their students’ success; their on-campus activities that build forever friendships; and the powerful sense of place and belonging they cultivate every day.

Graceland University is located in the heartland of America, with campuses in Lamoni, Iowa and Independence, Missouri. Graceland’s scholastic and geographic positioning offers a unique opportunity to international students to pursue studies in a university environment while enjoying the very best of the Midwest American heartland.