[4] Although it is a non-denominational school, the college is aligned with the Wesleyan-Holiness movement[5] and is a member of the Wesleyan Holiness Connection.

[7] It was originally called Kentucky Holiness College, but the following year was renamed after Bishop Francis Asbury, a circuit-riding evangelist known as the "Father of American Methodism".

Bishop Asbury had established the first Methodist school in the United States west of the Appalachians, Bethel Academy, in 1790; its site lies near High Bridge, only about four miles (6 km) south of Wilmore.

The current president is Kevin Brown, a former faculty member of the university's Dayton School of Business.

[15] In 2024, Asbury University accepted 78.7% of undergraduate applicants, with admission standards considered "challenging" and those admitted having an average 3.65 high school GPA.

[18] Asbury has a large general education liberal arts requirement ranging from 39 to 57 semester hours.

[30] It is also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the Mid-East Region of the Division I level.

Track & field is the university's most recent varsity program, having begun competition in the 2023–24 academic year.

[33] On March 25, 2021, Asbury was approved to begin an expedited three-year transition into NCAA Division III from the NAIA.