At that time, the denomination was renamed to the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and Other States and grew into a nationwide church body.

The second ALC lasted until the formation of the current Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in 1988, with offices in Chicago, Illinois.

The university eventually moved its main campus to the rural periphery of the state capital in the community of Bexley.

Capital University's educational mission is based on Lutheran values of free inquiry, critical thinking, and leadership.

In 2006, the university constructed a pedestrian mall on the closed portion of Mound Street, including parking, improved lighting, benches, and landscaping.

[12] On February 9, 2016, Elizabeth L. Paul was named as the 16th president of Capital and was the first woman to hold the position at the university;[13] she resigned in 2020 after a no-confidence vote was held amongst faculty and staff.

It merged with Hamma Divinity School, the theological department of nearby Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, in 1978 and reopened on the Bexley campus as Trinity Lutheran Seminary, where it continues today as a theological seminary of the ELCA.

[5] In the fall of 2016, Capital University and Trinity Lutheran Seminary announced that the two would reunite after 58 years of operating separately.

[16] On July 13, 2020, the university Board of Trustees announced plans to retire the Crusader nickname and the "Cappy" mascot following a 15-month-long study.

Consisting of traditional and contemporary tracks, legendary faculty member Ray Eubanks started the jazz and music industry programs, some of the first in the nation.

The Student Union is also home to the campus mail room and the main dining facilities for Capital University.

[27] The main dining room (MDR), or "Capital Court" on campus, underwent renovations during the summer of 2015.

The third floor of the student union underwent renovations during the fall of 2016 to install a new workout area on campus.

The fourth floor is the home to the Schumacher Gallery, which houses a large art collection on campus.

The library was named in 1998 for Josiah Blackmore, a well-known legal scholar, and former university president.

The Schumacher Gallery's permanent collections consist of a diverse selection of more than 2500 works of art for education and enjoyment.

[31] Capital University participates in numerous intercollegiate sports as a member Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) at the NCAA Division III level.

Capital University became the first school to win back-to-back NCAA Division III Women's Basketball National Championships in 1994 and 1995.

The two championships highlight a five-year run that featured four trips to the national semifinals and finals.

[36] In the fall of 2016, alumnus Wells Purmort (class of 1958) donated to the university's athletic department.

Purmort gave a gift of $1 million, which will be used to maintain the turf at the stadium and be used for the eventual replacement of the field.

In 2021, a project to bring the softball and baseball fields to the main campus using space south of the Student Union was being considered.

[citation needed] Capital has many alums living in central Ohio and throughout the United States.