The college's stated mission is to provide ministerial and professional higher education for men and women preparing to serve as Christian leaders throughout society, while maintaining an institutional commitment to biblical inerrancy.

Ruth Ray Hunt, a Dallas citizen with deep religious convictions, provided much of the financial support establishing Criswell College.

[7] The expanded curriculum now includes undergraduate majors such as Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE), Education, and Psychology.

[8] In 2015 the college applied for an exception to Title IX allowing it to discriminate for religious reasons against students based upon sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, and marital status.

In 2016 the organization Campus Pride ranked the college among the worst schools in Texas for LGBT students.