Its rural 150-acre (607,000 m2) campus is approximately 26 miles (40 km) northwest of Omaha and overlooks a portion of the Missouri River Valley.

The college offered on-campus housing in five residence halls and contractually maintained off-campus apartments for married or non-traditional students.

Its members strongly opposed the liberalizing influence of Danish theologian N. F. S. Grundtvig, who had supported the realization of religious expression through sacramental and congregational practices.

Led by Peter Sørensen Vig and C. X. Hansen, one of the United Church's first priorities was to establish an educational system.

In 1894, Pastor Kristian Anker, then owner and principal of the Elk Horn Højskole, sold it to the newly formed Danish Lutheran Church in North America for use as a seminary and college.

However, this proposed change of control was not accepted by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

On June 30, 2010, the Dana College Board of Regents elected to cease operations, citing a multimillion-dollar deficit.

[4] On July 14, 2010, the Dana College Board of Regents wrote in a letter to alumni and supporters, "We are firm in our belief that politics, not substance and reason, drove the ultimate decision.

"[5] Attempts made by students, faculty, staff, alumni and other supporters of Dana College to influence the Higher Learning Commission to reverse its decision failed.

[6] In 2013, Midland University, experiencing increasing enrollment and considering expansion, leased the Dana campus with the option of purchasing it; the land was purchased instead by Frank Krejci, an Omaha developer, for $3.5 million, who then donated it to Ed Shada, an Omaha banker, to lead redevelopment of the campus.

According to a Midland press release, high maintenance costs and "a complicated path to accreditation" dissuaded them from carrying through their plans for the Blair site.

In cooperation in with The Metro Area Planning Agency and the City of Blair, portions of the campus have been sold off, while others have been redeveloped.

In January 2009, it considered changing conference affiliations; however, outcry from alumni caused the school to rethink its position.

[24] The college also had a number of intramural and club sports programs below the varsity level, operating independently of the athletic department.