[4] In 1871, Jennie and Thomas Barbour Bryan gave land in Elmhurst to the German Evangelical Synod of the Northwest.

[5] The first students, who were all male, studied Latin, Greek, English, German, music, history, geography, mathematics, science, and religion.

Elmhurst was one of a number of colleges and universities that attempted to right the wrong of the relocation camps by opening its doors to Japanese-American students during World War II.

(The U.S. government agreed that the Nisei could enroll in participating schools, provided that they passed an FBI background check.

The Elmhurst Press ran a front-page editorial with the headline, "No Room For Jap Students in this Town".

The university has fourteen Social Action and Service Groups for students to join, among them Habitat for Humanity,[75] Best Buddies,[76] Active Minds,[77] the Global Poverty Club,[78] Relay For Life,[79] Autism Speaks,[80] Students Assisting Animal Shelters,[81] the Greenjays[82] (sustainability club), Alpha Phi Omega and others.

[92][93] The Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy (ELSA) is a four-year program that offers a full-time, post-secondary educational experience to young adults with developmental disabilities.

[94] Elmhurst Partners provides corporations and organizations with credit and non-credit workforce training and development as well as customized business consulting.

Elmhurst competes in 20 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football,[100] golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, track & field and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

This is the bell that kept the school on schedule in its early years, and generations of alumni have recalled fondly the loud clanging that woke students in the morning, assembled them for classes and activities, and then called them from their chores to dinner in the evening.

A wood stage in the game room (located in the Bluejays' Roost in the lower level of the Frick Center) is where occasional open mic sessions for students are held, including poetry slams, improv comedy,[114] literary readings, and musical performances,[115] some of which are sometimes impromptu.

It has brought hundreds of high school and college jazz bands from throughout the country and dozens of notable judges and performers such as Dizzy Gillespie, Doc Severinsen, Bobby Shew, Dee Dee Bridgewater, the Count Basie Orchestra, Maynard Ferguson, Clark Terry, Cannonball Adderley, Diane Schuur, Marian McPartland, Frank Mantooth and many others to the stage at Hammerschmidt Chapel.

It has remained a rare occasion when students are allowed access, and it is a coveted prize to be able to add your own name.

[118] The university was given the original nativity scene from the movie Home Alone, which is displayed each year during the holiday season.