Founded in 1896 as Suomi Opisto (Finnish College) and Theological Seminary, it was affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

[7][9] During the 1880s, large numbers of Finns immigrated to Hancock, Michigan to labor in the copper and lumber industries.

The college's role was to preserve Finnish culture, train Lutheran ministers and teach English.

Jacobsville sandstone, quarried at the Portage Entry of the Keweenaw waterway, was brought by barge, cut, and used to construct the Old Main.

Dedicated on January 21, 1900, it contained a dormitory, kitchen, laundry, classrooms, offices, library, chapel, and lounge.

In 1901 a frame structure, housing a gym, meeting hall, and music center, was erected on an adjacent lot.

Finlandia University was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association for Colleges and Schools.

Pinnow cited a lack of interest in enrollment and the debt load of the university as factors in shutting down operations.

Finlandia also announced that some staff had been laid off to free up funding for operations related to student transfers.

[19] Women's athletics included: basketball, cross country, ice hockey, soccer, softball and volleyball.

Men's athletics included baseball, basketball, cross country, football, ice hockey and soccer.

In the 2007-2008 season, the team compiled a 14-6 record and defeated Milwaukee School of Engineering to be crowned MCHC Champions.