The unusual romanization of Kansai as Kwansei is due to the way it would have been pronounced by progressive students in the late 19th century when Kan-on pronunciations were seen as more educated.

Kwansei Gakuin's avowed goal is to help students "master their God-given gifts in order to serve their neighbors, society, and the world."

Kwansei Gakuin's symbol, the crescent moon, represents the purpose of education: students' growth to fullness in knowledge and wisdom.

[16] The Uegahara campus was designed in a "Spanish Mission" style by William Merrell Vories (1880-1964), an American missionary, architect, educator, and entrepreneur.

In addition to serving as an information hub and offering lectures, the campus provides job placement support for alumni in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Although the school, unlike other private universities in the country, does not offer specific scholarships for student-athletes, it is still competitive with the top echelon of Japanese collegiate teams in the sports of American football, basketball, lacrosse, and soccer.