Paine College offers undergraduate degrees in the liberal arts, business administration, and education through residential, commuter, and off-site programs.

[5] Bishop Lucius Henry Holsey started planning for the school in 1869, and asked for leadership help through Methodist Episcopal Church South (MECS).

[6] According to The Augusta Chronicle, "The Paine College Board of Trustees is the oldest interracial body in the nation".

[6] Classes started in 1884 in a rented space at 10th and Broad Street in Augusta, and in 1886 Paine was moved to its current location, which at the time was rural land outside of the city.

[9] In November 2015, following an initial recommendation from SACS to revoke its accreditation, Paine College launched the "Build it Back Campaign", which raised over half a million dollars in six months.

The college currently competes as a member of the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA).