[4] The college was founded by a small group of African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church preachers in Austin, Texas, on April 4, 1872, as the Connectional School for the Education of Negro Youth.

[5] Originally, its classes were held in churches and people's homes, but in 1877 the school moved into its own building in Waco, Texas.

Classes were held in a modest one-building trade school; freedmen were taught the skills of blacksmithing, carpentry, tanning, and saddle work, common occupations for the era, especially in the increasingly segregated state.

Later, under the direction of Bishop William Paul Quinn (1788–1873), A.M.E. districts were developed throughout the South and tasked with raising funds to improve the college.

During this period, more than twenty acres of additional land was purchased and the curriculum was expanded to include the classical subjects of Latin, mathematics, music, theology, English, plus vocational skills in carpentry, sewing, and household, kitchen, and dining room work.

Two new dormitories, a modern two-story classroom building, a fully equipped science department, and a new library were added to the campus.

In spring of 1954, the Waco Chamber of Commerce successfully completed a campaign which raised $100,000 for a new women's dormitory to replace one destroyed by a fire.

His first official act was to have the Charter of the college changed so that trustees could be elected without regard to race, creed, or color.

Among the changes were the addition of a new gymnasium, the renovation of historic Johnson Hall, and the development of the Ethnic Cultural Center.

In 2006, Board of Trustees member Peggy Sterling and her employer, American Airlines, secured the services of global management-consulting firm the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to analyze the operations and performance of the college.

[11] Since his arrival, the college has raised academic standards and embarked on an ambitious revitalization of the campus, which has included spending over $4 million in capital improvements.

Sorrell instituted a "business casual" dress code on campus in order to prepare students for work life after college.

[15] Since that time, Sorrell has continued improvements: the college produced over $2 million in budget surpluses in fiscal 2009, 2010, and 2011; achieved unqualified audits for 2009 and 2010; invested more than $4 million in infrastructure improvements without adding any debt; and formed a groundbreaking partnership with PepsiCo to convert an unused football stadium into a fully operational urban farm.

[23] In 2021, it was announced Paul Quinn would house an International Baccalaureate school on its campus for students in grades sixth through 12.

[25][26][27][28][29] In 2008, college president Michael Sorrell, who had shuttered the school's football program shortly after taking office in 2007, talked with a real estate investor about devoting a tract of land to community farming.

[49] The college ended 2011 locked in a battle with the city of Dallas over the McCommas Bluff Landfill, which is approximately 1.5 miles east of the campus.

This anger was exacerbated by the fact the school is located in the middle of an area the United States Department of Agriculture has labeled a food desert.

[50][51][52][53][54][55][56] In June 2011, the students organized a town hall meeting and invited city officials to explain the efficacy of expanding the landfill.

[59][60] In response, the Quinnite Nation mobilized into WE ARE NOT TRASH, a student-led, community-oriented effort to advocate for thoughtful, citizen-oriented policy-making from their elected leaders.

[62][63][64][65] On March 23, 2012, hundreds of community members joined Paul Quinn students to protest the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, by George Zimmerman on February 26 of the same year.

[66][67] August 6, 2013, vice-president of content with HBCU Buzz, Robert K. Hoggard wrote, "Incensed by the legal protections that led to Zimmerman’s acquittal for the killing of Trayvon Martin, Paul Quinn College, a historically black college in Southern Dallas, is offering the new $7,500 Scholarship for Social Justice to a student who shows potential to bring about change in the community and in the justice system.

Students are not allowed to wear saggy pants, jeans, flip flops, slippers, pajama bottoms, nor shorts, sweatsuits, or shirts without collars outside their dormitories on weekdays from 7 am - 5:30 pm, unless involved in exercise.

The men's basketball team has won three national championships in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, including two under coach James Summers.

In spring 2011, more than 900 volumes of legal publications were donated by Hunton & Williams, LLP to start the Paul Quinn College Law Library.