[2] Because there was no place in the state for Blacks to obtain a college education, members of the Convention soon began discussing the need to create a school for the training of Negroes, many of whom were one generation removed from slavery.

Having first given consideration to Frankfort as the home to the school, members of the Convention instead decided in 1869 to locate what would be known as the Kentucky Normal Theological Institute in Louisville.

Simmons was an ex-slave who had greatly developed Howard University's teacher training programs.

By 1893 the school had 159 students, and by 1900 it was offering professional degrees in nursing and law in cooperation with the University of Louisville.

During his 10-year tenure (1880–1890), the school became a full university and expanded its offerings to include liberal arts, college preparatory courses and medical, law, business, music, and theological departments.

[12] Since 2018 the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky has offered a Master of Divinity degree that can be earned entirely through classes taken on the Simmons College campus.

The college is a member of the Division II level of the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) within the Mid-East Region.

Simmons competes in three intercollegiate varsity sports: men and women's basketball, golf, and track and field.