In 1856, David H. Hickman helped secure the college's charter under the name The Columbia Female Baptist Academy.

From 1937 to 1943, its Drama Department became renowned under its chairman and teacher, the actress Maude Adams, James M. Barrie's first American Peter Pan.

The college changed its name to its current namesake in 1870, in honor of a $20,000 endowment by James L. Stephens.

During World War II, the Pierce Pennant Motor Hotel was used by the aviation program for training and housing.

[6] It was demolished in 2013 along with Hillcrest Hall, a dormitory, and the land was sold with plans for a scholarship-funded boarding school.

[20] The Warehouse Theatre is a student-run playhouse on campus which stages an average of four different productions per academic season.

Throughout the year the ten observe and honor students and faculty they deem as upholding the ideals.

The Ten Ideals are: Respect for our own dignity and the dignity of others, embodied in a sense of social justice Courage and persistence Independence, autonomy and self-sufficiency Support for others through the willingness to take and give criticism, acceptance and love Sensitivity to the uniqueness and fragility of the natural world of which we are part Responsibility for the consequences of our choices Belief in our changing selves and in our right to change Creativity in the spiritual and aesthetic dimensions of life Intelligence that is informed and cultivated, critical yet tolerant Leadership which empowers others The Citizen Jane Film Festival was an annual film festival established at Stephens College.

[22] Though the festival has been discontinued, Citizen Jane continues in the form of a lecture series hosted by the Stephens College digital filmmaking program.

The college is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) since the 2008–09 academic year.

Prior joining the NAIA, Stephens was also a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA): in the Division III ranks from 1994–95 (when the school re-instated back its athletics program) to 2003–04; and in the Division II ranks from about 1982–83 to 1986–87, before transitioning to club status for two seasons until discontinuing the athletics program after the 1988–89 school year.

[23] Stephens competes in four intercollegiate varsity sports: basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball.

The chapel is used for meditation, religious services, vespers, weddings, memorials and campus programs.

Historic Senior Hall dates back to 1841, when Oliver Parker bought the 8-acre (3.2 ha) tract of land on which the college was first located.