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.

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

[11] 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.

[12] 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.