Founded in 1850 as Defiance Female Seminary. Became known as Defiance College in 1903. Affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

Defiance College is located in the northwest corner of Ohio at the confluence of the Auglaize and Maumee Rivers; one hour from Lima and Toledo, Ohio, and Ft. Wayne, Indiana; two hours from Detroit, Michigan; two-and-a-half hours from Columbus, and four hours from Chicago, Illinois. The city of Defiance has 17,000 residents. The Defiance Chamber of Commerce and Defiance Development and Visitors Bureau provide more information about the city of Defiance, Ohio.

Defiance College has a student population of nearly 1,000 students. More than 65 percent of traditional students live on campus.

The campus is located on 150 acres in a residential area of Defiance, which includes 19 buildings and access to the 200-acre Thoreau Wildlife Sanctuary.