Lindsey Wilson College was founded in 1903 as Lindsey Wilson Training School by the Louisville Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The school was named in memory of Lindsey Wilson, the deceased nephew and stepson of Mrs. Catherine Wilson of Louisville, Kentucky. (Today, Lindsey Wilson continues its affiliation with the Kentucky Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church.)

Mrs. Wilson contributed $6,000 toward the construction of one of the school's first buildings, which now serves as the L. R. McDonald Administration Building. Funding also  came  from  the  citizens of Columbia and Mrs. James Phillips of Lebanon, Kentucky, for whom Phillips Hall, the women's residence hall, is named. Mrs. Kizzie Russell of Columbia also made substantial gifts.

In its early years, Lindsey Wilson educated grades one through 12. Concentration was on "normal work" to prepare students to be teachers; many continued their education at Vanderbilt University.

In 1923, the school's curriculum was reorganized and a college department offering a junior college degree was added. In 1934, Lindsey Wilson closed its academy and the school became exclusively a junior college. The College, however, maintained a Model Training School from 1933 through 1979.

In 1951, the College was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and in 1985, the College's trustees voted to become a four-year liberal arts college. Lindsey Wilson graduated its first baccalaureate class in May 1988.

The College added a master's degree in Counseling and Human Development in April 1993. The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational (CACREP), and it has been cited by CACREP as a model small-college graduate program.

While historically the College's focus has been to serve the citizens of South Central Kentucky, Lindsey Wilson has a diverse campus of more than 1,900 students representing more than 90 of Kentucky's 120 counties, 26 states and 34 foreign countries. The College also has community campuses in the Kentucky cities of Ashland, Cumberland, Hazard, London, Maysville, Prestonsburg, Scottsville and Somerset. The College's 2008-2009 school year enrollment included 1,674 undergraduate students and 329 graduate students.

An aggressive development program initiated in 1978 has yielded a remarkable increase in gift income and more than doubled the number of donors to the College. This support has enabled the College to repair and refurbish buildings, improve campus grounds, strengthen academic programs, and dramatically expand the number of its full-time faculty.

The College is in the middle of a $53 million "Changing Lives Campaign." The goals of the campaign - which runs through June 30, 2010 - are to: build a science center; transform the Goodhue Science Building into a multi-use classroom building; build a new learning center; build a health and wellness center; build a performing arts center; add a new residence hall; develop 20 acres of land along the Louie B. Nunn Parkway; add $15 million to the Lindsey Wilson Endowment; and raise $3.5 million for the Lindsey Wilson Fund. The "Changing Lives Campaign" was initiated in April 2004 by a $8.6 million commitment by James R. and Helen Lee Fugitte of Elizabethtown, Ky., the largest commitment in the college's 104-year history.

Graduate Programs are offered in: A Master of Arts program in Christian Leadership; a Master of Education degree in Counseling and Human Development with a specialization offered in Mental Health Counseling, and a Master of Education for Rank II Change.

Bachelor of Arts programs are available in the following areas: American Studies, Applied Learning, Art, Art Education P-12, Biology, Business Administration, Christian Ministries, Communication, Criminal Justice, Elementary Education P-5, English, Fine Arts Administration, History, Human Services and Counseling, Mathematics, Middle Grades Education 5-9, Physical Education P-12, Physical Education and Health P-12, Psychology, Recreation, Tourism and Sport Management, Secondary Education 8-12, and Social Science. A "Contract," or individualized, major is also available but must be approved by the Academic Affairs Council.

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing will be offered in fall 2010 with pre-nursing courses beginning fall 2009.

Minor areas of concentration are offered in: Accounting, Art, Biology, Business Administration, Chemistry, Christian Ministries, Coaching, Communication, Criminal Justice, Event Management, History, Humanities, Journalism, Literature, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Political Science, Psychology, Women's Studies, and Writing.

Associate in Arts programs are available in: Art, Biology, Business Management, Chemistry, Computer Information Systems, Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Care and Development, Engineering Mechanics, Health Science, History, Mathematics, Religion and Social Science.

Work toward the Baccalaureate and Associate of Arts degrees may be pursued in the day, evening and summers. Graduate students attend evening and weekend classes, which are scheduled year-round.  Online courses are also available.