Why Stephens?
At Stephens College, we go all in on immersive and experiential learning. There are lots of reasons to choose Stephens—see for yourself!
Proud to be one of the oldest women's colleges in the nation, we strive every day to provide all our students with the best college experience possible.
Academics
We offer bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees in more than 35 subjects. Browse our programs to find the one that intrigues you.
Learn about our Block Schedule that offers one immersive class, topic, and experience at a time.
Why Choose Stephens
Become a partner in your own education. Start the free and easy application process to become a key part of our community.
The Stephens Promise provides up to four years of tuition funding for qualified full-time undergraduate students. Imagine graduating with no tuition debt!
Life at Stephens
Make Stephens College your home away from home. Discover what makes our campus and student experience truly unique.
A small college in the middle of nowhere? Nope, not us. Bring your pet and explore all Stephens and "College Town USA" have to offer.
Conservatory
The Conservatory for the Performing Arts at Stephens College offers programs for artists of all gender identities who are interested in theatre, television, and film.
The Conservatory accepts students of all gender identities. Learn more about our immersive programs.
Home / News
August 18, 2026
This summer, 17 middle school students traded their phones for shoulder rigs, their social media feeds for film theory, and their summer afternoons for the kind of hands-on filmmaking education most aspiring directors don’t get to experience until later in life. The result was five original music videos shared on the big screens at one of Columbia’s […]
August 12, 2026
In the world of summer stock theatre, where seasons are measured in weeks and productions move at breakneck pace, 50 years is more than just a milestone; it’s monumental. As the final curtain calls of the 2026 Okoboji Summer Theatre (OST) season echo across Spirit Lake this week, the atmosphere is thick with more than […]
August 7, 2026
Stephens College is proud to welcome Joseph Price as the new Dean of the Conservatory for the Performing Arts. Effective July 6, 2026, Price stepped into the role with more than three decades of experience as a director, producer, educator, and administrator. His appointment marks a pivotal moment for the Conservatory as it continues to solidify […]
July 15, 2026
At Stephens College, our work is guided by a simple conviction: investing in our faculty/staff pays off for our students. That belief was on full display at the recent NASFAA National Conference when Keri Gilbert, our Associate Vice President of Financial Aid Analytics and Compliance, received the NASFAA Regional Leadership Award – an honor that recognizes sustained, creative and integrity-driven […]
Jennifer Lynn Warren, a Stephens College MFA graduate and accomplished actress, best known for her role as Borquita LaLaurie in American Horror Story, is using her skills to teach incarcerated youth the power of storytelling. Warren’s work for The Michael Daughters Foundation as a Teaching Artist represents the culmination of her journey from performer to screenwriter to community educator. A path made possible by […]
July 9, 2026
Stephens alumna and Aviation Pioneer Wally Funk was already dreaming of the skies when she enrolled at Stephens College in the mid-1950’s. By the time she graduated in 1958 with her pilot’s license and an associate degree in hand, she had already begun charting a course that would make her one of the most accomplished […]
When Melissa Martinez Torrico ’23 stood among her peers at the recent graduation ceremony for Leadership Columbia, she wasn’t just representing herself. She was representing a bridge between the classroom and the community; between a storied institution and the city it calls home. For Melissa Torrico – known affectionately as “Mel” to the Stephens community […]
June 23, 2026
For Stephens College Fashion Alum, Alexandra Henry-Allen ’23, clothing is more than fabric; it is a memory, conversation, and often, a standalone work of art. Blending craftsmanship, performance and purpose, Henry-Allen approaches every commission and collection as a narrative opportunity, designing pieces meant to mark life’s milestones, while also inviting viewers to reconsider what a […]
June 17, 2026
$30,000 Investment Strengthens Pathways for Women Entering Skilled Trades Careers The ESS Foundation has awarded a multi-year grant totaling $30,000 to the Stephens College Women in Trades program. The investment will provide $15,000 in 2026 and another $15,000 in 2027, helping expand pre-apprenticeship training and workforce development opportunities for women entering skilled trades careers. The […]
June 15, 2026
When Dr. Eryca Neville joined the Stephens College Board of Trustees, she brought more than two decades of experience in education, community partnerships and student advocacy. As Principal of Frederick Douglass High School in Columbia Public Schools, Neville has spent more than 15 years helping students navigate challenges, discover opportunities and prepare for life beyond graduation. Now entering her second year […]
June 8, 2026
Stephens College is proud to celebrate alum Rheaume Crenshaw ’98, a member of the ensemble in the Broadway revival of Ragtime, which won the 2026 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. Directed by Lear deBessonet, the acclaimed production began its journey at New York City Center in 2024 before transferring to Broadway, where it earned […]
June 4, 2026
Three weeks into the Summer Performing Arts Intensive (SPAI) program, students in the Stephens College Conservatory are already seeing growth in skills that often do not fit into a traditional semester schedule. After spending the first half of the program learning accents and dialects, vocal pedagogy and movement for actors, Conservatory students are now preparing […]
