Simmons College of Kentucky was founded in 1879 by members of the Kentuck State Convention of Colored Baptist Churches. The college speaks of its founding, stating,
In 1865, members of the Kentucky State Convention of Colored Baptist Churches proposed the creation of Kentucky’s first post-secondary educational institution dedicated to the education of Black citizens. This bold vision was grounded in faith, self-determination, and the belief that education was essential to the future of Black communities.
That vision became reality in 1879, when the Convention purchased four acres of land in Louisville to establish the Kentucky Normal and Theological Institute. Chartered by the Kentucky State Legislature, the institution became the first Black college in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Its founding mission was to provide a suitable education for the sons and daughters of formerly enslaved people, preparing them for leadership in ministry, education, and civic life.
In 1880, Dr. William J. Simmons became the Institute’s second president and led the school through a period of remarkable growth in enrollment, facilities, and academic scope. Despite operating in an era of legalized segregation, Simmons expanded its liberal arts offerings and strengthened its academic standing. This momentum continued beyond Dr. Simmons’ tenure, culminating in the attainment of university status. In recognition of his transformative leadership, the institution was renamed Simmons University in 1918.
By 1904, Simmons had emerged as a national model of Black educational excellence. It stood as the only Black-governed institution in the United States with thriving programs in law, education, media, liberal arts, and competitive athletics. At a time when institutional autonomy for Black Americans was exceedingly rare, Simmons represented intellectual rigor, self-governance, and cultural pride.
Moving further along the incredible timeline of Simmons’ history…
In 2014, Simmons secured national accreditation through an accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Educationand the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The following year, in 2015, Simmons was officially designated a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) by the U.S. Department of Education, making Louisville one of a small number of cities nationwide with an HBCU and affirming Simmons’ historic role in Black higher education.
The years that followed were marked by unprecedented academic and institutional growth. From 2015 to 2023, Simmons expanded its degree offerings to fifteen disciplines, including communication, education, business administration, and the institution’s first graduate degree, a Master’s in Medical Science. Simmons also became Kentucky’s only HBCU to offer Second Chance Pell Grants, extending educational access to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals.
And in 2024…
In 2024, Simmons reached two historic milestones. The Women’s Basketball Team captured the College’s first NCCAA Division II National Championship, and the institution acquired its first student housing facility in more than a century. The addition of a 350-bed residence hall significantly enhanced Simmons’ capacity to support residential students and strengthen campus life.
You can learn more about the fascinating background of SCKY at (About – Simmons College of Kentucky)
Simmons is the only HBCU in Louisville and when it was officially designated as an HBCU in 2015, it officially became the 107th HBCU in the United States! As of the 2025 school year, Simmons had a total of 508 students.
Simmons’ first graduate degree offering, an MSMS (Masters of Medical Science) is an 11-month program (42 Credit Hours) that can be completed 100% online or on campus. Simmons says the top 20% that graduate this program will get an interview at a medical school. The program starts in January, May, August. The school states that 68% of the graduates of this program advance to medical school and 100% pass their USMLE Step 1 Board Exam. If you’re looking to support an HBCU and advance toward your dreams of becoming a physician, this offering from Simmons is a great option to consider. This is an exciting nod to Simmons’ legacy as it once had a Medical School called Louisville National Medical College which merged into Simmons in 1907!
Current News: Simmons has been granted $850k to renovate its Westover Campus, it is a transformation of a former church, that will be located in the Chickasaw Neighborhood and will serve as a hub for programs focused on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Read more (Simmons College of Kentucky celebrates medical science grads, accreditation)
SCKY is the home of the Falcons! Simmons offers sports in Golf, Basketball, and Track.
Notable Alumni:
Horace Signor Brannon: Louisville-based Physician that served in WW1 and a graduate of Simmon’s Louisville National Medical College.
Artishia Gilbert: First African American Female Physician in Kentucky.
Samuel Plato: Architect that built federal housing projects, U.S. post offices, private homes, banks, churches, and schools.
Arenia Conelia Mallory: Civil Rights Trailblazer and Educator.
