Stephens College

Stephens College is a women's college located in Columbia, Missouri. It is the second-oldest female educational establishment that is still a women's college in the United States. Although a limited number of men are admitted into the theatre program. It was founded on August 24, 1833, as the Columbia Female Academy. In 1856, David H. Hickman helped secure the college's charter under the name The Columbia Female Baptist Academy.

In the late 19th century it was renamed Stephens Female College after James L. Stephens endowed the college with $20,000. From 1937-1943 its Drama Department became renowned under its chairman and teacher, the actress Maude Adams, James M. Barrie's first Peter Pan. 

U.S. News & World Report places it in the top third of all ranked regional colleges in the Midwest and considers it a "selective" school when it comes to admissions. Stephens is among The Princeton Review's Best 379 Colleges in the U.S. The fashion program is 13th in the world, 1st in long-term value and 5th in the educational experience, and is among the top 50 in the world. The theatre program has been ranked number 11 by the Princeton Review.

Stephens College teams are known as the Stars. The college competes in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) as a member of the American Midwest Conference (AMC). Women's sports include basketball, competitive dance, cross country, soccer, softball, volleyball, and a variety of equestrian horse studies.