Drury College was founded by Congregationalist home missionaries. They felt the need for an academically strong liberal arts college in Southwest Missouri and patterned it after institutions like Oberlin, Carleton, Dartmouth, Yale, and Harvard in the North.

Drury University was founded in 1873 by Congregationalist home missionaries to provide an academically strong liberal arts college in Southwest Missouri. The need for such an institution was felt by the founders.

Drury University, formerly Drury College and originally Springfield College, is a private university in Springfield, Missouri. The university's mission statement describes itself as "church-related".

Twenty-five years later, the original 40-acre campus of Drury College included Stone Chapel, the President’s house, and three academic buildings. Today, there is a 90-acre campus that encompasses the original site. Drury College became Drury University on January 1, 2000, reflecting its growing role in higher education.