Tougaloo College

Tougaloo College is a private historically Black liberal arts college located in the Tougaloo area of Jackson, Mississippi. Founded in 1869 by the American Missionary Association, the institution was established to educate newly freed African Americans after the Civil War. Tougaloo College is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and is a member of the United Negro College Fund. The college offers undergraduate programs in the liberal arts, sciences, education, and social sciences. It has played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement and continues to attract students interested in social justice, civic engagement, and community leadership.

Tougaloo College was founded in 1869 by the American Missionary Association to provide education for newly freed African Americans in Mississippi following the Civil War. The school was chartered by the Mississippi Legislature in 1871 as Tougaloo University and began offering college-level coursework in the late nineteenth century, awarding its first Bachelor of Arts degree in 1901. In 1916, the institution formally adopted the name Tougaloo College. Throughout the twentieth century, Tougaloo College expanded its academic programs while maintaining a strong liberal arts foundation. During the 1960s, Tougaloo College became an important center of Civil Rights activism in Jackson, Mississippi, hosting meetings and supporting student participation in the movement. Over time, the college strengthened its affiliations and academic offerings, evolving into a private, church-affiliated liberal arts college that continues its historic mission of education and social engagement.