Established in 1839 by the Associate Reformed Synod of the South as an academy for men, the college became the first four-year, church-related college in South Carolina. It was named for Ebenezer Erskine, one of the founders of one of the antecedent bodies of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and a pastor. Erskine had led a group of separatists from the Church of Scotland to found an Associate Presbytery. Erskine began to admit women in 1894 and officially became coeducational in 1899. In 1927, it merged with Due West Female College, founded in 1859. In 1929, Bryson College closed and merged with Erskine College. On March 11, 2014, a website article on Outsports detailed the coming out of two male players on the college's volleyball team. On February 27, 2015, Erskine College released a statement that students are expected to "follow the teachings of scripture concerning matters of human sexuality."
Academics
Erskine College offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. Minors are offered in several other fields of study. A Christian Education concentration is offered within the Bible and Religion major and special minors are offered in Family Studies, Computer Science, Non-Western Studies, Theater, and Information Technology. The college also offers pre-professional programs in medicine, law, pharmacy, and dentistry. The student to faculty ratio is 12:1. Erskine is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It was placed on "Warning" status following its decennial accreditation review in December 2013. The college's status was reviewed in December 2014, and the sanction was then escalated to "Probation" status, due to continued failure to comply with accreditation standards related to fiscal stability and institutional effectiveness in student learning outcomes. SACSCOC removed all accreditation sanctions and reaffirmed Erskine’s regional accreditation in December 2015.
Athletics
Erksine College teams participate as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division II. The Flying Fleet are a member of the Conference Carolinas. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, track and field, and volleyball; while women's sports include acro and tumbling, basketball, beach volleyball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Co-ed sports include bass fishing, e-sports, and rodeo. On September 25, 2019, Erskine Athletic Director Mark Peeler announced the addition of a Cheerleading and Dance program beginning in the 2020-2021 school year.
The Flying Fleet
Back in 1896, Erskine College began its first American football team. They had very successful seasons between 1917 and 1921. During those seasons they had wins against Wofford, Presbyterian, South Carolina, Clemson, and the Citadel. One of the memorable games of Erskine's football team was against Furman University. It was during that game in 1929 that Erskine took on the name "The Flying Fleet", given to them by a Greenville reporter who was impressed by their passing performance. On October 18, 1948, they defeated Florida State 14–6. The Flying Fleet ended their football program in 1951. In 2018, Erskine College announced the return of the football program for the 2020 season competing as an Independent in NCAA Division II. Shap Boyd is the head coach for the returning program.
Major buildings
Administrative offices: Belk Hall, Watkins Student Center
Art buildings: Bowie Arts Center, Memorial Hall
Classrooms: Belk Hall, Reid Hall, Daniel Moultrie Science Center
Recreation: Galloway Center, the Hangar, pavilion, swimming pool, sand volleyball court
