Quaker roots.
Open minds.
Founded in 1837, Guilford is a community built on Quaker values — integrity, equality, and a stubborn belief that every voice matters. Meet the people, the history, and the ideas that make this place itself.
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The prestigious "Colleges That Change Lives" consistently names Guilford as a top choice for its exceptionally caring professors.
A Multicultural Perspective
52% of the student body over the last four years are people of color.
Citywide Studies
Through the Greater Greensboro Consortium, Guilford students can take courses at seven other nearby institutions.
Enduring Values for a Changing World
First established as New Garden Boarding School in 1837, Guilford College was originally created to teach the children of the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers. The movement and its teachings were shaped by a progressive belief in all people's spiritual equality, and in the importance of taking socially responsible action in service to the community's greater good.
By the late 1800s the school transitioned into a four-year liberal arts college and has since served people of all faiths and secular beliefs. The school's original Quaker ideals live on in Guilford College's guiding Core Values. Independent of governance by any religious body, Guilford remains the only Quaker-founded college in the southeastern United States.
The Underground Railroad
Abolitionist Levi Coffin aided escaping enslaved persons by guiding them through the Woods on Guilford's grounds and on their way to freedom in the North.
Rare Recognition
Because of its significant role in the Underground Railroad, the campus is one of very few colleges listed as a National Historic District by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
We Go Way Back
With roots dating back to the 19th century, Guilford College is North Carolina's 4th-oldest degree-granting institution and first in the state to have a coed class.
Our Programs, People, and Place Make the Difference
Developing Commitment to Service and Leadership
Our many programs of distinction reach well beyond academic achievement. Helping others and developing leadership skills are also essential parts of the Guilford experience. While here, you'll find so many meaningful ways to give back, including mentoring at-risk children, collecting coats for a homeless shelter and harvesting food for the Greensboro community by volunteering at our award-winning farm. The Bonner Center for Community Service and Learning hosts numerous service projects throughout the year. Other invaluable initiatives include the Quaker Leadership Scholars Program and the Center for Principled Problem Solving, which will provide leadership qualities you can rely on in college and beyond.
Building Diverse Community
At Guilford, you’ll be part of a rich mosaic of cultures, beliefs and perspectives. You may be in a class with students twice your age or share a meal with students from a half-dozen different faiths. We seek to create a vibrant living and learning environment where each of us is committed to better understanding, appreciating and celebrating the differences we all bring to the table. Embracing the many gifts of diversity is one of our greatest and most important opportunities.
Savoring Sunshine and So Much More
Guilford offers the best of both worlds: 350-acre park-like campus and big city opportunities. On campus, you can connect with both history and nature. Explore 19th-century architecture, learn about Guilford's link to the Underground Railroad or find tranquility in the Guilford Woods. And enjoy the fruits of labor working on our famous farm. Off campus, you can get real-world experience by interning at some of Greensboro’s largest employers like Citigroup, Procter & Gamble, Lincoln Financial and UnitedHealth Group. Learn more at Opportunity Thrives in Greensboro. Also, when it’s time to get away, we’re just minutes from Piedmont Triad International Airport and the Greensboro Amtrak station.