Underwood University was established in April, 2011 as an independent institution of higher learning located in Suwanee, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. The name of the University was inspired by the missional work of Horace Underwood. He was the preeminent missionary to Korea in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and helped transform Korea into a fruitful source of missionaries and a beacon of Christianity in East Asia.

The institution was authorized by the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC) to operate in the state of Georgia on February 3, 2012. On March 3, 2012, Underwood held an inaugural worship service, and the first classes began on March 5.

In January 2013, Underwood University obtained authorization from SEVP to issue Form I-20 to international students and to enroll nonimmigrant student F-1 visa holders.

Underwood expanded its programs with authorization from GNPEC on November 26, 2013.

In 2017, Underwood began to streamline its programs to meet new GNPEC regulations, and started to seriously consider institutional accreditation.

In January of 2018, Underwood University hosted a visit from the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), a US Department of Education-authorized accreditation agency, to discuss plans for applying for Candidate for Accreditation status. In May 2018, Underwood University was granted Applicant status by TRACS, the first step in obtaining institutional accreditation. In October 2018, Underwood was granted Candidate for Accreditation status from TRACS. In Spring 2019, Underwood began the process of applying to TRACS for fully-accredited status.

In November 2019, Underwood University was awarded Accredited status by TRACS. As a now fully-accredited institute of higher education, we will move into the future as a producer of graduates educated in a modern, culturally-aware and diverse curriculum designed to promote social responsibility and servant leadership.

Underwood’s  Distance Education program is approved by both TRACS and GNPEC.

Underwood becomes a full member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), allowing us to use our Distance Education program to provide online degree programs for students around the US.