Nyack College's founder is widely recognized as one of the foremost figures in the American missionary movement. Dr. A.B. Simpson resigned a prestigious New York City pastorate to develop an interdenominational fellowship devoted to serving unreached people. Simpson's view was shared by a wide group of men and women, including mainline church leaders, laborers, and theological scholars. This ever-growing alliance was bound together by a desire to inspire the church to fulfill its Great Commission of world evangelization.

An important step towards making their vision a reality was the founding of the Missionary Training Institute, the first Bible college in North America. This school was the forerunner of Nyack College. Thus, from its beginning in New York City in 1882, Nyack College has been devoted to the concept of education as preparation for service.

Today Nyack College, a fully accredited liberal arts college, continues to fulfill the vision of its founder. Located twenty miles north of New York City, it is an educational institution rooted in the historic Christian faith, serving The Christian and Missionary Alliance, the church, the community and the world. Nyack College seeks to produce broadly educated persons who are prepared for advanced study, careers, and civic responsibility. It is committed to promoting Christian knowledge, moral maturity, and spiritual development in its students, and to preparing them for lives of ministry and service. To achieve these objectives, the institution offers traditional and non-traditional undergraduate programs to a co-educational, ethnically diverse student body. Graduate programs are offered through Alliance Theological Seminary.