The university was founded in 1847 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. As a result of a division and two mergers involving the Church, the university has since 1968 been associated with the United Methodist Church. The university is named for United Brethren founder the Rev. Philip William Otterbein.

The mission of Otterbein University is to educate the whole person in a context that fosters the development of humane values. Otterbein University is a private, church-related, coeducational college that sponsors traditional and continuing education programs of liberal arts and professional education at Baccalaureate and Graduate levels. Our commitment is to the liberal arts as the broad base of all learning.

Frank Truitt, 1950, collegiate basketball coach at Ohio State University, Louisiana State University, and Kent State University; co-founder of Otterbein University's golf team. Jonathon Bennett, Actor. Attended but did not graduate Benjamin Russell Hanby, 1858, Composer Darling Nelly Gray, Up On The Houstop, Who Is He In Yonder Stall?. Harold Anderson, 1924, Men's basketball coach at Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo. Carroll Widdoes, 1926, Head football coach at Ohio State University and Ohio University. Fred Martinelli, 1951, Hall of Fame Football coach at Ashland University Gordon Jump, 1955, Actor WKRP in Cincinnati Butch Hartman, attended circa 1960, USAC national stock car champion David Graf, 1972, Actor, best known for his role as Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry in the Police Academy series of films Anne Gonzales, member of Ohio House of Representatives Leif Pettersen, 1973, slotback who played eight seasons in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Dee Hoty, 1974, Tony-nominated Broadway actress Cabot Rea, 1978, television news anchorman, currently serving as the evening and night co-anchorman for WCMH in Columbus, Ohio. Rachael Harris, 1989, Film and television actress and comedienne. Matt D'Orazio, 1999, Arena Football League quarterback, 2-time ArenaBowl MVP, ArenaBowl XX, 2006; ArenaBowl XXII, 2008. Sam Jaeger, 1999, American actor, best known for his role on the television show Eli Stone Henry Clay Frick, attended but did not graduate; business partner in Andrew Carnegie's Carnegie Steel Company, later a major American art patron Chris Jansing (born Christine Kapostasy), 1978, American television news correspondent. Currently working for NBC News as host of Jansing and Company on MSNBC. Micheaux Robinson, AF2, CFL, and Arena Football League defensive back. Susan Diol, television actress Bob Corbin, former member of the Ohio House of Representatives John Finley Williamson, 1911, Choral Music Pedagog and founder of Westminster Choir College. Ladan Osman, Sillerman First Book Prize-winning poet. Steven J. Johnston, Chief Executive Officer Cincinnati Financial Corporation

140 acres (0.57 km2)