Antioch has been a pioneer in educational innovation and reform for nearly 150 years. Since its inception in 1852, the belief that education is an agent for positive social change has been central to Antioch's philosophy. Horace Mann, Antioch's first president and himself a pioneer in public education, urged the graduating class of 1857 to "be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity." This early institutional commitment to social justice, tolerance for diverse backgrounds and points of view, and community activism continues today at all five Antioch campuses, where progressive, socially responsible, and egalitarian values inform the curriculum and make Antioch an engaging and inspiring place to learn.

Antioch's educational philosophy focuses on the whole person and fosters educational experimentation and innovation. Examples include faculty and student participation in college policy-making, written evaluations in place of grades, co-equal valuing of work-based and other experiential learning with classroom learning, and satellite campuses. Antioch has led educational institutions in recognizing that learning is a lifelong process and, for this reason, was among the first educational institutions to offer programs for adult learners.

Faculty, students, and staff respect and support one another. Lively discussion, free-flowing ideas, and open exchange characterize the Antioch educational experience and enable students to own their ideas and discover their voices as they participate in the larger public discourse of educated men and women. This interactive approach to learning helps students integrate their knowledge and experience with academic concepts and their practical applications. Through internships and field studies, students test their ideas in real world settings. Antioch's narrative evaluation process lets students participate in setting goals and assessing their educational achievements. Flexible, family- and job-friendly scheduling makes it easy for students to set their own pace for learning.

Antioch graduates describe their experience at Antioch as "transformative" because an Antioch education elicits profound personal change and a deepened commitment to the greater good of the community.