Kappa Epsilon Fraternity was founded on May 13, 1921 in Iowa City, Iowa.  Professor Zada M. Cooper and  representatives of the women's pharmacy clubs at the University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska, and State University of Iowa started the fraternity in hopes of uniting all women pharmacy students in the United States.  In January, 1960, Kappa Epsilon was incorporated under the provisions of the Minnesota Nonprofit Corporation Act.

Nearly eighty years later, the fraternity continues to flourish bringing together over 16, 000 members throughout the country.   The fraternity today consists of 34 collegiate and 12 alumnae chapters.