Kansas State University is a public, land-grant university in Manhattan, Kansas, founded in 1863. It traces its origins to Bluemont Central College, which received a charter from the Territory of Kansas on February 9, 1858, to add an agricultural department to its existing literary arts and sciences program. On September 2, 1863, fifty-two men and women enrolled as the first class of Kansas State Agricultural College under founding president Joseph Denison. The university employs 4,781 people and operates under the Kansas Board of Regents, offering more than 250 academic programs.
Key facts
- Country: United States
- Founded: 1863
- Type: public university; land-grant university; public educational institution of the United States
- Parent organisation: Kansas Board of Regents
- Employees: 4,781
- Website: http://www.k-state.edu
Founding and early history
Kansas State traces its roots to Bluemont Central College, chartered by the Territory of Kansas on February 9, 1858, to run an agricultural department alongside its literary arts and sciences program. Five years later, on September 2, 1863, fifty-two men and women enrolled in the newly formed Kansas State Agricultural College, with Joseph Denison serving as its first president.
The university has held continuous accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1916.
Governance and structure
Kansas State is governed by the nine-member Kansas Board of Regents, a body that also oversees five other state universities, one municipal university, nineteen community colleges and six technical colleges. The university maintains three physical campuses, led by its flagship campus in Manhattan established in 1863, along with additional campuses and online coursework delivered through K-State Online.
As of a recent profile, the university was led by President Richard Linton and offered more than 250 academic programs across its system.
Enrollment and academics
Under President Jon Wefald, student enrollment rose from 14,000 to 22,000 between 1986 and 2000, reversing what had been a serious decline. K-State students have won ninety Goldwater Scholarships, more than any other public university; the next-ranked public university has fifty-eight.
Notable alumni
Earl Woods, father of golfer Tiger Woods, attended Kansas State to play baseball. Kansas Governor Sam Brownback graduated in 1978 with a degree in agricultural economics, having served as student body president his senior year. Actor Eric Stonestreet, a sociology graduate who won two Emmy Awards for his role on “Modern Family,” was studying to be a prison administrator at K-State before a friend encouraged him to audition for a play.
More than 30 K-Staters have competed in the Olympic Games since Ray Watson competed in the 1920 Games in Antwerp, Belgium. Basketball player Bob Boozer, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1959 NBA draft, won Olympic gold with the 1960 U.S. Men’s Basketball team, which was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Did you know
- K-State’s football team was first nicknamed the “Wildcats” by new coach John “Chief” Bender before the 1915 season, but the name lasted only that one season; the team became known as the “Farmers” under a different coach in 1917. (kstatesports.com)
- In a 71-3 win over Nicholls State, K-State’s mascot Willie had to complete 394 push-ups to match the scoreboard after each score. (foxnews.com)
- The identity of the student inside the Willie Wildcat costume has traditionally been kept secret throughout the mascot’s history. (kstatesports.com)
Data sources
Data updated: 2026-11-09