Kansas State University, officially named "Kansas State University of Agriculture and Applied Science" but commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States. A branch campus known as Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus, is located in Salina, Kansas, and is home of the university's College of Technology and Aviation. Kansas State has an official enrollment of 23,332 students for the 2007–2008 school year.
Kansas State University, originally named Kansas State Agricultural College, was founded on February 16, 1863 as a Land Grant institution under the Morrill Act. The school was the first Land Grant college newly created under the Morrill Act although several other universities claim to be the oldest Land Grant school. K-State is the fourth-oldest school in the Big 12 Conference and the oldest public university in the state of Kansas. The institution was initially located on the grounds of the old Bluemont Central College, which was incorporated in Manhattan by the Kansas Territorial legislature in 1858. The early years of the institution witnessed debate over whether the college should provide a focused agricultural education or a full liberal arts education. During this era, the tenor of the school shifted with the tenure of the Presidents. University President John A. Anderson (1873-1879) was in favor of a limited education while on the other hand President George T. Fairchild (1879-1897) favored a classic liberal education. Also during this era, in 1882, the study of home economics originated at Kansas State. Currently, the university offers a full range of majors and many graduate programs.