Spread across four campuses in the agriculture heartland of the US, K-State is ranked among the country’s Top 200 national universities and Top 100 public varsities in the Best Colleges Rankings 2019 of the US News & World Report

Founded in 1863, Kansas State University (aka K-State) is one of America’s oldest and top-ranked publicly-funded higher education institutions. Originally founded as the Kansas State Agricultural College, one of the country’s pioneer land-grant universities and the first public institution of higher learning in Kansas state (pop. 2.9 million), it was conferred university status in 1959.

Spread across four campuses in the agriculture heartland of the US, K-State is ranked among the country’s Top 200 national universities, and Top 100 public varsities in the Best Colleges Rankings 2019 of the US News & World Report. According to a university spokesperson, 96 percent of its bachelor’s degree graduates and 97 percent of postgraduates are employed or enrolled in further education within six months of graduation.

Since Kansas State Agricultural College admitted its first batch of 52 students in September 1863, the university has come a long way. Currently its four campuses including the main campus in Manhattan; K-State Polytechnic in Salina; Innovation campus in Olathe and an online Global campus, offer more than 250 undergrad and 165 graduate programmes to 22,000 students mentored by 1,437 full-time faculty. In particular, the university is highly reputed for its agriculture, biodefense and bioresearch study and research programmes and hosts the spectacular Kansas State University Gardens, an on-campus horticulture display garden that is also a learning laboratory for students and the public.

Manhattan. Sited at the confluence of the Kansas and Big Blue rivers, Manhattan (pop. 53,281) — nicknamed the Little Apple — is a college town famous for its K-State and Manhattan Christian colleges. The city was ranked #1 on the list for best ‘town-gown relationships’ in 2018 by The Princeton Review and among the ‘Top 10 Places to Retire’ by Money magazine. Because of its large student population, Manhattan offers an active nightlife, with bars, restaurants, theatres and shops ubiquitous in the downtown area. Other major attractions include the Manhattan Town Centre and Fort Riley, base of the 1st Infantry Division of the US Army.

Little Apple’s climate is continental with hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. The maximum summer temperature is 32°C and could drop to -18°C in winter.

Campus facilities. The sprawling 2,320-acre Manhattan campus hosts state-of-the-art academic, laboratory, research, sports and residential facilities. Campus landmarks include the Hale library, the oldest library of K-State built in 1927; Marianna Kistler Beach Museum which has a permanent art collection of 6,500 artefacts; Bramlage Coliseum; KSU Historic Costume and Textiles Museum; K-State Insect Zoo, and the Chang, Chapman, and Kemper galleries, featuring faculty and students art.

In keeping with the tradition of America’s globally admired universities, sport facilities are extensive. The Chester E. Peters Recreation Complex comprises fitness areas, indoor tracks, basketball courts, two 25-yard swimming pools and cardio and weight rooms. Additionally, there are multiple dance, music and theatre clubs abuzz with activities round the year.

Other K-State campuses are of the Polytechnic in Salina; the K-State Global Campus which offers online programmes; and the newest Olathe, inaugurated in 2011.

Admission. The minimum admission requirements are successful completion of Plus Two and a composite score of 21 in ACT or 980 in SAT CR+M tests. International students are not required to submit English language proficiency test scores in the application form and can write the university’s English Proficiency Test (EPT) after admission. However, those who don’t wish to write EPT must submit TOEFL/IELTS English language scores prior to admission.

The admission application form together with secondary school academic transcripts and fee of $80 must be submitted before November 1 for spring term beginning January; February 1 for the summer term beginning May, and December 1 for the fall term beginning August. For further information, contact: Office of Admissions, Kansas State University, 119 Anderson Hall, 919 Mid-Campus Dr. North, Manhattan, KS-66506-0121; Ph: 785-532-1521; email: [email protected].

Accommodation. K-State provides a wide choice of on and off-campus residential options. Ten on-campus residence halls in Manhattan house 6,000 students and two residence halls on the Polytechnic campus offer a range of housing options. Residence halls apart, students have the option of living in Jardine, an 800 apartments-complex housing 1,500 students in one-four bedroom apartments, as well as studios, lofts and town houses. For students preferring to live off-campus, Off-Campus Housing Support provides guidance on private rental options.

Degree programmes. K-State’s eight colleges provide a wide range of undergrad, postgraduate and doctoral research programmes (see box).

Shraddha Goled