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…
