Pennsylvania State University--University Park USA

Penn State, founded in 1855 as an agricultural college, admitted its first class in 1859. The Pennsylvania legislature designated Penn State as the Commonwealths sole land-grant institution in 1863, which eventually broadened the University`s mission to include teaching, research, and public service in many academic disciplines. Penn State has been Pennsylvania`s largest source of baccalaureate degrees at least since the 1930s. Today Penn State is one of four state-related universities (along with the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University, and Lincoln University), institutions that are not state-owned and -operated but that have the character of public universities and receive state appropriations. With its administrative and research hub at the University Park campus, Penn State has 23 additional locations across Pennsylvania. While some of these locations have specialized academic roles, they all adhere to a common overall mission and set of core values and strategic goals.