University of Kentucky (UK)

The University of Kentucky has a broad range of resources centered on a single campus in the heart of the Bluegrass. Our wide array of programs allows us to excel in multidisciplinary studies and fosters an environment of cooperative engagement acros ers an environment of cooperative engagement across all colleges, programs, and research endeavors. Because of the lives we touch and teach, we remain anchored in our mission to Kentucky– to educate, innovate, heal, and serve. To be sure, our complex, multi-faceted mission looks different today in many ways than it did in 1865. However, our sense of responsibility to our communities on campus and across the region is resolute. The mission has evolved and grown. The vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world beyond remains the same. They remain our compass – the soul of the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky (commonly abbreviated as UK, UKY, or U of K) is a major public land-grant research university situated in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. It was founded in 1865 by John Bryan Bowman as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Kentucky and has since grown into the state's largest higher education institution by enrollment, serving over 35,000 students as of fall 2024. UK is one of Kentucky’s two land-grant universities, the other being Kentucky State University, and holds the designation of an R1 institution, marking it as a university with very high research activity. It encompasses 16 colleges, a graduate school, and offers a broad academic portfolio including 93 undergraduate degree programs, 99 master's programs, 66 doctoral programs, and 4 professional programs. The university's strategic emphasis on research and innovation is evident in its $476.5 million expenditure on research and development in 2022, placing it 61st in the United States according to data from the National Science Foundation. This focus on research has been a growing priority since 1997, when the Kentucky General Assembly issued a directive that tasked the university with becoming a “Top 20” public research institution, as measured by benchmarks and metrics largely self-determined by the university. The campus is home to seven libraries, with the William T. Young Library serving as the largest and most prominent. This federal depository library houses extensive collections in the social sciences, humanities, and life sciences and acts as a central hub for academic resources across disciplines. The historical roots of higher education in Kentucky trace back to Transylvania University, which served as the commonwealth’s earliest educational institution, established during a time when access to learning was typically restricted to elite families, promising apprentices, and aspiring professionals in the legal, clerical, or medical fields. After a period of consolidation and rebranding, Transylvania University became known as Kentucky University. It was within this framework that Bowman launched the Agricultural and Mechanical College, originally a department within Kentucky University, before federal land-grant status was awarded under the Morrill Act in 1865. Classes commenced the following year, with an initial enrollment of 190 students and a faculty of 10, held at Ashland, the former estate of statesman Henry Clay. In 1869, James Kennedy Patterson succeeded Bowman and guided the college into a new phase of development. The institution awarded its first degree that same year and added master's degree programs by 1876. In 1878, the Agricultural and Mechanical College formally split from Kentucky University, which reverted to the name Transylvania University. Lexington played a crucial role in this transformation, donating 52 acres of land—including a park and fairgrounds—which became the core of what is now the modern UK campus. Originally an all-male college, A&M began admitting women in 1880, signaling a shift toward greater inclusion in the student body. The evolution of the campus continued with the construction of its first major buildings. Administration Building, completed in 1882, was the first of three structures erected on the present-day campus and became the nucleus around which the university grew. Three years later, in 1885, the establishment of the Agricultural Experiment Station reflected the school’s commitment to practical and applied research. This facility conducted studies focused on agribusiness, food processing, environmental issues, and water and soil resource management, establishing a foundational connection between academic research and the economic needs of Kentucky’s largely agricultural society. This commitment to outreach was further reinforced in 1910 with the creation of the Agricultural Extension Service, which became one of the first in the country and helped lay the groundwork for nationwide programs mandated in 1914. These services linked the university’s agricultural expertise with rural communities across the state, providing both education and practical tools for economic development. Another notable feature of UK’s history is the adoption of its official school colors—royal blue and white—in 1892. The decision was the result of a football game between Kentucky and Centre College in December 1891, when a necktie worn to represent the new “blue” helped finalize the specific hue that would go on to symbolize school pride. As the university expanded its academic reach and physical footprint, it also developed a significant alumni network that includes two Nobel Prize winners among its graduates, adding to its reputation as a center for scholarship and innovation. Over the years, UK has diversified its academic offerings, invested in interdisciplinary research, and cultivated a student-focused environment that emphasizes both academic rigor and community engagement. The university's strategic growth has been guided by a strong mission to serve the Commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond, not only through education but through innovation, service, and global collaboration. Today, the University of Kentucky stands as a dynamic institution, blending its historical legacy with modern aspirations, and maintaining a deep commitment to the land-grant values of accessibility, research, and public service. From its beginnings as a small agricultural college on donated land to a nationally ranked research university, UK continues to play a central role in the educational, economic, and cultural life of Kentucky and the broader region, driven by a mission to improve lives through excellence in teaching, research, and service. ...view more