What Is a Land-Grant University?
A land-grant university is a college or university in the United States designated by a state to receive the benefits of federal laws known as the Morrill Acts, first passed in 1862. The acts gave states federal land, or the money from its sale, to establish colleges that would teach agriculture, engineering and other practical subjects, as well as classical studies, to give ordinary people access to higher education.
Background
Before the Morrill Act, many US colleges were private and focused on classical education for a small elite. The act aimed to open higher education to working people and to support the growth of agriculture and industry. A second act in 1890 required states with segregated systems to provide land-grant institutions for Black students, leading to the founding or designation of many historically Black colleges and universities. A 1994 act later gave land-grant status to tribal colleges.
What defines a land-grant university today
Each state has at least one. Many are flagship public universities, such as large state universities in the Midwest, but the group also includes private institutions such as MIT and Cornell, and many HBCUs and tribal colleges. They share a mission of teaching, research and public service.
A special feature is the Cooperative Extension System, which links universities with local communities, offering research-based information on farming, nutrition, youth development and economic issues through county offices.
Why it matters
Land-grant status often means strong programs in agriculture, engineering, veterinary science, food and environmental sciences, and a commitment to service and outreach. These universities frequently offer large research programs, and some have lower in-state tuition than private universities.
Common examples
Many well-known public universities are land-grant institutions, as are some well-known private ones. You can check any institution's status on the websites of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and the US Department of Agriculture.
Related terms
See state flagship universities, HBCUs, polytechnic and research universities.
Frequently asked questions
Are all state universities land-grant universities?
No. Each state has at least one land-grant institution, but many public universities were founded separately. The designation is specific.
What is the Morrill Act?
A US law passed in 1862 that gave states federal land to sell to fund colleges teaching agriculture, mechanical arts and military tactics, along with classical studies. A second act in 1890 expanded the system to include Black colleges in the South.
Do land-grant universities do anything special today?
Many run agricultural research and extension programs that share knowledge with farmers and communities, in addition to ordinary teaching and research.