Park University

Founded in 1875 in Parkville, Mo., a suburb of Kansas City, Park University has developed into a comprehensive, independent, Master's I institution that is a national leader in higher education. In 2000, Park achieved university status and now serves 25,169 students annually on 42 Campus Centers in 21 states and Online, including Campus Centers in Parkville, Independence, Kansas City, and Lexington, Mo., and Austin, Texas.

Serving an ethnically diverse student population and non-traditional adult learners has, for many years, been central to Park's educational mission. Even in its first year, Park University enrolled women students as well as men, something that was unusual at the time; and two of the original 17 students were Native Americans. And, Park was an early integrator when it welcomed African-American students to live in Park's residence halls in the 1950s.

Park continues to increase access to higher education by offering the quality undergraduate and graduate degrees students desire at locations, times and delivery formats that best serve their needs. Providing such access has developed considerable diversity among the student population, with more than 500 international students from 106 countries, and a 42 percent student representation from racial, ethnic and cultural groups typically underrepresented in colleges and universities. The University has repeatedly been recognized as one of the top 100 American colleges/universities in the nation graduating Hispanic, African-American and American-Indian students. In addition, extracurricular activities and championship-caliber athletic programs complement Park's outstanding scholastic programs.

Park University offers numerous degree programs Online, for which there were more than 42,000 enrollments during the 2004-2005 academic year. Park and the U.S. Military have a long-standing relationship and the University has been recognized as one of the largest providers of Online undergraduate education to military learners worldwide. The University was awarded the Ray Ehrensberger Award for Institutional Excellence in Military Education by the Commission on Military Education and Training. Most recently, the U.S. News & World Report recently ranked Park as the second largest Online degree-granting programs in the U.S.

The mission of Park University, an entrepreneurial institution of learning, is to provide access to academic excellence which will prepare learners to think critically, communicate effectively and engage in lifelong learning while serving a global community.