University of Kansas

The University of Kansas, often called KU, is a public research university based in Lawrence, Kansas. It was chartered in 1865, began preparatory classes in 1866, and started college-level instruction in 1869. Today it serves students across its Lawrence campus and additional locations in the Kansas City area and Overland Park.

KU is one of a small group of public universities in the Association of American Universities, a sign of its long-standing research profile. The university says its work is centered on education, research, and service, with an emphasis on strengthening Kansas while contributing more broadly through scholarship and innovation.

The school is also widely recognized for its Jayhawk identity and athletic tradition, especially in basketball. Alongside that public visibility, KU has built a broad academic and research presence that helps explain why it remains one of the best-known institutions in the state.