Future Students
Why Choose the K-State College of Agriculture?
A Focus on Student Experiences
At the K-State College of Agriculture, we proudly consider ourselves an AgCat family. For more than 160 years, our vision has remained clear: equip our students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their future careers. Today, that journey may look different for each individual, but our commitment to their growth and success is unwavering.
For many students, that journey involves coming to the Manhattan, Kansas campus and taking classes in iconic buildings such as Waters, Weber, Call, Umberger or Throckmorton Halls. However, it extends beyond the classroom, with hands-on opportunities in labs, livestock units or greenhouses, where students can explore new research techniques. Students could have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty in the food science lab to develop a new flavor profile for a local, direct-to-consumer food product or conduct research in the lab to examine the impact of water on crop growth and development. The opportunities are endless.
For other learners, the online programs offered through the K-State College of Agriculture fit their needs and lifestyles. At this time, we have two fully online options for bachelor’s degrees in animal sciences and industry and food science. We also have a number of master’s programs that are fully online. We want to meet you where you are and support you on continuing your education as an AgCat.
Hands-On Learning
A unique aspect of the land-grant university model is integrating research and teaching and sharing the outcomes with the people through Extension. For students, this means there are many hands-on learning opportunities.
Engaging classroom design and teaching approaches give students real-world experiences and prepare them for their future. We also have undergraduate and graduate opportunities for students to explore research theories and outcomes, from agriculture communications and educational theories to plant pathology outcomes.
We have global experts across all 16 of our programs. These experts work side-by-side with students, allowing them to dive deeper into an area of study to discover if it’s something they want to work on and research further. Additionally, labs, collaborations and institutes across the college give students real work experience and career-building opportunities.
AgCat Community Focused on Students
When we connect with current students and alumni, we hear time and again that they picked the K-State College of Agriculture because they found their place and their people.
Whether it’s your primary role advisor, faculty mentor or club president, you have people who know you, care about you and want you to succeed. With a variety of majors, minors and certificates designed to complement each other, we can customize your K-State path. Each AgCat has a different background and a different future. Let us work with you to help make sure your experience is the best it can be, whether you choose to learn on campus or online.
In addition to mapping your path, we encourage all our students to get involved. We have over 50 clubs and competition teams calling the college and our departments home. Furthermore, hundreds of campus-wide organizations can further enhance your experience and help you make connections in and outside the college. Alumni often tell us that the connections made in class or through exciting new experiences with fellow club members turn into lifelong friendships.
AgCats Graduate Career-Ready
AgCats come to the College of Agriculture on campus or online to prepare to kick off their full-time career journey or advance their career path. We are committed to mapping out your customized journey with your primary advisor and faculty mentors to ensure you get what you need to be set up for success. This approach has resulted in a 98% job placement rate for our graduating students.
A key step in ensuring our graduates are ready to hit the ground running is evaluating the curriculums we offer through our 16 different programs on an ongoing basis. We understand that the industry is constantly evolving, which means the skills you need to enter the workforce must be continuously evolving as well.
Additionally, each program creates opportunities and club engagement with the industry to allow students to participate in career development.
Once you become an AgCat and learn that purple is more of a way of life than a color, you realize you’re part of a global network. This network is composed of alumni located all around the world, across the food and agriculture industry and beyond. You might meet a purple-loving College of Agriculture alumni as a Senior Vice President Human Resources Executive or a Research and Development Director, Sensory and Consumer Experience. No matter where you find AgCat grads, you’ll find them appreciating purple and ready to welcome new AgCats into the fold. Check out our Alumni Spotlights to meet more AgCat Alumni.
Future AgCat Resources
