# Wichita State University

> public university in Wichita, Kansas, U.S.

**Wikidata**: [Q429561](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q429561)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wichita_State_University)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/wichita-state-university

## Summary
Wichita State University is a public research university located in Wichita, Kansas, United States. Founded in 1886, it is classified as a doctoral university with higher research activity and serves approximately 15,000 students.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1886 as Fairmount College, later becoming Wichita State University
- Located at 1845 N. Fairmount, Wichita, KS, 67260-0124
- Classified as a doctoral university with higher research activity by Carnegie Classification
- Has an endowment of approximately $320 million as of June 30, 2022
- Employs approximately 2,613 faculty and staff
- Serves approximately 15,000 students (14,999 as of September 2020)
- Member of both the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities
- Athletic teams known as the Wichita State Shockers
- Coordinates the Kansas Space Grant Consortium

## FAQs
### Q: What is Wichita State University known for?
A: Wichita State University is known for its strong engineering and business programs, particularly in aerospace engineering due to Wichita's status as the "Air Capital of the World." The university is also recognized for its research activities and competitive athletics program.

### Q: What is the acceptance rate at Wichita State University?
A: Wichita State University has an admission rate of 80% as of 2020, making it a relatively accessible public university in Kansas.

### Q: What athletic conference does Wichita State University compete in?
A: Wichita State University's athletic teams, known as the Shockers, compete in NCAA Division I as part of The American Athletic Conference (The American).

## Why It Matters
Wichita State University plays a crucial role in higher education and economic development in south-central Kansas. As the only urban research university in the state, it provides essential educational opportunities to a diverse student population while contributing significantly to Wichita's economy through research, innovation, and workforce development. The university's strong connections to the aerospace industry make it particularly valuable to Wichita's identity as the "Air Capital of the World," producing graduates who fill critical roles in engineering, manufacturing, and technology sectors. Its Carnegie R2 designation (doctoral university with higher research activity) indicates substantial research contributions that benefit both the local community and broader scientific fields.

## Notable For
- Strong aerospace engineering program aligned with Wichita's aviation industry
- Competitive NCAA Division I athletics, particularly men's basketball
- Urban research university status as the only one in Kansas
- Significant endowment growth and research funding
- Coordination of the Kansas Space Grant Consortium

## Body
### History and Development
Wichita State University traces its origins to Fairmount College, established in 1886. The institution evolved through several name changes, including Municipal University of Wichita and University of Wichita, before becoming Wichita State University in 1964 when it officially joined the Kansas Board of Regents system.

### Academic Profile
The university offers over 100 undergraduate programs and more than 70 graduate programs across six colleges. It maintains a semester-based academic calendar and has been classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a doctoral university with higher research activity (R2), indicating substantial research output and doctoral-level education.

### Research and Innovation
WSU houses several research centers and institutes, including the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), which conducts extensive testing and research for the aerospace industry. The university's research expenditures and innovation activities contribute significantly to both academic advancement and regional economic development.

### Campus and Facilities
The main campus spans 330 acres in northeast Wichita and includes modern academic buildings, research facilities, and athletic venues such as Charles Koch Arena and Eck Stadium. The university also operates KMUW, a National Public Radio member station serving the Wichita area.

### Community Engagement
As an urban university, WSU maintains strong partnerships with local businesses, government agencies, and community organizations. These collaborations support economic development initiatives, provide internship opportunities for students, and facilitate applied research that addresses regional challenges.

## References

1. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. BnF authorities
5. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240120073011/https://secure.aacu.org/iMIS/AACUR/Membership/MemberListAACU.aspx)
6. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20230815075752/https://www.aplu.org/members/our-members/)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. MusicBrainz
9. GeoNames
10. [Source](http://www.wichita.edu)
11. [U.S. and Canadian 2022 NTSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2022 Endowment Market Value, Change in Market Value from FY21 to FY22, and FY22 Endowment Market Values Per Full-time Equivalent Student (Excel). National Association of College and University Business Officers. 2023](https://www.nacubo.org/Research/2022/Public-NTSE-Tables)
12. GRID Release 2015-12-14
13. GRID Release 2016-12-06
14. Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
15. Quora
16. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
17. [Source](https://orcid.org/signin)
18. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
19. [U.S. and Canadian 2022 NTSE Participating Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2022 Endowment Market Value, Change in Market Value from FY21 to FY22, and FY22 Endowment Market Values Per Full-time Equivalent Student (Excel). 2023](https://www.nacubo.org/Research/2022/Public-NTSE-Tables)
20. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
21. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
22. National Center for Education Statistics