History of Michigan State University

By marimanning

  • The Agricultural College of the State of Michigan

    Originally founded in 1855 as the nation's first agriculture college.

  • State Agricultural College

    The name is formally changed for the first time to be more pronounceable.

  • Michigan Agricultural College

    Name is changed for the second time in order to be more specific.

  • Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science

    The name is changed for the third in a failed attempt to move away from it's cultural roots.

  • Michigan State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

    The fourth name change came with the state of Michigan offically making the school a university.

  • Michigan State University

    Our fifth and final name change came because the state of Michigan's current constitution was ratified, allowing them to drop the "agriculture" from it's name.