Kansas State University

Name

Kansas State University

Legal name

Kansas State University

Website

https://k-state.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1863

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Land-Grant Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Research Universities with Engineering/Polytechnic Emphasis (EDAHAAAD), STEM-Focused Public Research Universities (EDAHAAAE), Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Land-grant university
• Agricultural research programs
• Veterinary medicine education
• Precision agriculture research

Headquarters

HQ city

Manhattan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue generated from undergraduate and graduate tuition, with different rates for in-state, out-of-state, and international students
2. Federal and State Grants: Federal funding for research including grants from NSF, USDA, DOE, and state appropriations for agricultural and veterinary research programs
3. Agricultural Research Funding: Research grants and contracts supporting veterinary medicine, agriculture, and biosecurity research initiatives

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Kansas State University is a public land-grant research university that delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs (250+ undergraduate and 165+ graduate programs) across three physical campuses (Manhattan, Salina, Olathe) and 150+ online programs. The university conducts research in agriculture, veterinary medicine, biosecurity, nuclear science, and aerospace, and offers community-facing services including agricultural extension, microcredentials, and continuing education such as the AFIA-KSU 500 feed manufacturing course.

Product overview

Kansas State University operates as a land-grant institution offering educational programs alongside research and administrative technology services. The university's core digital products include K-REx (institutional repository for theses and dissertations) and the ETDR submission system for graduate students. Administrative services include Concur for travel and expense management integrated with U.S. Bank purchasing cards. Research technology offerings include the Smart Scout AI computer vision system for precision agriculture and the Wildcat Space Program for CubeSat satellite development. The Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics (ID3A) partners with industry to develop UAS technologies for farming applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs K-State's undergraduate academic offerings spanning 250+ majors and programs in fields including agriculture, business, engineering, and liberal arts. Designed for traditional college-bound students pursuing bachelor's degrees.
• Graduate Degree and Certificate Programs K-State's master's, doctoral, professional, and certificate programs (165+ graduate programs) for students pursuing advanced degrees with research or professional development goals. Includes research assistantships and thesis/dissertation support.
• K-State Online Programs Distance learning programs (150+ online programs and microcredentials) enabling flexible access for domestic and global learners unable to attend on-campus programs.
• AFIA-KSU 500: Fundamentals of Feed Manufacturing Online Course Online course offered in partnership with the American Feed Industry Association for animal food industry workforce, covering feed manufacturing fundamentals.
• Smart Scout AI System AI-driven computer vision system using advanced cameras to detect crop lodging, estimate yields, identify pest infestations, and provide real-time visual insights for soybean farmers during the growing season.
• Wildcat Space Program (CubeSat Missions) Interdisciplinary student program designing CubeSat satellites including the NuKAT mission (radiation detection technology, launching 2027) and PHAT-Sat (agricultural crop health monitoring), in partnership with Radiation Detection Technologies Inc.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25-30% of veterinary graduates enter rural/mixed animal practices compared to 12% nationally
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Radiation Detection Technologies Inc.coreTechnology or Integration · 24 May 2026K-State-affiliated company providing radiation detection technology for the NuKAT CubeSat mission launching in 2027. The Wildcat Space Program develops satellite missions with technology from the affiliated company.
• AI-ENGAGE International ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2026K-State leads international collaboration with universities in Japan, India, and Australia on Smart Scout AI-driven computer vision system for soybean farmers. Project received $6 million combined investment including NSF funding.
• University of KansasminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 March 2026K-State and KU collaborate on research projects including virus treatment development, community resilience, and water management solutions for Kansas communities.
• American Feed Industry Association (AFIA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 January 2026AFIA continues partnership with K-State to offer AFIA-KSU 500: Fundamentals of Feed Manufacturing online course, supporting animal food industry workforce development.
• Pure Imagination StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 November 2025Partnership for K-AIRES research facility development at K-State Salina, combining immersive experience design with aerospace research capabilities.
• Oklahoma State University and University of Nebraska-LincolncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 November 2025$6 million NSF-funded collaboration to develop integrated systems converting livestock waste into energy and clean water. K-State contributes expertise in sustainable livestock farming and agricultural systems research.
• Kelly Hills Unmanned SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2024K-State's Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics (ID3A) partnered with Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems, founded in 2024 by Heinen Brothers Agra Services, to develop precision agriculture technologies using unmanned aerial systems. The collaboration focuses on research and development, community engagement with farmers, and technology transfer to scale drone applications for crop protection, remote sensing, and autonomous operations. Kelly Hills brings a nearly 50,000-square-mile test range and experience with the Pyka Pelican 2 autonomous aircraft.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Oklahoma State University: Direct Big 12 land-grant peer that K-State already partners with (NSF livestock waste-to-energy collaboration); shares land-grant mission, agricultural research, and rural workforce focus.
• Colorado State University: Land-grant R1 with parallel strengths in veterinary medicine, agricultural research, and atmospheric/aerospace engineering, providing directly comparable specialty infrastructure.
• Washington State University: Land-grant R1 with parallel emphasis on agricultural research, veterinary medicine, and extension services, operating at a comparable institutional scale to K-State.
• Iowa State University: Direct Big 12 land-grant peer with strong agriculture, engineering, and veterinary medicine programs; very similar mix of applied research, extension services, and Midwest agricultural industry engagement.
• University of Nebraska–Lincoln: Direct Big Ten land-grant peer collaborating with K-State on the NSF livestock waste-to-energy project; closely comparable in agricultural research scale and rural extension mission.

Broad incumbents

• Texas A&M University: Largest land-grant research university in the U.S.; competes with K-State for Big 12-aligned federal and industry agricultural research funding and out-of-state STEM students.
• Purdue University: Larger land-grant R1 with a comparable agriculture and engineering emphasis; competes for the same federal research dollars and Midwest student pool but at greater scale and brand recognition.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Big Ten land-grant R1 with leading engineering and agricultural programs; a top competitor for federal STEM research dollars and higher-ranked out-of-state students.
• North Carolina State University: Larger land-grant R1 with comparable engineering, agricultural, and veterinary programs; shares the land-grant extension model and competes for federal agriculture research funding.
• Virginia Tech: Land-grant R1 with strong engineering and applied agricultural research; competes for federal agency funding and STEM talent in a similar band to K-State.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/44158497872
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kansas-state-university
• Xx.com/KState

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kansas State University