The mission of Park University, an entrepreneurial institution of learning, is to provide access to academic excellence which will prepare learners to think critically, communicate effectively and engage in lifelong learning while serving a global community.
Park University is an independent, private institution of higher education, established in 1875 as a small church-related Midwestern college that has now expanded into a electronic learning institution and provider of education courses for the U.S. military.
It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA).
The flagship campus of Park University is located in Parkville, Missouri. The Park University Graduate School is located in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. There are 43 campuses in 21 U.S. states including three campuses in the Kansas City area (Downtown Kansas City, Independence and Parkville) and a campus center in Austin, Texas. Most of the satellite campuses are on or near United States Air Force bases and share quarters with other businesses/organizations.
The 800 acre home campus has a maximum enrollment of 1,250. The entire extended system had an enrollment of 12,688 (8% of which were full time) in 2006.
The school which was originally called Park College was founded in 1875 by John A. McAfee on land donated by George S. Park with its initial structure being the stone hotel Park owned on the bluff above the Missouri River.
The original concept called for students to get free tuition and board in exchange for working up to half day in the college’s farm, electrical shop or printing plant. According to the terms of the arrangement if the “Parkville Experiment” did not work out within five years, the college grounds were to revert to Park.
There were 17 students in the first school year. McAfee led until his death in 1890. His son Lowell M. McAfee became the second president of Park until stepping down in 1913. The first international student at Park University arrived in 1880 from Japan.
The defining landmark of the campus is Mackay Hall, named after Carroll County, Illinois banker Duncan Mackay who donated $25,000 in materials for the structure shortly before his death. The building was constructed using limestone mined on the campus grounds and built with the labor of students. Construction began in 1883 and was finished by 1893. Today the building is the main focal point of the campus and dominates the hillside, overlooking the town of Parkville. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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| Percent of Students International: | 1% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 4% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | No |
| Member of: | NAA, NAIA |
| Sports Include: |
Basketball (Independent Midwest Region) Baseball (Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conf) Track (Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conf) |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 6,412 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 1,246 | 41% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 739 | 3% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 2,218 | 43% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 1,260 | 60% | |
Any Aid: |
95% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 74% (Selective) |
| Test Scores | |
| ACT Scores: | |
| % of Students Submitting ACT Scores: | 75% |
| Bottom 25th Percentile: | Composite: 18, Verbal: 16, Math: 16 |
| Top 75th Percentile: | Composite: 23, Verbal: 24, Math: 22 |
| Application Fee: | $ 25.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Not Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Recommended |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Required |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Recommended |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Required |
