Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University is a public, historically Black land-grant university located in Tallahassee, Florida. Founded in 1887, it is part of the State University System of Florida. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees across disciplines including engineering, business, education, pharmacy, journalism, architecture, agriculture, and the sciences. FAMU also operates a College of Law in Orlando and various research centers. As the state’s only public historically Black university, it serves a diverse student body and has a longstanding mission of providing access to higher education, particularly for African American students. Students are often drawn to its strong professional programs, campus culture, and emphasis on public service and leadership.

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University was founded on October 3, 1887, in Tallahassee, Florida, as the State Normal College for Colored Students. Established during the post-Reconstruction era, the institution was created to provide teacher training and practical education for African Americans. Thomas DeSaille Tucker served as its first president. In 1891, under the Second Morrill Act, the school became Florida’s land-grant institution for Black students, expanding instruction in agriculture and mechanical arts. The campus later moved to its current hilltop location in Tallahassee. In 1909, the name changed to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes. The institution achieved university status in 1953 and adopted its present name. During the mid-twentieth century, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University expanded graduate and professional programs, including pharmacy, law, and nursing, and continues to grow as a comprehensive public university.