Lincoln University of Missouri’s Land Grant Program
Lincoln University, a historically black college and university (HBCU), is a land-grant institution under the Second Morrill Act of 1890. This designation underscores our commitment to providing educational opportunities and resources that advance agricultural, mechanical and industrial arts. As part of our mission, we strive to foster academic excellence, community engagement and economic development.
The original Morrill Act of 1862, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, allocated 30,000 acres of federal land to each state for the establishment of colleges focused on agriculture and the mechanical arts. This act aimed to democratize higher education by making it accessible to the broader population, including the working class.
In 1890, the Second Morrill Act expanded this vision by requiring states to demonstrate that race was not a barrier to admission or to establish separate institutions for students of color with comparable programs. As a result, Lincoln University, along with other HBCUs, became part of the land-grant system, receiving federal support to promote higher education among African Americans.
History of Lincoln University
As the Civil War ended in 1865, emancipated Black soldiers from the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Infantry regiments resolved to establish an educational institution for freed Black people in Missouri. With their pay averaging $13 a month, the soldiers raised $5,000 to found Lincoln Institute in Jefferson City. The school officially opened on September 17, 1866, under the leadership of Richard Baxter Foster, a former first lieutenant. By 1870, the institute received state aid for teacher training, and by 1879, it became a public institution, adding college-level coursework and officially being designated as a land-grant university under the Second Morrill Act of 1890.
In 1921, the Missouri Legislature expanded Lincoln Institute into a four-year college, renaming it Lincoln University. The school earned various accreditations and saw significant growth under President Sherman D. Scruggs from 1938 to 1956. The Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision led to Lincoln University opening its doors to all qualified students, regardless of ethnicity. Over the decades, Lincoln expanded its academic offerings and facilities, becoming a diverse institution that grants degrees in over 30 areas of study. Today, the legacy of the founding soldiers endures, commemorated by the Soldiers’ Memorial Plaza on campus.
Building on our rich legacy as a land-grant institution, we are committed to driving positive change and innovation within our community and beyond. To learn more about our mission to advance education, research and outreach for a brighter and more equitable future, visit our Mission and Vision page.
More Information