

Park University was founded in 1875 in Parkville, Missouri, as Park College. Its early history is closely associated with founder George S. Park and educator John A. McAfee, who became the college's first president.
The institution later expanded beyond its original residential campus to serve students through additional locations and online instruction. It adopted the name Park University in 2000, reflecting a broader range of undergraduate and graduate programs. That history helps explain why a university rooted in one Missouri campus now serves many students who do not live in Parkville.
Park University offers undergraduate and graduate study across business, education, health-related fields, the sciences, and the humanities. Prospective students should use the current academic catalog to identify the school responsible for a program and check which locations or online formats offer it.
Representative fields include business administration, accounting, computer and information sciences, criminal justice, psychology, education, nursing, and the arts. Options include bachelor's and master's degrees, while the requirements and availability of particular programs vary. A program's delivery format matters: a degree offered by Park University may not be offered in person at the Parkville campus.
Park University's main campus is in Parkville, Missouri, in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Parkville has a smaller-community setting, while the broader region offers access to employers, services, and cultural activities.
Park also serves students through other locations and online programs. Applicants should confirm where required classes, labs, and student services are delivered rather than assume every program meets in Parkville. Kansas City International Airport is a relevant arrival point for students traveling to the area; commuters should also account for their specific route and class schedule.
Park University states that its mission is to transform lives through accessible, student-centered, quality higher education. Its educational identity emphasizes serving learners through multiple locations and flexible ways to study.
That mission describes the university's stated priorities, not a measured outcome for every student. Applicants can evaluate how well a particular program fits those priorities by checking its course schedule, advising arrangements, and requirements. Park is a private university; students should not assume that its 19th-century origins indicate a present-day religious requirement.
Name of the institution
Park UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
5,000 - 9,999School type
Comprehensive higher education institutionMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1875Park University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Certificate of at least 1 year, but less than 2 years
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degreeData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.