Pittsburg State University (Pitt State) is a public university in Pittsburg, Kansas, United States. It enrolls approximately 5,500 students (4,300 undergraduates and 1,200 graduate students) and is governed by the Kansas Board of Regents.
History Naming history Years Name 19031923 Auxiliary Manual Training Normal School 19231959 Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg 19591977 Kansas State College of Pittsburg 1977present Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg State University was founded in 1903 as the Auxiliary Manual Training Normal School, originally a branch of the State Normal School of Emporia (now Emporia State University). In 1913, it became a full-fledged four-year institution and dropped "Auxiliary" from the beginning of its name. In 1923, the institution changed its name to Kansas State Teachers College of Pittsburg, or Pittsburg State for short. Over the next four decades, its mission was broadened beyond teacher training. To reflect this, in 1959 its name was changed again to Kansas State College of Pittsburg. It became Pittsburg State University on April 21, 1977.History page from 2009–11 catalog
Presidents Pittsburg State has had 14 leaders. The top leadership post was originally titled "principal" from 1903 to 1913. In 1913, the title was changed to president. Russell S. Russ (1903–1911) George E. Myers (1911–1913) William A. Brandenburg (1913–1940) O. P. Dellinger (1940–1941) Rees H. Hughes (1941–1957) Leonard H. Axe (1957–1965) George F. Budd (1965–1977) James Appleberry (1977–1983) Donald W. Wilson (1983–1995) John R. Darling (1995–1999) Tom W. Bryant (1999–2009) Steven A. Scott (2009–2022) Dan Shipp (2022–2025) Thomas Newsom (2025–present)
Apple Day In 1907 a small delegation from the Pittsburg area lobbied the state legislature to give the newly established school an appropriation that would pay for the construction of the first permanent building. But one of the delegate members — either Pittsburg Mayor Clarence Price or the principal, R.S. Russ, depending on the source — broke the rules by not exiting the floor before the session began. The legislators good-naturedly fined the Pittsburg delegation a barrel of apples before awarding them the appropriation. When the two men returned to Pittsburg, the students were so amused that they decided university administrators and faculty who had missed work and class in order to lobby in Topeka should have to pay the same fine. In those days, students were penalized for truancy. Because members of the faculty left their classrooms to attend the legislative session in Topeka, the students reasoned that faculty members should be penalized for their absence.
Twelve months later, on March 6, 1908, classes were dismissed for the entire day in honor of the first Apple Day (officially titled Commemoration Day). During an afternoon program in the assembly room of the Central School building, the students once again fined the faculty a barrel of apples. Thus began a unique, annual tradition at Pittsburg State of the teachers bringing apples for their students — a tradition that continues today.
The Gorillas Pitt State is the only university in the United States to feature a gorilla as a mascot — something that is reflected on campus and throughout the community in the form of numerous gorilla sculptures.
In 1920, a group of young men dissatisfied with the state of school spirit organized themselves as the Gorillas — a slang term at the time for “roughnecks” — in order to accelerate college spirit. Thereafter, the Gorillas sponsored pep rallies, special trains to athletic events, and more. Their membership quickly grew in just a few years.
In 1923, the Gorillas asked art student Helen Waskey to make a drawing of their new mascot. Two years later, they offered their symbol as the official mascot of the school. On Jan. 15, 1925, the student body unanimously adopted the ferocious beast "as a name and synonym for the athletic teams."
Over time, the mascot became less ferocious and more loveable in appearance, being dubbed Gus and eventually finding a mate, Gussie (created by Charles Galvin in 1952 for a display in the Student Center).
Gus became a cartoon figure (first by Lee Green, art editor of the Kanza yearbook, in 1952) and a regular Joe College before the Class of '65 had him cast in fiberglass by art instructor Larry Wooster and installed at the south doors of the Overman Student Center.
Wooster Gorilla The Wooster Gorilla, an iconic fiberglass sculpture created in 1965 by the late Larry Wooster, an art instructor, can be seen on the south side of the Overman Student Center facing what is referred to as "The Oval."
Champion Gorilla Unveiled in October 2014 east of Carnie Smith Stadium is the Champion Gorilla, a 2,000-pound bronze gorilla created by artist Tom Corbin. It is the centerpiece of Champions Plaza.
Academics Pittsburg State University is organized into four colleges: College of Arts and Science Kelce College of Business College of Education Crossland College of Technology
Accreditations The Kelce College of Business is accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The Crossland College of Technology's construction management and engineering technology programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The College of Education is one of 34 higher education institutions from 15 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to earn accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.
Top scientists In 2024, three faculty in the Pittsburg State University Chemistry Department were recognized on the World's Top 2% of Scientists list produced by Stanford/Elsevier: Professor Ram Gupta, Assistant Professor Mazeyar Parvinzadeh Gashti, and Assistant Professor Alessandro F. Martins. The scientists conduct their research in the National Institute for Materials Advancement.
Medical school partnership Pittsburg State partnered with Kansas City University in 2024 and 2025 to launch two accelerated medical and dental programs to address physician and dentist shortages in rural Kansas and Missouri. The programs — AMP-UP (2024) and Rural Health Scholars (2025) — fast-track students from medically underserved rural counties in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas into careers as osteopathic physicians or dentists. Qualifying students can earn a DO or DMD in seven years — one year faster than the traditional path.
Simulation hospital A $8 million simulation hospital at the Irene Ransom Bradley School of Nursing was completed in 2023. It features advanced simulated patients capable of interacting with students and mimicking realistic medical emergencies, control and preparation areas, debriefing rooms, a waiting area, and a nurse’s station. The BSN, MSN, and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the BSN and DNP are approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing.
Athletics
The Pittsburg State athletic teams are called the Gorillas.
Pittsburg State competes in 12 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football and track & field (indoor and outdoor); while women's sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, softball, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball. Club sports include men's baseball.
The university is a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) since the 1989–90 academic year. The Gorillas previously competed in the Central States Intercollegiate Conference (CSIC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1976–77 to 1988–89; in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) from 1972–73 to 1975–76; in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) from 1968–69 to 1971–72; in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIC) from 1923–24 to 1967–68; and in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) from 1902–03 to 1922–23.
Football
The Pitt State football program began in 1908 under head coach Albert McLeland. Since that time, the program has produced the most wins in NCAA Division II history. It has been national champions on four occasions; 1957, 1961, 1991 and 2011. Pittsburg State defeated Wayne State University, 35–21 to claim its most recent national championship in 2011. During the 2004 season the Gorillas finished 14–1, losing 31–36 to Valdosta State University in the NCAA Division II National Football Championship. Pittsburg State has won, outright or shared, a total of 27 conference championships during the 96-year history of its intercollegiate program, including 13 conference titles in the last 19 seasons under Coach Chuck Broyles PSU reached the Division II National Championship game in 2004, 1995, and 1992. Its games with fellow MIAA Division II powerhouse Northwest Missouri State University are played at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, in the Fall Classic at Arrowhead. 26,695 attended the 2002 game—the most of any Division II game.
Campus
Located in southeast Kansas, the school is on a campus that includes a mix of historic and modern facilities. Among them:
Axe Library and Special Collections Located in Axe Library, Special Collections houses rare and historic materials chronicling Pittsburg State University and Southeast Kansas. Frequently used collections include the Haldeman-Julius Collection, Congressman Joseph Skubitz papers, the Eva Jessye Collection, the Tri-State Lead and Zinc Producers Association papers, and the Jefferson Highway Association Collection. The library also manages the Pittsburg State University Digital Commons Repository and the university’s Open Educational Resources. It is home to The Writing Center, The H.W. Smith Student Success Center, and Career Development. It is open to the public.
Bicknell Family Center for the Arts The Bicknell Family Center for the Arts opened on December 7, 2014. Named for local entrepreneur Gene Bicknell and his family, it provides the university its first large performance and rehearsal venue since 1978 when deterioration forced the closure of Carney Hall. In includes the 1,100-seat Linda & Lee Scott Performance Hall, a 280-seat theater, a 2,000-square-foot art gallery, grand lobby, rehearsal hall, meeting rooms, and scene shop. The Bicknell Center is home to KRPS 89.9, the region's National Public Radio affiliate.
Block22 Block22 is a mixed-use development located in the heart of Pittsburg at Fourth and Broadway, one mile from campus. It consists of four historic buildings renovated in 2018 and dedicated in 2019 as a joint project by the university, the City of Pittsburg, and the Vecino Group. The buildings are home to 98 student loft-style apartments, four private businesses, conference rooms, offices, and entrepreneurial spaces. The project was named one of the top university-led projects in the nation by the University Economic Development Association.
Carnie Smith Stadium