135th Anniversary of the Second Morrill Act of 1890

135 Years Strong and Celebrating the Enduring Legacy, Growing Opportunities, Inspiring Innovation, and Uplifting Communities

August 30, 2025

On Aug. 30, 1890, Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, signed the Second Morrill Act of 1890 into law.

Sponsored by Senator Justin Smith Morrill of Vermont, an abolitionist, the act’s goal was to expand the opportunities for people of color to access education, specifically in agriculture and mechanical arts. The act opened the doors of higher education to the American people.

Prior to the (first) Morrill Act of 1862, higher education was modeled after European institutions, designed to educate the male "leisure class" and government or religious leaders. With an emphasis on agricultural and mechanical arts, the land-grant institutions addressed the practical educational needs of ordinary citizens. The Second Morrill Act opened those doors wider; before it, people of color were often excluded from educational opportunities at the land-grant Universities. The Second Morrill Act required states to establish separate land-grant institutions for Black students or demonstrate that admission to the 1862 land-grant was not restricted by race. The act granted money, instead of land, and resulted in the designation of a set of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as land-grant universities to begin receiving federal funds to support teaching, research and Extension intended to serve underserved communities.

Over the last 135 years,  North Carolina  A&T, along with its 18 sister institutions, has been at the forefront of transformative change. Together, the 1890 land-grant Universities have expanded access to higher education, led cutting-edge research in agriculture and STEM-based fields, and fueled innovation that empowers both rural and urban communities across the nation and beyond.

This anniversary is more than a historical reflection — it is a celebration of impact, growth, and promise. Through generations of scholars, leaders, and changemakers, the legacy of the 1890 Institutions continues to thrive, proving that access to education is a catalyst for progress.

– Information provided by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).  Learn more about the Second Morrill Act .

Land Grant Universities are Unique

• All land-grant universities are funded by the federal government for programs in the food and agricultural sciences.

• All 103 land-grant universities are organized into units within the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU).

• All are stakeholders and partners with USDA.

• All serve a three-part mission (instruction, research, and Extension).

• All are affiliated with the Department of Defense to support ROTC programs.

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

North Carolina A&T State University proudly embodies its land-grant heritage, established by the Second Morrill Act of 1890, and is committed to providing students a superior education.

Today, its commitment to individuals and communities incorporates a host of innovative educational opportunities, scientific research, and carefully developed Extension programs that generate new knowledge and address solutions to regional, national and global challenges.