KSU began as an idea on October 15, 1885, to train African American teachers for employment in Kentucky's Black elementary schools and on May 18, 1886, legislators authorized the school's creation, as the State Normal School for Colored Persons, the second state-supported institution of higher learning in Kentucky. KSU became a land-grant college in 1890, and the school produced its first graduating class of five students in the spring of that year.

KSU boasts a rich history in agriculture and is the home of the world's only full-time Pawpaw research program that studies the tropical-like fruit. Over the years KSU has evolved into a leader in fields like aquaculture and organic research. In addition to its top ranked nursing program, KSU offers course work in business, consumer sciences, humanities, STEAM, and more.

KSU is also a proud partner institution of Kentucky Commercialization Ventures (KCV), which is a public-private partnership that unites Kentucky's public higher education institutions to advance innovation, intellectual property, and collaborative commercialization statewide.

KSU will expand and leverage its robust portfolio and affiliations as part of its inclusive innovation initiative in support of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.