University Park, surrounded by the borough of State College, is home to the main campus of The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), one of the largest universities in the country and a member of the Big Ten Conference. Founded in 1855 as an agricultural and engineering college, Penn State has grown into a world-class learning and research institution. With a core campus covering 5,448 acres, the University Park campus is the epicenter for about 40,500 students, 3,000 faculty and 13,000 other employees. The university offers degrees in about 160 baccalaureate and 150 graduate programs.