 The university, a unit of the University System of Georgia, was founded as the First District Agricultural and Mechanical School in 1906 as a land grant college, open only to white students.On July 1, 1990, it became the fifth university of the University System, and as of 2015 is a comprehensive residential university of nearly 20,000 students.The university's graduate programs are offered on campus, at satellite centers, and by distance and on-line delivery.