Oklahoma State University was founded in Oklahoma State University was founded in 1890 as a land-grant, sun-grant, public flagship university. Like many U.S. state universities, it was founded as a result of the Land Grant Act signed by President Abraham Lincoln on July 2, 1862. The university can award associate, bachelor's, master's, doctoral and professional degrees and is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a high research activity university. The university's athletic tradition is a hallmark of the university. Oklahoma State has won 51 NCAA championships, ranking fourth in the nation and first in the Big 12 Conference. The university is also one of the few schools in the United States to have won championships in the "Big Three" (soccer, basketball and baseball).