Frostburg State University

A major factor in Frostburg’s economy was the establishment and growth of what was originally called State Normal School #2, a teachers college. It was the lobbying of local citizens that led to the state legislature’s authorization of a $20,000 appropriation for a building in 1898 by the Maryland General Assembly with the provision that the land be provided by the citizens.

Townspeople raised the money to buy a two-acre site for the State Normal School, and the Governor selected Frostburg as a site because the residents offered the best suitable location without cost to the State. In 1900, Old Main—the first campus building—was completed. In 1902, fifty seven students attended the first classes that offered a two-year program of elementary school teacher training. In 1913, the first campus elementary training school, called The Model School, began operation, allowing student teachers to work directly with children in the classroom.

In 1935, the institution’s name changed to State Teachers’ College at Frostburg. A four-year degree was conferred upon students who completed the requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. In 1986, the college become Frostburg State University and later joined the University System of Maryland in 1988. Today, FSU serves 4,725 undergraduate students along with 589 graduate students and 82 doctoral students enrolled in 17 Master programs and 1 Doctorate program. FSU employs 215 full-time faculty and 470 full-time staff, and serves as a center of multicultural activity for the residents of our region.