The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is a public, comprehensive university. Founded as a private college in 1794, it became the first campus of the University of Tennessee in 1879. UTK graduates finish college with less debt than students at most national universities, based on a recent survey by U.S. News and World Report. Programs are offered through the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Architecture and Design, Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Communications, Education, Engineering, Human Ecology, Law, Nursing, Social Work, and Veterinary Medicine, and the Schools of Biomedical Sciences and Information Sciences. Many programs are ranked among the best in the nation, including accountancy, business and law. In addition to a quality education, UTK''s beautiful location, temperate climate and recreational opportunities make it very competitive among peer institutions. 128 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled at UTK. Its 533-acre campus is located in Knoxville.