Towson University is a public university institution in Towson, established in 1866. Towson University is a public research institution in Towson, Maryland, serving over 22,000 students across eight colleges. Founded in 1866 as Maryland's first teacher-training school, it has evolved into a comprehensive metropolitan university offering 110+ undergraduate majors and 80+ graduate programs, with particular strength in teacher education, business, computer science, and nursing.