Armstrong Atlantic State University, also referred to as Armstrong Atlantic, Armstrong, or simply AASU, is a four-year public university part of the University System of Georgia. It is located on a 268-acre (1.08 km) campus in suburban Savannah, Georgia, United States. The campus is approximately fifteen minutes from downtown Savannah and 25 miles (40 km) from Tybee Island beaches. Armstrong Atlantic was founded in 1935 by Thomas Gamble, mayor of Savannah, as Armstrong Junior College, the institiution grew into a four year university in the 1960s. Armstrong currently offers undergraduate, and graduate degrees in more than than 100 academic programs through four colleges and has current enrollment Armstrong has a student body around 7,600 students, of which about a 1,000 are graduate students. Fielding athletic teams known as Armstrong Atlantic Pirates, the university is in the competes at the NCAA Division II level as a member of the Peach Belt Conference. The Armstrong official colors are maroon and gold. Armstrong Atlantic State University was founded as Armstrong Junior College in 1935 by Mayor Thomas Gamble.