10 Oldest Universities In US: Although none of the universities listed below are among the oldest in the world, three date back to the 17th century, and all of these historic U.S. institutions were established before the American Revolution began in 1765.
10 Oldest Universities In US
Five of these universities are members of the prestigious Ivy League, combining their rich historic heritage with a commitment to development and innovation.
1. Harvard University
Established: 1636 (chartered in 1650)
Located in Massachusetts, Harvard University was originally called New College and was renamed Harvard College in honor of its first benefactor, John Harvard, who donated half of his monetary estate and his 320-volume library to the university. As the oldest university in the U.S., Harvard is globally prominent, ranked third in the QS World University Rankings®. It is first worldwide for life sciences and medicine and second for arts and humanities.
2. The College of William and Mary
Established: 1693
Named for British co-monarchs William and Mary, who granted the university its royal charter, the College of William and Mary is the oldest university in the American South. It was the first U.S. institution to implement an honor code of conduct. Ranked 601-650 globally, it is within the top 450 for arts and humanities. The college has educated three U.S. presidents, including Thomas Jefferson.
3. St. John’s College
Established: 1696
St. John’s College (SJC) is a private liberal arts institution originally founded as King William’s School, the first ‘free’ school in Maryland. It gained its current name in 1784 and now has campuses in Annapolis, Maryland, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Known for small class sizes and personalized attention, SJC was included among the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report.
4. Yale University
Established: 1701
Yale University, originally called Collegiate School, was renamed Yale in 1718 after a donation from Elihu Yale. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, it was established to train ministers but expanded its curriculum to include humanities and sciences by 1777. Yale was the first U.S. university to award a PhD in 1861. It ranks fourth globally for law studies and sixth for arts and humanities.
5. University of Pennsylvania
Established: 1740 (chartered in 1755)
Founded by Benjamin Franklin, the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) was the first U.S. university to offer both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. It was also among the first to have multidisciplinary teaching and the first to establish a medical school in 1765. Penn is ranked 15th in the world overall, particularly renowned for its business and management programs, which rank fifth globally.
6. Moravian College
Established: 1742
Located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Moravian College was founded by 16-year-old Countess Benigna von Zinzendorf as Bethlehem Female Seminary, the first boarding school for young women in the U.S. The institution became coeducational in 1954 and is known for its intimate, student-focused education.
7. University of Delaware
Established: 1743
The University of Delaware (UD) was initially founded as ‘Free School’ and has undergone several name changes and relocations. While it was not officially chartered until 1833, it boasts a long history of high-quality teaching. UD is ranked 491st in the QS World University Rankings.
8. Princeton University
Established: 1746
Founded as the College of New Jersey by New Light Presbyterians, Princeton University is notable for landmarks like Nassau Hall, which served as the temporary U.S. capital in 1783. Princeton is ranked 13th globally, seventh in arts and humanities, and fourth in mathematics.
9. Washington and Lee University
Established: 1749
Located in Lexington, Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts institution named after its major benefactors, George Washington and General Robert E. Lee. Washington’s endowment in 1796 was the largest gift ever given to a U.S. educational institution at that time.
10. Columbia University
Established: 1754
Chartered as King’s College by George II of Britain and renamed Columbia College after U.S. independence, Columbia University is located in New York City. Ranked 18th globally, its alumni include five Founding Fathers of the United States. Columbia is highly regarded for its arts and humanities programs and is known for administering the Pulitzer Prize annually.
These historic U.S. universities not only offer a rich heritage but also continue to innovate and provide exceptional educational opportunities for students worldwide.
