A country that is typically over 200 years when start counting from independence, it is expected that it has some of the Oldest Colleges in the World. some of the universities can trace their origin back to the 17th century and others, 18th, yet they are also part of the elite universities in America today. Having said that, our discussion in this article is centred on the unravelling some of the Oldest colleges in the US, particularly the Top 10 Oldest Universities in America. Read through to satisfy your curiosity on the Oldest Colleges in the US and all you need to know.
TOP 10 OLDEST COLLEGES IN US- ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
we go back to the founding days of universities in the US by digging up the top 10 Oldest Colleges in the US. Amazingly, some of these universities are presently ranked among the Best Universities in the World.
- Harvard University
- The College of William and Mary
- John’s College
- Yale University
- Washington College
- Moravian College
- University of Delaware
- Princeton University
- Washington and Lee University
- University of Pennsylvania
- #1. Harvard University
- Established: 1636
- Chartered: 1650
- Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
It is not a surprise seeing the top-ranked Best Universities in the World still occupying the first spot among the Oldest Colleges in the US. The school is over 300 years old having been established in 1636. Harvard Unversity was not the original name but it was established as “New College” or “the college at New Towne.” The name was changed to the current nomenclature as a sign of appreciation going by the action of philanthropic action of John Harvard, donating £800 and a scholar’s library of 320 volumes to the college. Till date, there is a bronze statue of John Harvard, sculptured by Daniel Chester French sits in Harvard Yard. The institution houses the enormous Harvard Library, considered to be the largest academic library in the world with 79 individual libraries holding over 18 million volumes.
- #2. The College of William and Mary
- Established: 1693
- Chartered: 1693
- Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
William & Mary is a Public elite institution, among the group of eight schools that provide a high scholarly and academic experience at an affordable, public-school cost. This ancient college has produced great minds, the likes of former U.S. presidents like Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, also 16 individuals who were signers of the Declaration of Independence were products of this institution. The institution used to be the meeting point for lawyers and those interested in the law profession in the first century of the college’s existence. Howbeit, the institution presently offers professional programmes which are law, business, education, and marine science.
- #3. St. John’s College
- Established: 1696
- Chartered: 1784
- Location: Maryland, New York City
Third, on our list of the Oldest Colleges in the US is St. John’s College. The institution was however established with the name King William’s School but changed to the current name that it was charter under in 1784. The school was Maryland’s first “free” school (“free” implies to free students through education). The institution’s second campus is opened in Santa Fe, New Mexico, as a response to the high numbers of qualified applicants. St. John’s College offers only one bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, and one master’s program available at the Annapolis campus in liberal arts as well. The college does not make use of grades, however, grades are given on a regular scale, and can be seen when you request directly. More so, the college does not make use of modern textbooks or lectures, rather they use a series of manuals for higher learning.
- #4. Yale University
- Established: 1701
- Chartered: 1701
- Location: New Haven, Connecticut
This Ivy Private University that is among the Oldest Universities in America was established initially to educate Congregational ministers. Meaning that the college intently dedicated to theology and sacred languages until after the American Revolution, when the college began incorporating humanities and sciences into its curriculum. The college’s name was not “Yale College” originally but was changed in honour of benefactor Elihu Yale, who served as governor of the British East India Company. The College strong rival of Harvard and home of the famous “Bulldogs”, is 12 professional schools (including a top-notch law program that consistently ranks in the top three nationally, per the American Bar Association), an undergraduate program, and the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
- #5. Washington College
- Established: 1723
- Chartered: 1782
- Location: Chestertown, Maryland
Washington College traced its history back to Kent County Free School, where it grew from, through the efforts of Reverend William Smith, who is said to be the founder. However, the current name of the school can be traced back to George Washington granted 50 guineas to this school aside from consenting that his name should be used for the school.
- #6. Moravian College
- Established: 1742
- Chartered: 1863
- Location: Bethlehem, Pensylvania
Moravian College is a liberal arts institution came to existence when the State of Pensylvania in 1863, incorporated the Bethlehem Female Seminary which was the first boarding school for young women in the American colonies. The name of the school was renamed “Moravian Seminary and College for Women in 1913. The combination of A men’s Moravian College & Theological Seminary to the existing school in 1954 led to the College’s present name of Moravian College.
- #7. University of Delaware
- Established: 1743
- Chartered: 1833
- Location: Newark, Delaware
The University of Delaware occupying the seventh spot on our list of Oldest Colleges in the US has undergone a lot of reformation. Originally established by Reverend Francis Alison in 1743 as a free school at his home in New London, Pennsylvania. It was then chartered in 1769 by Pennsylvania as Academy of Newark and the name later became Newark College in 1833. Later in 1843, Newark College was changed to Delaware College, and finally renamed the University of Delaware in 1921. The school then became a coeducational college after merging with the Women’s College of Delaware in 1945. Some of the college’s alumni including George Read, Thomas McKean, and James Smith were among the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Presently, the college offers numerous undergraduate and postgraduate programmes including professional certificate programmes.
- #8. Princeton University
- Established: 1746
- Chartered: 1746
- Location: Princeton, New Jersey
this Ivy league private institution was founded by New Light Presbyterians so that ministers can be trained, under the name College of New Jersey. However, the college evolved and soon became the educational and religious capital of Scottish Presbyterian America. A notable site in this school in history is the Nassau Hall considered to be one of the oldest building and served as a temporary capital of the United States because of the meeting of the continental congress held there. Presently, the institution is ranked among the Best Universities in the World in the world at 13th spot.
- #9. Washington and Lee University
- Established: 1749
- Chartered: 1782
- Location: Lexington, Virginia
George Washington was the first major sponsor of this institution, donating $20,000 to the college in 1796. This was the largest donation ever to be given to an educational institution in the United States at that time. This private liberal arts university experienced a series of designations before settling on Washington & Lee. The college runs 40 undergraduate programmes and offers professional degrees through the Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics, including the School of Law.
- #10. University of Pennsylvania
- Established: 1751
- Chartered: 1755
- Location:
Last on our list is the University of Pensylvania was founded by Benjamin Franklin. This college was the first to follow the pattern of the multidisciplinary model used by European schools. The University of Pensylvania undergone several reformations and has a lot of history, notably, having the first medical school in the United States, which started programs in 1765, including a college-level business school, in Wharton, founded in 1881.
Conclusion on the Top 10 Oldest Colleges In US- All you need to know
I believe that by now you are acquainted with the top Oldest Colleges in the US. These colleges are ranked among the Oldest Universities in the World even though these colleges may not possess the ancient context of higher learning like some European Universities, however, they provide a look back into the United States past. Interestingly, some of these universities are among the Top Universities in the world rendering quality and high academic training and research that cut across every facet of life.
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