Going to college or university after high school is most people’s plan right now. However, there was a time when Colleges were not a thing. In fact, the first college was not established until the 1600s.
At first, they were a source of education for people going into the ministry, but over time, they grew broader. Here’s a look at the top ten oldest universities in the U.S. from the very first one to exist.
1) Harvard University
Harvard is one of the world’s most popular and prestigious schools, and for good reason, too. It was the first official college in the United States and was established in 1636 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It got its name from John Havard, who donated a large sum of money and a huge library of books to the school.
2) The College of William & Mary
This is the second oldest college in the U.S. It was founded in 1693, although plans for it were already in place as early as 1618. It is located in Williamsburg, Virginia.
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3) St. John’s College
St. John’s College is located in Annapolis, Maryland, and was established in 1696. Initially, it was a prep school, but it became a college a century later.
4) Yale University
Yale is also one of the most popular universities in the world. It is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and was founded centuries ago, in 1701.
5) University of Pennsylvania
This uni started off as a charity school by an evangelist in 1740 but was not completed because of a lack of funds. A decade later, Benjamin Franklin helped the school, and it became the Academy and Charitable School in the Province of Pennsylvania.
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6) Moravian College
A 16-year-old Countess, Benigna von Zinzendorf, founded Moravian in 1976. It was the first boarding school for young women in the American colonies during that time. She also launched the male version that same year but later joined both as one several years later. It is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
7) University of Delaware
Rev. Dr. Francis Alison founded this school in 1743 in New London, Pennsylvania, after a petition to create an educated clergy caught his eye. Later on, the school relocated to Newark, Delaware, in 1765.
8) Princeton University
Princeton is another prestigious university that was founded in the 1700s. It began as the College of New Jersey in 1946 but changed to Princeton after it moved to Princeton, New Jersey.
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9) Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee is one of the most historical universities in history, previously called Augusta Academy. It was named after George Washington and Robert E. Lee, two of the most important men in the country’s history. It was established in 1749 and is located in Lexington, Virginia.
10) Columbia University
Before it became Columbia University, it was called King’s College when it was established in 1754. After the American Revolution, it was renamed in 1784. It is the oldest college in New York.
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