If someone asks you to name 10 universities in the United States, you’d probably be able to. But what if they ask you about the newest and oldest universities in the US? Here are the first founded universities in the country and the ones that can be considered “babies” to help you answer that question.
5 Oldest Universities In The U.S.
1. HARVARD UNIVERSITY: Most Prestigious University Around The World
- Year Established: 1636
- Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
- College type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral/Research Universities – Extensive
- Highest degree offered: Doctor’s degree
Flickr user Ian Lamont
Founded in 1636, Harvard is the oldest university in the U.S. It is also the most prestigious university, not just in the U.S. but around the world. It is named after John Harvard, its first benefactor.
This Ivy League school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts with a campus that sprawls across 210 acres. The campus houses11 different faculties and is also home to the world’s largest academic library and more than 450 student organizations ranging from dance, music, and visual arts to journalism, public service, and more. For students attending Harvard, participating in extracurricular activities is a vital aspect of the much talked about ‘Harvard experience’.
The lineup of famous alumni is no less impressive with 8 U.S. Presidents, 48 Pulitzer Prize winners, and numerous other well-known scholars, entrepreneurs, politicians, and philanthropists. Some of the notable names in recent years include Presidents John F. Kennedy, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg.
2. WILLIAM AND MARY: Oldest Law School In The U.S.
- Year Established: 1693
- Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
- College type: Public, 4-year or above
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral/Research Universities – Intensive
- Highest degree offered: Doctor’s degree
William and Mary University, the second-oldest university in the U.S., is famous for its many firsts including the first law school in America, the first college to become a university, the first Greek-letter society, and the first student honor code. It is also alma mater to U.S. Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe.
The school has an interesting history. Wishing to establish a royal university, King William III and Queen Mary II founded the Virginia university in 1693. However, the plans for the college date back much earlier to 1618, which is long before Harvard was established. The plans were postponed due to events that occurred at the time.
While the university has retained its original name, its status changed, becoming a private university in 1776, and later a public institution in 1906. Popular primarily for its law and medicine programs, the university also includes diverse professional schools, such as business, education, and marine science. Its students founded the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society in 1776, which is also the oldest honor society for the liberal arts and sciences in the United States.
3. ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE (ANNAPOLIS/SANTA FE): Oldest Private Liberal Arts College In The U.S.
- Year Established: 1696
- Location: Annapolis, Maryland
- College type: Private University
- Carnegie classification: Liberal Arts College
- Highest degree offered: Master’s Degree
A private liberal arts school, St. John’s College is well known for its ‘Great Books’ curriculum where students are encouraged to access and explore over 200 revolutionary books published across 3000 years. Classroom discussions often revolve around world-changing publications in subjects that range from philosophy and literature to science and math among others. The small class sizes, focus on personalized attention and other policies have earned this institution a place among the more forward-thinking, future-proof colleges in America.
St. John’s College was originally established as King William’s School. At the time, it operated as Maryland colony’s free public school. It currently operates as a dual campus school with a second campus in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Students can transfer between campuses to earn their degree.
4. YALE UNIVERSITY: The First US University To Award A PhD in 1861
- Year Established: 1701
- Location: New Haven, Connecticut
- College type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral/Research Universities – Extensive
- Highest degree offered: Doctor’s degree
Yale is well known as one of the ‘Big Three Universities’ within the Ivy League, along with Harvard and Princeton. Interestingly, it was founded in 1701 as the Collegiate School in Saybrook in the Connecticut Colony. The college’s trustees voted to relocate the school to New Haven, Connecticut in 1716.
Fourteen constituent schools divide this Ivy League private university’s campus. Faculties oversee their own curriculum and degree programs, though Yale Corporation governs the whole university. With over 15 million boosts covering a wide range of subjects, Yale boasts the third largest academic library in the U.S. President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Meryl Streep, and Jodie Foster are just a few of many well-known Yale graduates.
5. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA: First US University To Establish A Medical School in 1765
- Year Established: 1740
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- College type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral/Research Universities – Extensive
- Highest degree offered: Doctor’s degree
Although the University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1740, classes actually began many years later with the first classes taught only in 1751. The delay was largely due to the promised funding not coming through. Determined to realize this desire to educate future generations from all social backgrounds, Benjamin Franklin persuaded the leading citizens of Pennsylvania to form a Board of Trustees. A new school was finally established and started operating in the original building constructed in 1740.
Today, the University of Pennsylvania, also known as UPenn or Penn, operates as a private not-for-profit institution with a total of 12 world-famous undergraduate and graduate schools. This well-known Ivy League school is credited with many notable firsts, including the first college school of business, the first university hospital, and the first student union building. It was also among the first universities to have a medical school back in 1765 and is also home to the oldest psychology department.
Some of its many famous graduates include President William Henry Harrison, businessman Warren Buffet, entrepreneur Elon Must, poet Ezra Pound, and nine Nobel Prize winners.
Fun Fact: Four of the five oldest schools continually rank in the top 50 Best Colleges each year.
5 Newest Universities In The U.S.
They may not have as long a history as the oldest universities in the U.S. but these five newest universities are no less impressive, having accomplished a lot within a short time.
1. FLORIDA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY: Newest Public University Dedicated To Schience, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
- Year Established: 2012
- Location: Lakeland, Florida
- College type: Public, 4-year or above
- Highest degree offered: Master’s degree
Florida Polytechnic University was established in 2012 but admissions and classes started 2 years later in 2014. This school focuses only on STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Even the traditions and celebrations on campus revolve around STEM topics with events that include a 3.14 mile run in March to commemorate Pi Day, an annual math competition, a capstone design showcase for senior students, and a game expo held annually. The campus is home to over 35 assorted clubs and organizations including a Pokémon league and Nerf competitions.
2. GEORGIA GWINNETT COLLEGE: First Public College Established In Georgia In Over 100 Years
- Year Established: 2006
- Location: Lawrenceville, GA
- College type: Public, 4-year or above
- Highest degree offered: Bachelor’s degree
When Georgia Gwinnett College started instruction in 2006, it became the first 4-year school established in the state of Georgia in more than 100 years. Its history began back in 1987 when its sole building was housed on a campus jointly partnered with multiple colleges including Georgia State University and University of Georgia. The university’s signature building materialized only 5 years on a dedicated campus sprawled across 160 acres.
Today, Georgia Gwinnett College offers students more than 60 programs of study and bachelor’s degrees in science, business administration, arts, and integrative studies. Students can choose from 21 majors ranging from political science to cinema and media arts production. Those interested in pursuing teaching at the secondary level can choose from multiple teacher certification tracks. The extracurricular offers are no less impressive with over 100 clubs on campus and 6 intercollegiate athletic teams.
2. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA MERCED: Only US College With A Research Station Located Inside A National Park
- Year Established: 2005
- Location: Merced, California
- College type: Public, 4-year or above.
- Highest degree offered: Doctor’s degree
A public university founded in 2005, the University of California Merced is located in San Joaquin Valley, Merced, California. All buildings on the 810-acre campus are also LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Divided into 3 schools, this university offers 21 undergraduate majors and 22 minors. Its most recent building is the one for science and engineering. They plan on adding two new schools, medicine, and management.
An interesting aspect of this university is its proximity to the famous Yosemite National Park. Students interested in wildlife, nature and the outdoors can enroll in one of several wilderness-related clubs and outdoor organizations. UC Merced houses several special research centers and institutes on its campus and is credited with being the only campus to have a research station located right in the park. The research facilities are equipped for conducting research in multiple fields ranging from climate change and solar energy to cancer, diabetes, and bacterial diseases.
3. COLLEGE OF THE MUSCOGEE NATION: Newest Of 35 Tribal Colleges In The US
- Year Established: 2004
- Location: Okmulgee, OK
- College type: Public, 2-year
- Highest degree offered: Associate’s degree
The College of the Muscogee Nation is one of 35 tribal colleges and universities in the U.S. that form the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. This public tribal community college emphasizes native culture, language, values, and self-determination. All students, tribal as well as non-tribal, participate in common academic experiences that are best defined as general education requirements. The college focuses on encouraging lifelong learning through outstanding instructional quality and visionary leadership.
In addition to general education, the College of the Muscogee Nation also offers several Tribal-specific programs that lead to certificates or associate degrees. These courses include subjects such as Mvskoke language, Mvskoke studies, and others that focus on the needs and interests of the Muscogee Nation. This is one of only 7 tribal colleges in the United States to offer a degree related to tribal administration. The campus is diverse and multicultural, with students encouraged to participate in traditions, share cultures, and speak Native languages. The school’s motto is ‘Preserving the past, cultivating futures.’
4. AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY: Newest Catholic University In The US
- Year Established: 2003
- Location: Ave Maria, FL
- College type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
- Highest degree offered: Doctor’s degree
When Ave Maria University was established in 2003, it became the first Catholic university to open since 1863. Rooted in Catholic values and traditions, this private university’s curriculum offers a mix of faith-based and non-religious areas of study. Faith-based disciplines include catechetics, Catholic studies, marriage and family studies, theology, and early Christian literature. Non-religious programs include marine biology, mathematics, medieval studies, and politics, among others. This is one of the few universities that offers a Ph.D. program in theology.
The college campus is located in the town of Ave Maria, Florida–east of Naples. 90% of the students live on campus, which is in keeping with the university’s core mission of living in community. In 2012, Ave Maria University featured in the U.S News & World Report’s “Best Colleges 2012” list of “National Liberal Arts College Rankings”.
5. SOKA UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA: Newest University For Environmental Studies In The US
- Year Established: 2001
- Location: Av Aliso Viejo, CA
- College type: Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above
- Highest degree offered: Master’s degree
Located in Aliso Viejo, California, this liberal arts school has pacifism, human rights, and the coexistence of nature and humanity as its main principles. The university offers bachelor degrees in areas such as Environmental Studies, Humanities, Social & Behavioral Sciences, or International Studies, and master degrees in Educational Leadership and Societal Change. Additionally, students must at least one non-native language. The university offers a choice of popular languages including Spanish, French, Mandarin, and Japanese.
Class sizes are smaller than most schools, not exceeding 12 students, ensuring that every student receives personalized attention.
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