Oldest Universities and Colleges in USA

While there is no consensus as to the oldest universities in the United States, there are many universities that have been around for centuries. According to historians, Harvard University was founded by Puritans in 1636 and is one of the oldest colleges in the United States. The country’s oldest university, King’s College in New York City, traces its roots back to 1696.
 
Oldest universities in united states

 

Please find the oldest universities and colleges in the USA below,

1. Harvard University 

Harvard University is one of the oldest university in US.

Harvard was founded in 1636 and it is one of the wealthiest universities in the world. It has an endowment of $37 billion, which makes it one of the richest educational institutions in America.

Harvard University offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs to its students.

It has been ranked as the best university in America for 14 consecutive years by U.S News & World Report, and it is also ranked as one of the best universities worldwide by QS World University Rankings.

 

Harvard University Acceptance rate

Harvard University acceptance rate is at 6% indicating high competition.

2. College of William and Mary

 The College of William and Mary was founded in 1693. It is the oldest college in the United States. It has a strong reputation for its research, academic, and community service programs. The College has a beautiful campus which is surrounded by historic gardens and trees.

The College of William and Mary is an American public liberal arts college located in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by King William III and Queen Mary II, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States, with a history that can be traced back to 1618 when Reverend Dr. James Blair became President of a new school at Henrico Cittie (present-day Richmond).

College of William and Mary Acceptance rate

Harvard University’s acceptance rate is around 33%.

3. St. John’s College – Annapolis

St. John’s College is a private liberal arts college in Annapolis, Maryland. Founded in 1696, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the oldest in the region. St. John’s is known for its strong undergraduate program and its unique curriculum, which is centered on the study of the Great Books of Western Civilization.

St. John’s has a small student body of around 500 undergraduate students and a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1, which allows for close relationships between students and faculty.

St. John’s College Acceptance rate

St. John’s College’s acceptance rate is around 53.2%.

4. Yale University

Yale University is a private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1701, it is the third oldest university of higher education in the United States and one of the nine Colonial Colleges chartered before the American Revolution.

Yale university is known for its strong tradition of undergraduate and graduate education, as well as its research in a wide range of academic fields. Its distinguished faculty includes numerous Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur “geniuses.” Yale university is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the United States and the world.

Yale University Acceptance rate

Yale university’s acceptance rate for international students is around 12%

5. Washington College

Washington College is a private liberal arts college in Chestertown, Maryland. Founded in 1782, it is the tenth oldest college in the United States and one of the oldest colleges chartered in the new republic. The college is named after George Washington, who donated his personal library and 50 guineas to the college, making it the first institution of higher education to be named after an American president. 

 

Washington college Acceptance rate

Washington College’s acceptance rate for international students is around 69.9%
 

6. University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania (commonly known as Penn) is a private Ivy League research university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin, Penn is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nine Colonial Colleges chartered before the American Revolution.

University of Pennsylvania is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the United States and the world. It is known for its strong programs in business, engineering, and the arts and sciences, as well as its distinguished professional schools in law, medicine, and education.

University of Pennsylvania Acceptance rate

University of Pennsylvania’s acceptance rate for international students is around 6%
 

7. Moravian College & Moravian Theological Seminary

Moravian College is a private liberal arts college in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1742, it is the sixth-oldest college in the United States and one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the country. Moravian College has a small student body of around 2,000 undergraduate students and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in the arts and sciences, business, and education. The college has a strong commitment to community service and encourages students to get involved in service projects and internships. 
 

Moravian College & Moravian Theological Seminary Acceptance rate

Moravian College & Moravian Theological Seminary’s acceptance rate for international students is around 78%
 

8. University of Delaware 

The University of Delaware (UD) is a public research university located in Newark, Delaware. Founded in 1743, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state and one of the oldest colleges in the country. UD has a diverse student body of around 21,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines, including the arts and sciences, business, education, engineering, and health sciences. 

Moravian College & Moravian Theological Seminary Acceptance rate

University of Delaware’s acceptance rate for international students is around 72.3%
 

9. Princeton University

Princeton University is a private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746, it is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nine Colonial Colleges chartered before the American Revolution. Princeton is known for its strong undergraduate and graduate programs and is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the United States and the world.

Princeton has a small student body of around 5,400 undergraduate and 2,600 graduate students, and it is known for its rigorous academic programs and close relationships between students and faculty.  

Princeton University Acceptance rate

Princeton University’s acceptance rate for international students is around 4.4%
 

10. Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts university in Lexington, Virginia. Founded in 1749, it is the ninth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the oldest in the South. The university is named after two of its most famous presidents, George Washington and Robert E. Lee.

Washington and Lee has a small student body of around 2,200 undergraduate and 200 graduate students and is known for its strong liberal arts programs and close relationships between students and faculty. 

Washington and Lee University Acceptance rate

Washington and Lee University’s acceptance rate for international students is around 19%
 

11. Columbia University

Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university in New York City. Founded in 1754, it is the oldest institution of higher education in New York and one of the nine Colonial Colleges chartered before the American Revolution. Columbia is known for its strong undergraduate and graduate programs and is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the United States and the world.

Columbia has a diverse student body of around 8,000 undergraduate and 23,000 graduate students, and it offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in a variety of disciplines, including the arts and sciences, business, engineering, and journalism. 

Columbia University Acceptance rate

Columbia University’s acceptance rate for international students is around 4.1%
 

Top 11 universities and colleges in the USA as per the founding year

 
Universities/Colleges Founding Year
Harvard University 1636
College of William & Mary 1693
St. John’s College – Annapolis 1696
Yale University 1701
Washington College 1782
University of Pennsylvania 1740
Moravian College & Moravian Theological Seminary 1742
University of Delaware 1743
Princeton University 1746
Washington & Lee University 1749
Columbia University 1754

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