The Oldest Schools in Every U.S. State (Colleges and Universities) Since 1636

The Oldest Schools in Every U.S. State (Colleges and Universities) Since 1636

 The Founding Fathers championed education as an American right and thought it was essential to ensuring our independence, making education a fundamental cornerstone of America's success. What kind of education did the Founders have? The oldest college in the country, Harvard, was attended by a number of the American founding fathers. James Madison graduated from Princeton, John Adams from Harvard, and Thomas Jefferson from the College of William and Mary. The Playground Equipment team put together a list of the oldest universities in the country as a way to honour the spirit of education that helped to build America:

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 That includes the oldest university in each state, many of which have stunning campuses that are steeped in history. But what institution of any kind is the oldest in America? The Boston Latin institution, founded in 1635, is the oldest institution in the country. The curriculum is still based on the 18th-century Latin school movement, which mandates that all pupils take three to four years of Latin. Five signers of the Declaration of Independence and four presidents of Harvard University attended this high school, which is also the oldest in the country.

What Is the Oldest College in America?

The oldest college in the United States of America is Harvard University.

When Was Harvard University Founded?

On September 8, 1636, Harvard University was founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was given that name in honour of the college's first donor, Puritan minister John Harvard. He gave the school his amazing library of more than 400 books as well as part of his holdings.

Is Harvard University Older Than America?

Yes! On July 4, 1776, America formally declared its independence, making Harvard the country's first university. Nine students graduated from Harvard's first commencement in 1642, launching a range of political and religious professions. The graduation ceremony honoured the accomplishments of the diligent students and made it obvious to England that the American colonies were aiming high.

Top 10 Oldest Colleges in the United States

1. Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts), established in 1636
2. College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA), established in 1693
3. St. John’s College (Annapolis, Maryland), established in 1696
4. Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut), established in 1701
5. University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), established in 1740
6. University of Delaware (Newark, Delaware), established in 1743
7. Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey), established in 1746
8. Columbia University (New York, New York), established in 1754
9. Brown University (Providence, Rhode Island), 1764
10. Dartmouth College (Hanover, New Hampshire), established in 1769

Oldest College in Each State

State + College + Year + Location

Alabama   University of North Alabama   1830   Florence, AL

Alaska   University of Alaska Fairbanks   1917   Fairbanks, AK

Arizona   University of Arizona   1885   Tucson, AZ

Arkansas   University of the Ozarks   1834   Clarksville, AR

California   Santa Clara University   1851   Santa Clara, CA

Colorado   University of Denver   1864   Denver, CO

Connecticut   Yale University   1701   New Haven, CT

Delaware   University of Delaware   1743   Newark, DE Florida   Florida State University   1851   Tallahassee, FL Georgia   University of Georgia   1785   Athens, GA Hawaii   University of Hawaii at Manoa   1907   Honolulu, HI Idaho   Brigham Young University   1888   Rexburg, ID Illinois   McKendree University   1828   Lebanon, IL Indiana   Vincennes University   1801   Vincennes, IN Iowa   Loras College   1839   Dubuque, IA Kansas   Baker University   1858 Baldwin City, KS Kentucky   Transylvania University   1780   Lexington, KY Louisiana   Centenary College of Louisiana   1825   Shreveport, LA Maine   Bowdoin College   1794   Brunswick, ME Maryland   St. John’s College   1696   Annapolis, MD Massachusetts   Harvard University   1636   Cambridge, MA Michigan   University of Michigan   1817   Ann Arbor, MI Minnesota   University of Minnesota, Twin Cities   1851   Minneapolis, MN Mississippi   Mississippi College   1826   Clinton, MS Clinton, MS Missouri   Saint Louis University   1818   St. Louis, MO Montana   Rocky Mountain College   1878   Billings, MT Nebraska   Peru State College   1867   Peru, NE Nevada   University of Nevada, Reno   1874   Reno, NV New Hampshire   Dartmouth College   1769   Hanover, NH New Jersey   Princeton University   1746   Princeton, NJ New Mexico   New Mexico State University   1888   Las Cruces, NM New York   Columbia University   1754   New York   Columbia University   1754   New York, NY North Carolina   Salem College   1772   Winston Salem, NC North Dakota   University of North Dakota   1883   Grand Forks, ND Ohio   Ohio University   1804   Athens, OH Oklahoma   University of Central Oklahoma   1890   Edmond, OK Oregon   Willamette University   1842   Salem, OR Pennsylvania   University of Pennsylvania   1740   Philadelphia, PA Rhode Island   Brown University   1764   Providence, RI South Carolina College of Charleston   1770   Charleston, SC South Dakota   Augustana College   1860   Sioux Falls, SD Tennessee   Tusculum College   1794   Tusculum, TN Texas   Southwestern University   1840   Georgetown, TX Utah   University of Utah   1850   Salt Lake City, UT Vermont   Castleton State College   1787   Castleton, VT Virginia   College of William & Mary   1693   Williamsburg, VA Washington   University of Washington   1861   Seattle, WA West Virginia   Bethany College   1840   Bethany, WV Wisconsin   Carroll University   1846   Waukesha, WI Wyoming   University of Wyoming   1886   Laramie, WY