Oldest Colleges in the US and historical campus are intriguing to students at home and abroad. What comes to your mind when mentioning the oldest colleges in US? The answers may be historical campuses, rich traditions, famous alumni and academic excellence. These oldest university in US not only reflect the evolution of US higher education but also inspire future advancements. Many oldst public schools have played an important role in American education, politics, and history. Countless successful alumni have contributed to the development of the colleges, inspiring students to study hard and pursue their dreams. Come and see what are the oldest colleges in America and how charming they are.
List of Top 15 Oldest Colleges in the US
We collect the top 15 oldest colleges in America with their latest information to help you learn about these prestigious institutions.
| Number | University name | Established time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | 1636 |
| 2 | College of William & Mary | 1693 |
| 3 | St John’s College | 1696 |
| 4 | Yale University | 1701 |
| 5 | University of Pennsylvania | 1740 |
| 6 | Moravian College | 1742 |
| 7 | University of Delaware | 1743 |
| 8 | Princeton University | 1746 |
| 9 | Washington and Lee University | 1749 |
| 10 | Columbia University | 1754 |
| 11 | Brown University | 1764 |
| 12 | Rutgers University | 1766 |
| 13 | Dartmouth College | 1769 |
| 14 | College of Charleston | 1770 |
| 15 | Salem College | 1772 |
Are you curious about how these US oldest colleges got their current names? Keep reading, and you will know.
Note:
The acceptance rate of the earliest colleges in America in the US below is from US News 2024, and the university ranking is from QS World University Rankings 2025.
1. Harvard University
- Established: 1636
- Location: Massachusetts
- Acceptance rate: 3%
- QS ranking: #4
- Top Courses: Computer Science, Economics, and Political Science
Harvard University stands as first colleges in the United States and the oldest Ivy League school. It was founded by Massachusetts legislature. Originally named “New College”, it was later named Harvard University after the university benefactor John Harvard.
This private research university has produced 8 U.S. presidents and hundreds of Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners.
Harvard University has three campuses in Cambridge, Allston, and Boston, and it has academic and non-academic resources to ensure students’ comprehensive development.
Harvard University has the largest academic library in the United States, which is the fifth largest in the world.
2. College of William & Mary
- Established: 1693
- Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
- Acceptance rate: 33%
- QS ranking: #1001-1200
- Top Courses: Law, Public Policy, and Marine Science
Named after Kings William III and Mary II of England, the College of William and Mary is the second oldest universities in the US. It is a medium-sized public school and places emphasis on liberal arts education.
Its campus is very beautiful and of great historical value, and the school itself is a scenic spot in one of the major cultural tourism areas in the United States.
The Wayne Building at the College of William and Mary is by far the oldest university building in the United States. It was designed by Christopher Wayne, the most outstanding architect in British history, and is the oldest building still in use in the United States.
3. St John’s College
- Established: 1696
- Location: Annapolis, MD
- Acceptance rate: 50%
- Top Courses: Mathematics and Philosophy
St. John’s College is a Liberal Arts College and the third oldest colleges in the US. It has two campuses in Annapolis, Maryland and Santa Fe, New Mexico. The school’s predecessor was the King William School in 1696 – the first “free” school in Maryland.
St. John’s opposes university rankings. Since 2005, St. John’s has refused to participate in any college ranking surveys by ceasing to provide data to survey agencies, although U.S. News rankings still put it in the ranking list.
4. Yale University
- Established: 1701
- Location: New Haven, CT
- Acceptance rate: 5%
- QS ranking: #23
- Top Courses: Political Science, Economics, and Computer Science
Yale University‘s original name was the Collegiate School. This Ivy League School was named after university benefactor Elihu Yale, who served as Governor of the British East India Company. As one of the best research universities and one of oldest college in US, Yale University attaches great importance to the quality of education and is committed to training world leaders and famous figures in all fields.
Most of Yale’s old buildings are in the Gothic style, which shows the campus culture. The Yale University Library is the second largest university library in the world, with 11 million volumes housed in 22 buildings, including the largest Stalling Memorial Library, the Beinecke Rare Books Library, and the Law School Library.
5. University of Pennsylvania
- Established: 1740
- Location: Philadelphia，PA
- Acceptance rate: 7%
- QS ranking: #11
- Top Courses: Biology, Finance, and Political Science
The University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy League school founded by Benjamin Franklin. It is one of oldest university in US. With an admission rate of 7%, it was the first academic institution to follow the multidisciplinary model of European school practice.
Famous for its high-quality scientific research and rich scientific research results, Penn is a vibrant place to live and study. However, it does not offer co-op programs and does not promote full-time internships for the sole purpose of earning money.
It is home to the first university business school in the United States, the Wharton School, which has been repeatedly ranked as the best business school in the world.
6. Moravian College
- Established: 1742
- Location: Bethlehem, PA
- Acceptance rate: 7%
- Top Courses: Psychology, Nursing, and Business
Moravian College, originally known as Bethlehem Seminary for Girls, was the first all-girls boarding school in the United States. It is a private liberal arts college and one of oldest colleges in America.
The College has more than 50 academic programs and offers each incoming freshman the opportunity to do hands-on work on-site.
7. University of Delaware
- Established: 1743
- Location: Newark, DE
- Acceptance rate: 72%
- QS ranking: #506
- Top Courses: Engineering, Business, and Environmental Studies
The University of Delaware is one of US oldest colleges. It was founded as Newark College in 1743 and officially changed its name to the University of Delaware in 1921.
The University of Delaware attaches great importance to cooperation and exchanges with famous universities worldwide to provide students with overseas study opportunities. Since establishing its first study abroad program in 1923, the University of Delaware has led international education.
The university offers very limited housing, so if senior students miss the draw, they have to move off-campus to rent student apartments.
8. Princeton University
- Established: 1746
- Location: Princeton, NJ
- Acceptance rate: 6%
- QS ranking: #22
- Top Courses: Computer Science, Molecular Biology, and Business
As one of earliest colleges in America, Princeton University was originally founded as the “College of New Jersey” in 1746 on a land grant by King George II of Great Britain. It is also used to train ministers.
Princeton University Library is one of the largest academic libraries in North America and the world. As of 2024, the library has more than 10 million printed books, 5 million manuscripts, 2 million non-print items, and a vast array of digital text, data, images, audio, video, and online resources.
Princeton University was the first school to adopt the Tiger nickname, and it was widely adopted on campus. In 1882, the nickname officially appeared on the campus crest and became the campus mascot.
9. Washington and Lee University
- Established: 1749
- Location: Lexington, VA
- Acceptance rate: 17%
- Top Courses: Business Administration, Journalism, Law, and Mass Communications
The name of this first colleges in the United States is related to Washington and Lee. Washington and Lee University was founded by General Robert E. Lee in the late years of the Civil War and was originally called Augusta College. It was funded by founding President George Washington due to a financial crisis, who donated $20,000 in 1796.
Washington and Lee University has a southern culture style and pays more attention to the integrity of education. Besides, it is famous for producing a large number of outstanding graduates who impact society in the fields of business, management, and law.
As the top liberal arts college in the United States, Washington and Lee University is mainly composed of two undergraduate colleges: the College and the Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics.
10. Columbia University
- Established: 1754
- Location: New York，NY
- Acceptance rate: 4%
- QS ranking: #34
- Top Courses: Economics, Journalism, and Political Science
Columbia University is a top private research university located in Morningside Heights, Upper Manhattan, New York, USA. Originally known as King’s College, it was established in 1754 by Royal Charter issued by King George II of England. In 1896, its name was changed to “Columbia University.”
One of Columbia’s special features is its location in New York, close to Wall Street, the United Nations headquarters, and Broadway. In this national cultural, financial, and diplomatic center, students can find opportunities for their own development during their studies.
11. Brown University
- Established: 1764
- Location: Providence, RI
- Acceptance rate: 5%
- QS ranking: #79
- Top Courses: Computer Science, Biology, and Creative Writing
Brown University is one of the first American colleges. It was originally named Rhode Island College, a boys-only Baptist school, then changed its name in 1770 after receiving a donation from Nicholas Brown Jr. In 1891, women were admitted to Brown University for the first time.
Brown University strengthens international exchanges and maintains strong partnerships with universities around the world, such as Cuba, the United Kingdom and Japan.
12. Rutgers University
- Established: 1766
- Location: New Brunswick, NJ
- Acceptance rate: 66%
- QS ranking: #328
- Top Courses: Psychology, Pharmacy, and Computer Science
In honour of Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III of England, Rutgers University was chartered as Queen’s College and affiliated with the Dutch Reformed Church. It was an all-boys school then. In 1825, the school changed its name to Rutgers University in memory of Colonel Henry Rutgers of the Revolutionary War.
Rutgers University is one of oldest universities in the US, with a history of more than 200 years. In 2024, its acceptance rate was 66%, which is a moderately selective choice for international students. Entrance examinations and students’ past academic records are the main admission basis.
13. Dartmouth College
- Established: 1769
- Location: Hanover, NH
- Acceptance rate: 6%
- QS ranking: #243
- Top Courses: Social Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics and Statistics
Dartmouth College is one of the nine colonial colleges founded before the American Revolution, and it was originally intended as a school to teach Christian theology and the English way of life to Native Americans.
It is one of the US oldest colleges and one of the Ivy League schools. Dartmouth College is the only Ivy League school that is called a “college” rather than a “university”, which shows its focus and attention on liberal arts education.
14. College of Charleston
- Established: 1770
- Location: Charleston, SC
- Acceptance rate: 76%
- Top Courses: Speech Communication and Rhetoric, Psychology
The College of Charleston Business School has a good reputation in the United States, and the proportion of business school professors who have obtained the Certified Global Business Professionals (CGBP) ranks first in the world, and the professors who have obtained the certification have overseas study, work and life experience, can provide high-quality education for students.
15. Salem College
- Established: 1772
- Location: Winston-Salem, NC
- Acceptance rate: 81%
- Top Courses: Biological and Biomedical Sciences, History
Salem College is a women’s liberal arts college, and its Fleer Center offers adult education and graduate programs for men and women.
Though Salem College is one of the oldest colleges in the US, it is a very small institution formally affiliated with the Christian-Protestant religion.
It has a variety of leadership development programs, including the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program, the Leadership Institute, and the Women in Public Service Project.
Conclusion
Each of these oldest universities in the United States has its own story, and they have developed step by step with their own strong strength, cultivating generation after generation of outstanding talents, with its unique teaching and strong academic resources to provide students with a good learning environment, to help them better pursue their ideals.
FAQ
What is the oldest college in the US?
Harvard University.
Harvard University is the oldest college in the US. It was founded in 1636 and is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts (MA). Its admission rate is 6%.
What is the oldest Ivy League school?
Harvard University is the oldest Ivy League school and it is also the oldest college in the US.
What is the oldest public university in USA?
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the oldest public university in the United States. It was chartered in 1789 and officially opened its doors to students in 1795.
