17 Oldest Colleges In The US

Did you know that Thomas Jefferson and George Washington both studied at one of the oldest universities in the world? The College of William and Mary or (W&M). But that’s not all; there’s more that awaits you to turn the pages of history and peep through their journey. Without any further ado, let’s get started and discover the oldest universities in the US?

17 Top Oldest Universities in the USA

The United States is home to some of the oldest colleges in America, many of which continue to be beacons of academic excellence. From Harvard University, widely recognized as the oldest university in the USA, to the University of Pennsylvania, these prestigious institutions have been shaping American graduates for centuries. Join us as we explore 17 of the most distinguished and long-standing among the oldest universities in the USA.

1. Harvard University

Year of Establishment: 1636

Location: Cambridge, MA

Acceptance Rate: 6%

Alumni: Mark Zuckerburg, Bill Gates, Natalie Portman

QS Ranking: #4 

Number of Students Enrolled: 20,000 - 25,000

“Harvard University's Widener Library boasts 57 miles of shelf space and can accommodate over three million volumes.”

Harvard University is the first university in the United States, or so the claim has been for 100s of years and is also considered the oldest university in the US. The curriculum at the oldest universities in the USA, included the requirement of Latin speaking for applications. Once accepted, the students had to take up courses in other languages, such as Greek, Hebrew, and Latin, through dramas and histories. At the current date, Harvard boasts of some of the most popular alumni networks in the world. With notable landmarks such as the Widener Library and the Harvard Yard, Harvard is truly the oldest American university. If you are interested in getting more insights on the acceptance rate, then read our blog on Harvard University acceptance rate 2024.

2. College of William & Mary

Year of establishment: 1693

Location: Williamsburg, VA

Acceptance Rate: 33%

Alumni: U.S. Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, Jon Stewart, Glenn Close

QS Ranking: #901-950 

Number of Students Enrolled: 9,000 students

"The College of William and Mary is the birthplace of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society."

The College of William & Mary has a distinguished history as one of the oldest colleges in the US. The college has a traditional walk ceremony for newly enrolled students during the convocation ceremony, called ‘Welcome Home’, where the faculty and important members of society greet them. This college recently got mass media coverage for renewing the traditional walk for the 2023-2024 students. As one of the oldest universities in the United States, the campus features historic buildings, including the Sir Christopher Wren Building, which is still in use.

3. St John's College

Year of establishment: 1696

Location: Annapolis, MD

Acceptance Rate: 87%

Alumni: Francis Scott Key, Jacob Bronowski, Caleb Carr

QS Ranking: #161-170

Number of Students Enrolled: 800

“The students of St. Johns College were called Red Men before Red Storm owing to the Native American Heritage.”

St. John's College is one of the oldest public universities in the US with an elaborate history of 143 years. The liberal arts college has campuses in Annapolis, Maryland and Santa Fe in Mexico, with a unique approach to providing education. One of the oldest colleges in the US, St. John’s College remains one of the best universities in the US today due to its adaptable nature. The oldest university in the US launched its new logo, redesigned university crest, and an online Johnnie Store, recently.

4. Yale University

Year of establishment: 1701

Location: New Haven, CT

Acceptance Rate: 6%

Alumni: U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, Meryl Streep, Paul Krugman

QS Ranking: #16

Number of Students Enrolled: 13,600

“Yale was named after a wealthy British Merchant, Elihu Yale, who made several donations.”

Yale University New Haven, Connecticut, is one of the most prestigious and oldest colleges in the US, originally chartered by the colonial legislature of Connecticut in 1701. It boasts one of the most beautiful urban campuses in the USA, with tree-lined pathways and canopies. Being the third oldest American university, it went through a lot of changes over the period, such as the name from Collegiate College to Yale in 1716. Consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the world, one of the oldest universities in the US, once emphasized classical studies and orthodox Puritanism adherence. Read our blog to know more about the top universities in the world which will help you excel in your academic as well as professional career.

5. University of Pennsylvania

Year of establishment: 1740

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Acceptance Rate: 10%

Alumni: U.S. President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Andrea Mitchell

QS Ranking: #12 

Number of Students Enrolled: 26,600 

“The Penn University remained unfinished for over a decade.”

Also known as Penn, the University of Pennsylvania is another private Ivy League Research University with a diverse student body: more than 26,000 students study in the 100 undergraduate majors and 200 graduate programs offered. As one of the oldest universities in the United States, it has some historic buildings, like the Fisher Fine Arts Library and the Franklin Field stadium. The University of Pennsylvania also offers students the opportunity to acquire an education of the highest quality while being a part of a diverse and intellectually stimulating community. If you are interested in knowing more about Ivy Leagues, check out our blog on What are Ivy League Schools?

6. Moravian University

Year of establishment: 1742‍

Location: Bethlehem, PA‍

Acceptance Rate: 86%‍

Alumni: H. Richard Niebuhr, John Amos Comenius, Jeffery D. Long

QS Ranking: NA

Number of Students Enrolled: 2,500

“George Washington’s nieces studied here.”

Moravian University is a small private liberal arts university with a long history and a commitment to academic excellence. The university offers over 50 undergraduate majors and minors alongside top graduate programs. Moravian's notable alumni such as Brian Corvino, Austin Rock and many more are some of the most influential thinkers and scholars of their time, reflecting the university's commitment to producing leaders in a variety of fields. The students are engaged in research, internships, and study abroad programs to further interdisciplinary learning and hands-on experience.

7. University of Delaware

Year of establishment: 1743‍

Location: Newark, DE‍

Acceptance Rate: 68%‍

Alumni: U.S. President Joe Biden, Elena Delle Donne, Scott Isaacs, Beverly Daniel Tatum

QS Ranking: NA

Number of Students Enrolled: 24,000

“According to The Kissing Arches legend, couples will be blessed with marriage if they kiss five times beneath the triple brick arches near Memorial Hall.”

The need for an educated clergy led Reverend Dr. Francis Alison to foundation one of the oldest universities in the US. The initial proposal for a free school in New London, Pennsylvania, led to one of the oldest universities in the US. The university also shifted its location to New Ark, where it was finally renamed from the New Ark College to the current University of Delaware in 1843. Within less than 20 years, the institute was designated as one of the land grant colleges in the US. The iconic Memorial Hall and the state-of-the-art Roselle Center for the Arts still survive, reminiscent of the architectural wonder they displayed.

If you are planning to apply to any of these universities, make sure you check the requirements for their entrance exams. These universities mainly focus on exams such as the SAT and GRE.

8. Princeton University

Year of establishment: 1746

Location: Princeton, NJ

Acceptance Rate: 7%

Alumni: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, Jeff Bezos, Michelle Obama

QS Ranking: 17

Number of Students Enrolled: 8500

“On November 19, 1969, Charles "Pete" Conrad, a 1953 graduate, became the 3rd person to walk on the moon & placed a Princeton flag on it.”

One of the oldest American colleges, Princeton University, was initially The College of New Jersey until 1896. One of the many prolific achievements of the oldest college in the US was a series of Olympic gold, silver, and bronze in short put, discus, long jump, and high jump in 1896 by Robert Garrett. If we look at some of the revolutionary moves in current times by one of the oldest colleges in the US, it has embarked on a journey for a net-zero campus.

9. Washington and Lee University

Founded: 1749

Location: Lexington, VA

Acceptance Rate: 19%

Alumni: John W. Davis, Robert E. Lee, Tom Wolfe

QS Ranking: #21

Number of Students Enrolled: 2200

“George Washington provided 100 shares of stock in the James River Canal Company to sustain the institution.”

Named after George Washington and Confederate General Robert E. Lee, who was also its president after the Civil War, Washington and Lee University is one the oldest colleges in the US. One of the pioneering institutions has been renamed multiple times, starting from Augustus Academy to the current Washington and Lee University in the year 1813, after the 100 shares donation by George Washington. The iconic Lee Chapel and Arlington House Museum, which is dedicated to the life and legacy of Robert E. Lee, stands as a testimony of the good work in America even during the period of unrest and wars, both outside and within the US.

10. Columbia University

Year of establishment: 1754

Location: New York City, NY

Acceptance Rate: 7%

Alumni: U.S. President Barack Obama, Warren Buffet, Ruth Bader Ginsburg

QS Ranking: #23 

Number of Students Enrolled: 33300

“The Student Homophile League is the nation's oldest student-run LGBTQ+ rights organization.”

One of the oldest colleges in the US, Columbia University, initially known as King’s College, stands on the land where the Battle of Harlem Heights was fought during the American Revolution. It is also among the nine oldest colleges in the US to have been chartered in the American colonies. Apart from being the pioneer and one of the oldest colleges in the US, the university was the first to introduce M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) in 1770.

11. Brown University

Year of establishment: 1764

Location: Providence, R.L.

Acceptance Rate: 9%

Alumni: John D. Rockefeller Jr., Emma Watson, Jeffrey Eugenides

QS Ranking: 73

Number of Students Enrolled: 10000

“Brown University’s first chancellor, Stephen Hopkins, was an original signer of the Declaration of Independence.”

Brown University is the 7th college in colonial America list, which also makes it one of the oldest colleges in America. The College of Rhodes received its current name in 1801 after the generous donation of $5,000 by the businessman Nicholas Brown. The beautiful campus features the historic Van Wickle Gates and modern Friedman Hall. Also, this oldest American university tries very hard and innovative ways to safeguard historical trees, such as the American Beech, American Elm and Eastern Hemlock Trees, which are linked to the prolific history of the oldest US university.

12. Rutgers University

Year of establishment: 1766

Location: New Brunswick, NJ

Acceptance Rate: 60%

Alumni: Milton Friedman, James Gandolfini, Kristen Davis

QS Ranking: #771-780

Number of Students Enrolled: 70000

“The Yokoi Brothers were the first Japanese students of Rutgers in 1866.”

Rutgers University started as Queens College and got its current name in 1825 after Colonel Henry Rutger, a Revolutionary War Hero. It is one of the oldest colleges in the US, with a history dating back more than 250 years, before the American Revolution. You can say as one of the nine universities founded during the colonial era of America, the bricks of the college saw the country take shape. Apart from being one of the founding and oldest colleges in the US, the university also expanded globally by sending its students to study abroad under the “Junior Year Abroad”. Currently, students of Rutgers from all backgrounds and fields of study can enrol in the study abroad program at one of the oldest universities in the US.

13. Dartmouth College

Year of establishment: 1769

Location: Hanover, NH

Acceptance Rate: 12%

Alumni: Dr. Seuss, Robert Frost, Shonda Rhimes, Mindy Kaling

QS Ranking: #=237

Number of Students Enrolled: 6500

“The Rassias Method® for foreign language was invented by Dartmouth Professor John Rassias in the 1960s.”

Being founded in the century definitely puts it on the list of the oldest colleges in the US. Knowing Dr. Seuss studied here itself implies how brilliant, one of the first and oldest universities in the US is. Dartmouth College is a 269-acre campus built on the riverbank of the Connecticut River. The foundational objective of one of the oldest colleges in the US was to impart education to the youths of Indian tribes, English youth, and others. Owing to the unwavering commitment, there are more than 1,200 native graduates in the alumni circle and more than 200 students representing 70+ tribal nations and communities.  

14. College of Charleston

Year of establishment: 1770

Location: Charleston, SC

Acceptance Rate: 78%

Alumni: Shepard Fairey, Pat Conroy, Stephen Colbert

QS Ranking: #1648

Number of Students Enrolled: 10885

Boasts the distinction of being the oldest educational institution south of Virginia and the 13th oldest in the United States.

The College of Charleston is a public liberal arts and sciences university offering 70+ undergraduate and graduate programs to its more than 10,000+ student student body! The college also offers study abroad programs in over 60 countries, promoting international experience and cultural exchange. Internships, research, and service-learning are provided to the students to ensure they are prepared for the future. The iconic Randolph Hall is a testament to its status as one of the oldest colleges in the U.S.

15. Salem College

Year of establishment: 1772

Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Acceptance Rate: 60%

Alumni: Elizabeth O. Hiller, Emily Prager, Cindy Hensley McCain

QS Ranking: 501-600

Number of Students Enrolled: 469

Honor of being the oldest continuously operating educational institution for women in the United States. 

Salem College is a private women's liberal arts college and one of the oldest colleges in the US for women. With a small student population of 1,100, the college is renowned for its focus on women's leadership and empowerment. The college offers 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.

16. Transylvania University

Year of Establishment: 1780

Location: Lexington, Kentucky

Acceptance Rate: 83%

Alumni: Jefferson Davis (President of the Confederate States), Stephen F. Austin (founder of Texas)

QS Ranking: NA

Number of Students Enrolled: 979

Transylvania University is the first university west of the Allegheny Mountains and the 16th oldest in the United States.

Founded in 1780 by the Virginia Assembly, Transylvania University holds the distinction of being the first college established west of the Allegheny Mountains. Its esteemed alumni roster includes two U.S. vice presidents, two Supreme Court justices, and numerous other government officials, cementing its legacy as a cradle of American leadership and education.

17. Washington & Jefferson College

Year of Establishment: 1781

Location: Washington, Pennsylvania

Acceptance Rate: 46%

Alumni: Presidents James G. Blaine and Thomas E. Dewey, among others

QS Ranking: #223

Number of Students Enrolled: 1151

One of the oldest continuous football programs in the United States, dating back to 1890

Founded in 1781 by three Princeton graduates - John McMillan, Thaddeus Dod, and Joseph Smith - Washington & Jefferson College originated in three log cabin schools in Washington, Pennsylvania. This historical foundation underscores the college's commitment to education and its enduring legacy in American higher learning.“The Rassias Method® for foreign language was invented by Dartmouth Professor John Rassias in the 1960s.”

The oldest colleges in the US have produced some of the most influential thinkers, leaders, and innovators of our time. So, if you are looking for a reason to study in the USA, look no further than these oldest colleges in the US. If you are planning to apply to any of these mentioned America’s oldest university, make sure you check the requirements for their entrance exam, such as SAT and GRE.