Here are the 10 oldest continuously operating universities in the United States, spanning from 1636 to 1754 and reflecting the colonial roots of American higher education. Dates below refer to founding years, with notes where chartering or later collegiate status affects how “oldest” is defined across different lists.
Top 10 oldest universities in USA
| University | Founded | Location | Snapshot |
| Harvard University | 1636 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Widely recognized as the oldest U.S. institution of higher education . |
| College of William & Mary | 1693 | Williamsburg, Virginia | Established by royal charter and considered the second-oldest in the U.S. . |
| St. John’s College (Annapolis) | 1696 origins; collegiate since 1784 | Annapolis, Maryland | Began as King William’s School in 1696 and became St. John’s College in 1784 . |
| Yale University | 1701 | New Haven, Connecticut | Founded as the Collegiate School and later renamed for benefactor Elihu Yale . |
| University of Pennsylvania | 1740 (chartered 1755) | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Founded in 1740 and formally chartered as a college in 1755 . |
| Moravian University | 1742 | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | Originated in 1742 and later evolved into a degree‑granting college . |
| University of Delaware | 1743 | Newark, Delaware | Traces origins to a colonial free school established in 1743 . |
| Princeton University | 1746 | Princeton, New Jersey | Founded as the College of New Jersey in 1746 before adopting its current name . |
| Washington and Lee University | 1749 | Lexington, Virginia | Began as Augusta Academy in 1749 and later became Washington and Lee University . |
| Columbia University | 1754 | New York, New York | Established as King’s College in 1754 under a royal charter . |
Brief notes on each
- Harvard University — Established by the Massachusetts legislature in 1636 and recognized as the nation’s oldest higher‑education institution.
- College of William & Mary — Chartered in 1693 by King William III and Queen Mary II, with a continuous legacy in Williamsburg.
- St. John’s College (Annapolis) — Originated as King William’s School in 1696 and was rechartered as a college in 1784, often included in “oldest” lists due to its 17th‑century foundation.
- Yale University — Founded in 1701 as the Collegiate School and renamed in 1718 for Elihu Yale, reflecting early colonial academic patronage.
- University of Pennsylvania — Dates its founding to 1740 with formal collegiate charter in 1755, a nuance that appears frequently in historical rankings.
- Moravian University — Established in 1742 by the Moravian Church and later developed into a modern university in Bethlehem.
- University of Delaware — Originated in 1743 as a free school that evolved into a college and then a research university in Newark.
- Princeton University — Founded in 1746 as the College of New Jersey before adopting the Princeton name, maintaining continuous operation since the colonial era.
- Washington and Lee University — Traces roots to 1749 with subsequent name changes, reflecting its long‑standing educational presence in Virginia.
- Columbia University — Chartered as King’s College in 1754 and later renamed after the Revolution, anchoring higher education in New York City.
Methodology notes
- Some institutions list a founding date tied to original schools that later became colleges, while others use the year of chartering as a college, creating minor ordering differences across sources.
- Alternate contenders like Washington College (founded as a county free school in 1723, chartered as a college in 1782) appear in extended “oldest” tables but fall outside a strict top‑10 list under common collegiate criteria.
- Cross‑checking multiple historical summaries helps reconcile foundation versus charter dates when presenting “oldest” lists for SEO and clarity.
FAQs
- Which is the oldest university in the United States?
Harvard University, founded in 1636 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is widely recognized as the nation’s oldest institution of higher education. - What is the second‑oldest university?
The College of William & Mary, established by royal charter in 1693, is generally listed second in U.S. age rankings. - Why do some lists show different orders?
Differences usually come from whether a list uses foundation versus charter year, whether it counts an early school that later became a college, and whether it distinguishes “college” from “university” status in the 18th century. - Is St. John’s College really among the oldest?
Yes, it traces to King William’s School founded in 1696 and became St. John’s College in 1784, which is why some charts include it with a note on its early origin. - Who claims to be the first “university” in the U.S.?
The University of Pennsylvania and William & Mary both present “first university” claims based on uniting multiple faculties, which is a different criterion from “oldest college”. - Which Ivy League schools are in the oldest ten?
Harvard (1636), Yale (1701), Princeton (1746), and Columbia (1754) appear within the top group by foundation dates in most historical summaries. - What about Brown, Rutgers, and Dartmouth?
They typically appear just after the core ten: Brown (1764), Rutgers (1766), and Dartmouth (1769), rounding out the colonial‑era establishments. - How do extended lists handle Washington College or Moravian?
Washington College is often noted as a 1723 free school chartered as a college in 1782, and Moravian cites a 1742 origin before later collegiate evolution, hence their nuanced placement. - Did Columbia and Princeton change names later?
Yes, King’s College became Columbia University after the Revolution and the College of New Jersey became Princeton University, both retaining their original founding dates in institutional histories. - Are these universities still operating continuously?
The entries highlighted here are widely cited for continuous operation from colonial foundations through the present, with institutional histories preserving their charter lineages.
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