The oldest college in every state

Spring Hill College successful Mobile, Alabama, was founded successful 1830 and claims to beryllium Alabama's oldest institution of higher learning.

According to the school's website, it is the first Catholic assemblage successful the Southeast United States, the third-oldest Jesuit college, and the fifth-oldest Catholic assemblage successful the US.

Founded successful 1917, the University of Alaska Fairbanks officially opened its doors to students successful 1922, according to the school's website.

In 1935, the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines became the University of Alaska. The schoolhouse awarded its first Ph.D. successful 1955.

The University of Arizona dates backmost to 1885, pinch enrollment opening successful 1891.

Britannica reported that successful 1915, the assemblage consisted of 3 colleges: letters, arts, and sciences; mines and engineering; and agriculture. Today, location are 20 colleges for students to take from.

The University of the Ozarks successful Clarksville, Arkansas, was founded successful 1834 by Cumberland Presbyterian officials. The first classes were held successful a two-room log schoolhouse.

The sanction would yet alteration from Cane Hill College to The College of the Ozarks and later The University of the Ozarks. 

In 1957, the University of the Ozarks became the first traditionally achromatic assemblage successful Arkansas to admit African American students, according to the school's website.

Santa Clara University successful Santa Clara, California, traces its origins to the historical Mission Santa Clara de Asís, which was founded successful 1777.

The assemblage itself was established successful 1851 arsenic a preparatory schoolhouse and began offering collegiate courses 2 years later, successful 1853.

Today, it is the oldest operating institution of higher acquisition successful California.

The University of Denver dates backmost to 1864, erstwhile it was known arsenic the Colorado Seminary.

According to the university's website, it was founded conscionable six years aft Denver City was established successful what was past the Colorado Territory. The assemblage later opened 1 of the nation's first business schools.

Yale University successful New Haven, Connecticut, is 1 of America's oldest acquisition institutions.

Yale University traces its roots to the 1640s, though the Connecticut legislature didn't formally charter the collegiate schoolhouse until 1701.

Seventeen years later, the institution was renamed Yale College successful grant of benefactor Elihu Yale. Today, it ranks among the world's astir prestigious universities and is 1 of the 8 Ivy League schools.

The University of Delaware was founded successful 1743, making it 1 of the oldest acquisition institutions successful the country.

According to the university's website, a abstracted assemblage opened successful 1914 pinch 58 female students. In 1921, the 2 colleges merged to go the University of Delaware.

Georgetown University successful Washington, DC, was founded successful 1789. It is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher learning successful the United States.

Classes officially began successful 1792, and enrollment grew to much than 40 students wrong the school's first year.

Florida State University successful Tallahassee dates backmost to 1851, erstwhile the authorities legislature authorized 2 seminaries of learning.

Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, was chartered first. However, it wasn't founded until 1885, making Florida State University technically the oldest successful the state.

Compared pinch galore of the country's oldest colleges, the University of Hawaiʻi astatine Mānoa is simply a comparatively caller addition.

Founded successful Honolulu successful 1907, the schoolhouse was established nether the Morrill Act arsenic a land-grant assemblage focused connected agriculture and the mechanical arts.

Brigham Young University Idaho successful Rexburg, Idaho, was founded successful 1888. It started arsenic Bannock Stake Academy and is owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The institution officially became known arsenic Brigham Young University-Idaho successful August 2001.

McKendree University successful Lebanon, Illinois, was founded successful 1828 by pioneer Methodists successful the state.

It is the oldest assemblage successful Illinois and the oldest successful the federation pinch continuous ties to the United Methodist Church.

Vincennes University successful Vincennes, Indiana, was founded successful 1801 arsenic Jefferson Academy, making it the state's oldest institution of higher education.

The assemblage is located successful Indiana's oldest city, wherever galore historical buildings stay from the area's early days arsenic a French fur trading post.

Loras College successful Dubuque, Iowa, was founded successful 1839 arsenic a schoolhouse intended to amended young men for the priesthood.

Loras College adopted its coming sanction successful 1939 and became a coeducational institution successful the autumn of 1971.

Transylvania University successful Lexington, Kentucky, traces its roots to 1780, making it the oldest assemblage successful Kentucky.

Although the assemblage was founded earlier Kentucky became a state, its first classes weren't held until 1785 successful a log compartment adjacent present-day Danville that belonged to 1 of the institution's first Board of Trustees chairmen.

Centenary College of Louisiana successful Shreveport was founded successful 1825, erstwhile it was known arsenic the College of Louisiana.

It is the 43rd-oldest assemblage successful the United States and, according to the university's website, tuition successful the school's early days was conscionable $50 a year, and room, board, and firewood were $7 a month.

Bowdoin College successful Brunswick, Maine, was chartered successful 1794, making it 1 of New England's oldest colleges.

The institution welcomed its first students successful 1802 and remained an all-male schoolhouse for much than 160 years earlier admitting women for the first clip successful 1971.

Today, Bowdoin is consistently classed among the nation's apical wide arts colleges.

St. John's College traces its roots to The King William's School, which was founded successful Annapolis successful 1696. Maryland chartered St. John's College successful 1784, merging it pinch the earlier school.

According to the school's website, it is the third-oldest assemblage successful the United States, down Harvard University and the College of William and Mary.

Harvard University successful Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the oldest assemblage successful the full state — it dates backmost to 1636, predating the country's founding by astir 140 years.

The schoolhouse was named aft a young curate named John Harvard, who, according to the university, near his room and half of his property to the institution upon his decease successful 1638.

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities was established successful 1851, 7 years earlier the creation of the authorities itself successful 1858.

Both antheral and female students received instruction from the schoolhouse earlier the schoolhouse closed during the Civil War. The University of Minnesota reopened successful 1867 and was reorganized arsenic a assemblage successful 1869.

Founded successful 1826 arsenic Hampstead Academy, Mississippi College is the oldest assemblage successful Mississippi.

It is located successful Clinton, Mississippi, and was renamed Mississippi Academy successful January 1827, erstwhile the schoolhouse began offering classes to some antheral and female students.

Saint Louis University was founded wrong a backstage residence adjacent the Mississippi River astatine the petition of the Rev. Louis William DuBourg, Catholic Bishop of Louisiana, successful 1818.

Not only is Saint Louis University the oldest acquisition institution of higher learning successful Missouri, but it's besides the oldest assemblage westbound of the Mississippi River, according to the school's website.

Rocky Mountain College successful Billings, Montana, dates backmost to 1878 and primitively comprised 3 abstracted colleges.

In 1947, the schools mixed to go Billings Polytechnic Institute, later named Rocky Mountain College.

Peru State College is the oldest assemblage successful Nebraska — it was founded successful 1867. It was primitively established arsenic a teacher-training school, pinch 60 students attending classes successful a azygous building.

However, the institution has since expanded considerably.

The University of Nevada was founded successful 1874 pursuing the Morrill Land-Grant Act of 1862.

The University's first loop was located successful Elko but has since moved to Reno, Nevada.

Princeton University was chartered successful 1746, making it the fourth-oldest institution of higher acquisition successful the United States.

Originally founded arsenic the College of New Jersey, the schoolhouse moved to Princeton successful 1756 and officially adopted the sanction Princeton University successful 1896.

New Mexico State University successful Las Cruces, New Mexico, was founded successful 1888 arsenic the state's first land-grant university, according to the school.

Throughout its history, the assemblage has operated nether aggregate names, including Las Cruces College and New Mexico College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. 

Columbia University is the oldest assemblage successful the authorities of New York. It was founded successful 1754 arsenic King's College by a royal charter of King George II of England.

According to the school's website, it is the fifth-oldest institution of higher learning successful the United States and played a captious domiciled successful American history done immoderate of its first students and trustees, namely John Jay, who served arsenic the first main justness of the United States, and Alexander Hamilton, the first caput of the treasury.

Salem College was founded arsenic a girls' schoolhouse successful 1772, 4 years earlier the United States declared its independency from Great Britain. It became known arsenic the Salem Female Academy successful the mid-19th period and awarded its first bachelor's degrees successful 1890.

It remains the oldest acquisition institution for girls and women successful America, according to the college's website.

The University of North Dakota was founded successful 1883, six years earlier North Dakota became recognized arsenic a state. The very first graduating people was coeducational and consisted of six women and 2 men.

Of them, Dr. Cora Smith King became the first female to person a aesculapian licence successful the authorities of North Dakota, according to the university's website.

Ohio University successful Athens, Ohio, was founded successful 1804 aft the Ohio legislature approved a caller enactment authorizing its establishment. Ohio University first offered classes successful 1809, erstwhile the institution operated much likewise to a precocious schoolhouse than a college.

In 1822, aft Ohio University hired a squad of much highly skilled module members, the schoolhouse began to connection a accepted assemblage program.

The University of Central Oklahoma was founded successful 1890.

In November 1891, the very first people of 23 students met successful the Epworth League Room wrong the unfurnished First Methodist Church, according to the school's website.

Willamette University was established successful 1842 arsenic a missionary school.

The assemblage is 1 of the oldest coeducational colleges successful the United States — the very first postgraduate of the assemblage was a woman, and women were attending the School of Medicine arsenic early arsenic 1877, according to the Willamette University website.

The University of Pennsylvania successful Philadelphia dates backmost to 1740, erstwhile it was established arsenic a kindness schoolhouse that would besides location a spot of believe for section group successful Pennsylvania.

It was the first American institution of higher learning to officially carnivore the sanction "university," according to the school.

Brown University was founded successful 1764 arsenic the 3rd assemblage successful New England and the seventh successful America.

Originally located successful Warren, Rhode Island, it was the first Ivy League schoolhouse to judge students from each belief affiliations.

Augustana University successful Sioux Falls, South Dakota, traces its origins to Hillsboro Academy, a schoolhouse founded successful Hillsboro, Illinois, successful 1835.

The institution officially became Augustana successful 1860, erstwhile its first people was held connected September 1. It moved to Canton successful Dakota Territory successful 1884 and yet to Sioux Falls successful 1918.

The University of South Dakota, the oldest nationalist assemblage successful the state, was founded successful 1862, but Augustana's roots agelong backmost further.

The schoolhouse was chartered successful 1794 arsenic Greeneville College.

In 1844, the renamed Tusculum Academy officially adopted the sanction Tusculum College, and successful 2018, it became Tusculum University.

Southwestern University successful Georgetown traces its roots to 4 predecessor institutions, the earliest of which was chartered successful 1840, 5 years aft Colonel William B. Travis wrote a missive to the New York Christian Advocate requesting that a Methodist beingness beryllium established successful Texas, according to the school's website.

The 4 institutions merged to shape the existent assemblage successful 1873.

It claims to person been the tract of galore firsts, including the first homecoming connected grounds and the first student literate diary successful the state.

Originally named the University of Deseret, the University of Utah successful Salt Lake City was founded successful 1850.

The first word began successful November 1850, during which clip only antheral students were admitted. At the commencement of the 2nd term, some men and women were allowed to attend.

Vermont State University's Castleton field traces its origins to the Rutland County Grammar School, founded successful 1787.

Castleton University, which sits connected a historical 165-acre campus, became portion of the recently created Vermont State University successful 2023.

The College of William & Mary is located successful the historical assemblage municipality of Williamsburg, Virginia, and dates backmost to 1693.

It is the second-oldest institution of higher learning successful the US and has a agelong database of esteemed and influential alumni.

American presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler each studied astatine William & Mary, arsenic did 16 members of the Continental Congress and 4 signers of the Declaration of Independence. 

The University of Washington successful Seattle, primitively named the Territorial University of Washington, is the oldest successful the authorities — it was founded successful 1861.

In 1867, tuition astatine UW was conscionable $30, according to the school.

Bethany College was founded successful 1840, though the municipality of Bethany dates backmost to 1769.

By the clip West Virginia was recognized arsenic a US authorities successful 1863, Bethany College was the only institution of higher learning successful the authorities to connection collegiate degrees, according to the school.

Carroll University was chartered successful 1846 by the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature, 2 years earlier Wisconsin became a state. The schoolhouse was primitively established arsenic an academy successful 1841 by settlers surviving successful the Wisconsin Territory organization of Prairieville.

When the assemblage first opened, the enrollment consisted of 5 students and 2 module members, Eleazar Root and John W. Sterling, according to the university's website.

The University of Wyoming successful Laramie, Wyoming, was founded arsenic a land-grant assemblage successful 1886. When the schoolhouse first opened, location were 5 module members and 42 students, according to the university.

Editor's note: This communicative was first published successful October 2018 and astir precocious updated successful August 2026.