Before the founding of the United States, education was already taking root across the colonies. Long before the drafting of the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence, settlers were building schools that would educate future ministers, magistrates, and leaders. These early colleges reflected the priorities of their time, often with strong religious foundations and a desire to train a class of literate, morally guided citizens.
The seven oldest colleges in the United States all trace their origins to the 17th and 18th centuries. While their purposes have evolved, these institutions remain at the heart of American higher education, with deep legacies that span wars, revolutions, and cultural shifts.
Harvard University: Founded in 1636
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Harvard University was established in 1636 by vote of the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It holds the distinction of being the first institution of higher education in what would become the United States. Just two years later, the young college was named after John Harvard, a minister who bequeathed his library and half of his estate to the school upon his death…