Timeless: USA's Oldest Colleges

Rich Histories. Enduring Legacies.

From their founding in colonial times to their present-day contributions, U.S. colleges and universities have played pivotal roles in shaping the intellectual and cultural landscape of the nation.

As South Carolina's oldest institution of higher learning and the 13th oldest college/university in the nation, the College of Charleston continues this tradition of academic excellence.

 

 RankCollege/UniversityFounding Date & Notes
1Harvard
University
1636-
2College of
William & Mary
1693-
3St. John's College
(Annapolis, Md.)
1696
Founded as a prep school.
Became a college in 1784.
4
Yale University
1701-
*Washington College
(Chestertown, Md.)
1723Founded as Kent Co. Free  School
Became a college in 1782.
5
University of 
Pennsylvania 
1740
-
*
Moravian
University
1742
Founded as a women's school.
Became a college in 1807.
6
University of 
Delaware
1743
-
7Princeton University1746-
8
 Washington & Lee
University
1749-
9
Columbia University
1754
-
10
Brown University
1764-
11
 Rutgers University
1766
-
12
Dartmouth College
1769
-
13
College of
Charleston
1770-