10 Oldest Universities in Continuous Operation in the U.S.

Universities have long been the backbone of intellectual progress, dating back to ancient institutions like Nalanda and the Academy of Athens. The medieval era saw the rise of structured higher education in Europe, with Bologna (1088) and Oxford (1096) becoming global centers of scholarship. These early universities laid the foundation for rigorous academic inquiry, influencing modern education worldwide.

In America, universities have shaped the nation’s trajectory, producing leaders, innovators, and researchers. Some predate the U.S. itself, established under colonial rule to educate clergy and statesmen. By the time the nation declared independence in 1776, several institutions had already been in operation for decades. Despite wars, revolutions, and social change, these universities have endured, continuously evolving while preserving their historic legacies. Here are the 10 oldest universities still in continuous operation in the United States.

The College of Charleston, founded in 1770, is a living piece of American history tucked into the heart of Charleston’s historic district. Walk through its oak-shaded Cistern Yard, and you’ll feel the weight of centuries. Students have gathered here since the school’s earliest days. The oldest municipal college in the U.S., it has educated generations, including signers of the Declaration of Independence and Civil War officers.

Beyond the academics, the campus itself is a draw. The Randolph Hall, with its stately columns, has stood since 1828. Nearby, the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History displays a fascinating collection of fossils, including massive megalodon teeth.

Today, the College of Charleston is home to about 12,000 students, blending Southern tradition with modern energy. Visitors can soak in the intellectual atmosphere, then step off campus into Charleston’s cobbled streets, where historic homes, vibrant markets, and coastal breezes remind you why this city, and its college, remain timeless.

9. Dartmouth College (1769) – Hanover, New Hampshire

Nestled in Hanover, New Hampshire, Dartmouth College is a testament to enduring educational excellence. Founded in 1769 by Reverend Eleazar Wheelock, it began as an institution dedicated to educating Native Americans and English youth.

When visiting, you will be drawn to the iconic Baker-Berry Library, a central hub for students and a symbol of Dartmouth’s commitment to knowledge. The Hood Museum of Art offers a diverse collection, providing cultural enrichment to both the college and the community. For those interested in the performing arts, the Hopkins Center for the Arts hosts a variety of events, from theater productions to musical performances.

The Dartmouth Green serves as a communal gathering spot, surrounded by historic buildings and lush landscapes. The nearby Ledyard Canoe Club offers opportunities to explore the Connecticut River, reflecting the college’s emphasis on outdoor activities and connection to nature.

In recent history, Dartmouth has been a pioneer in computing. In 1964, professors John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz developed the BASIC programming language and the Dartmouth Time-Sharing System, making computing more accessible to students and laying the groundwork for future technological advancements.

Dartmouth continues to foster a vibrant academic community, offering a wide range of programs and maintaining a strong commitment to research and innovation.

Founded in 1766 as Queen’s College, Rutgers University predates the American Revolution, making it one of the country’s oldest institutions. Once a quiet theological school, it has since transformed into a sprawling research powerhouse spread across three campuses in New Jersey.

The College Avenue campus in New Brunswick carries a sense of history. Stroll past the grand Kirkpatrick Chapel, its red brick façade softened by ivy, or duck into the Alexander Library, where the whispers of past scholars seem to linger. For art lovers, the Zimmerli Art Museum is a quiet treasure trove, housing one of the largest university-based collections in the U.S.

But Rutgers isn’t all academia. The leafy Rutgers Gardens offer a peaceful escape, while the Passion Puddle on the Cook and Douglass campuses comes with a charming superstition. Walk around it three times with your partner, and marriage is inevitable.

Today, Rutgers is home to over 66,000 students, yet its heart remains rooted in the traditions that have shaped it for over two and a half centuries.

7. Brown University (1764) – Providence, Rhode Island

Perched atop College Hill in Providence, Brown University is as much a part of the city’s identity as its cobbled streets and Federal-era mansions. Founded in 1764, it is the seventh-oldest university in the United States and the first Ivy League school to embrace students of all religious backgrounds, a progressive spirit that still defines its character today.

Walking through the campus, you’re immediately struck by the sense of history. The Van Wickle Gates, an ornate iron archway, are ceremonially opened only twice in a student’s life, once upon arrival and again at graduation, symbolizing the transition into the wider world. The Main Green, flanked by elegant red-brick buildings, is the beating heart of Brown, a place where students sprawl on the grass between lectures or gather for impromptu debates.

Art and culture enthusiasts will find the David Winton Bell Gallery a treasure trove, showcasing an extensive collection of contemporary works. Meanwhile, the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology offers insights into global cultures, with exhibitions housed in the historic Manning Hall.

Next to the campus, Benefit Street beckons with its rich tapestry of 18th- and 19th-century architecture, offering a picturesque journey through time. For a moment of reflection, Prospect Terrace Park provides panoramic views of Providence, making it a favored spot for both contemplation and leisure.

Founded in 1754 as King’s College, Columbia University predates the United States itself, its classrooms once filled with the sons of colonial elite. Over the centuries, it has evolved into one of the world’s most prestigious universities, where future presidents, Nobel laureates, and cultural icons have sharpened their minds.

The university’s Morningside Heights campus, designed by the renowned architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, offers a harmonious blend of classical and modern structures. At its heart lies the Low Memorial Library, an iconic building crowned with a grand dome, serving as a central hub for students and visitors alike. Adjacent to it, the Butler Library stands as a testament to Columbia’s commitment to knowledge, housing millions of volumes across diverse disciplines.

Columbia’s influence extends beyond its academic prowess; it has been a crucible for significant scientific advancements. Notably, the Pupin Physics Laboratory, designated a National Historic Landmark, was the site where the atom was first split, marking a monumental leap in nuclear physics.

5. University of Pennsylvania (1755) – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is no ordinary Ivy League institution. Founded by none other than Benjamin Franklin in 1740, it carries the weight of history on its red-brick shoulders. But beneath its polished academic reputation lies a campus bursting with quirks, traditions, and the kind of energy only found in a city like Philadelphia.

Start with toast tossing, not the kind you do at a fancy dinner, but the kind where thousands of students hurl slices of bread onto Franklin Field during football games. It’s a workaround from the 1970s, when alcohol was banned in stadiums, and students decided to “raise a toast” in a more literal fashion. Then there’s the Econ Scream, where first-years—already overwhelmed by their intro to microeconomics, step outside at midnight and let out a collective, stress-relieving howl. And of course, there’s Hey Day, a century-old tradition where juniors parade through campus in red shirts and styrofoam hats, chomping down on each other’s headgear before being officially declared seniors.

But Penn isn’t all about the quirky. The university has made history in ways that extend far beyond its campus. In 1946, it was home to ENIAC, the world’s first general-purpose electronic computer, a project that shaped the future of computing. Its Fisher Fine Arts Library, designed by Frank Furness, is an architectural masterpiece of Victorian Gothic grandeur, while Houston Hall, opened in 1896, is the first-ever student union in the U.S.

And if you need a break from academics? Spring Fling turns campus into one massive festival, with carnival rides, food stalls, and performances from big-name artists. Meanwhile, a stroll down Locust Walk takes you through the heart of campus, past historic red-brick buildings and vibrant student life.

Today, Penn is home to over 66,000 students across its undergraduate and graduate programs, but what sets it apart is the balance between old and new. It honors tradition while constantly innovating, creating an environment where the past is always present, but never in the way of progress.

Established in 1746, Princeton University is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Originally founded as the College of New Jersey, it relocated to Princeton in 1756, with Nassau Hall serving as its first building. Notably, Nassau Hall briefly housed the U.S. Congress in 1783.

Visitors to the campus can explore the Princeton University Art Museum, which boasts a collection of over 72,000 works spanning 5,000 years of world history.

For nature enthusiasts, Lake Carnegie offers a picturesque setting for rowing and relaxation; this man-made lake was a gift from Andrew Carnegie in the early 20th century.

3. Yale University (1701) – New Haven, Connecticut

Established in 1701, Yale University is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, one of the most beautiful historic college towns to visit in the country, Yale began as the Collegiate School, aiming to educate clergy and political leaders. In 1718, it was renamed Yale College in honor of benefactor Elihu Yale, a Welsh merchant who supported the institution.

When you visit Yale, you’ll be able to explore the Yale University Art Gallery, which houses a vast collection of art spanning different cultures and eras. The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library is another highlight, renowned for its extensive collection of rare books and manuscripts. The Sterling Memorial Library, with its grand Gothic architecture, serves as a central hub for students and scholars.

2. College of William & Mary (1693) – Williamsburg, Virginia

The College of William & Mary stands in the quiet grandeur of Williamsburg, its brick pathways and stately columns bearing witness to over three centuries of history. Established in 1693 under the charter of King William III and Queen Mary II, it is the second-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Built to educate clergy and civil servants, it became the intellectual training ground for future leaders, including three U.S. presidents: Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler.

At its heart stands the Sir Christopher Wren Building, the oldest academic structure still in use in the country. Just beyond, the Sunken Garden, with its symmetrical hedgerows and open lawns, reflects a quiet elegance inspired by England’s Chelsea Hospital gardens. The Bray School, a modest structure with a profound past, tells the story of early Black education in America, a reminder of the college’s evolving relationship with its history.

Today, William & Mary thrives as a hub of rigorous scholarship and innovation, seamlessly blending its colonial past with modern academic excellence. Its red-brick walls, steeped in tradition, are alive with forward-looking research and a commitment to truth.

The pinnacle of American higher education, the grand finale of our journey through history: Harvard University, the oldest and most prestigious institution in the United States. Founded in 1636, before the United States was even an idea, Harvard stands as a monument to knowledge, ambition, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

Its origins trace back to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, where it was established to educate clergy and future leaders. Named after its first benefactor, John Harvard, the university quickly became the intellectual heartbeat of the New World. Today, its name is synonymous with brilliance, its alumni list a roll call of U.S. presidents, Nobel laureates, and global trailblazers.

A visit to its historic Cambridge campus is a pilgrimage for scholars and dreamers alike. Harvard Yard, with its ivy-clad buildings and the statue of John Harvard, feels like stepping into the pages of history. The Widener Library, one of the largest university libraries in the world, is an intellectual treasure trove. Beyond academia, the Harvard Art Museums house masterpieces spanning centuries, while the Harvard Square area buzzes with energy, a perfect fusion of past and present.