Oldest public university in the United States

The title of oldest public university in the United States is claimed by three universities: the University of Georgia, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and The College of William & Mary. However, other public universities have origins in the 18th century and their founding may predate the establishment of these universities.

Schools claiming to be the oldest publics

University of Georgia

Located in Athens, Georgia, the University of Georgia received its charter from the state in 1785, making the University of Georgia the first state-chartered public university in the United States. As a result of this distinction UGA brands itself as the "birthplace of the American system of higher education." A site was selected for the university, and it began admitting students, in 1801.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The state of North Carolina chartered the University of North Carolina in 1789, and construction on the campus began in 1793. The university was the first public university in the country to admit students when it opened in 1795. Graduating its first class in 1798, UNC was the only public institution to confer degrees in the 18th century. While the University of Georgia claims elder status on the grounds of charter, article XLI of the North Carolina Constitution of 1776 notes, "That a school or schools shall be established by the Legislature, for the convenient instruction of youth, with such salaries to the masters, paid by the public, as may enable them to instruct at low prices; and all useful learning shall be duly encouraged, and promoted, in one or more universities." UNC contends that this clause authorized its existence prior to the University of Georgia's charter.^{[citation needed]}

The College of William & Mary

Now a public university, The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia was founded by royal charter in 1693, making it one of the oldest colleges, public or private, in the United States. The college severed formal ties with England after the colonies declared independence, but remained private until financial troubles forced its closure after the Civil War. It re-opened in 1888, but continued financial troubles forced it to accept funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia beginning in 1906. It has been public ever since.

Other public schools founded in the 18th century

College of Charleston

The the College of Charleston was founded in 1770 and chartered in 1785. It is the oldest institution of higher education in South Carolina, and the 13th oldest in the United States. On January 30, 1770, Lieutenant Governor William Bull recommended to the colony’s general assembly the establishment of a provincial college. However, internal disagreements, political rivalries and the American Revolution delayed its progress. After the war, South Carolinians returned their attention to establishing a college. n March 19, 1785, the College of Charleston was chartered to “encourage and institute youth in the several branches of liberal education.” The Act of the statehouse provided for three colleges simultaneously: one in Charleston, one in Winnsboro and one in Cambridge. The College was rechartered in 1791 because of questions about the 1785 Act, and the trustees hired Rev. (later Bishop) Robert Smith as the first president of the College, and the first classes were held at his home on Glebe Street (the current home of the College of Charleston president). In 1837, the city council took over control of the school and assumed the responsibility for its finances and for electing its trustees. As such, it became the nation’s first municipal college.

Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (usually referred to as Rutgers University), was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766 and is the eighth oldest college in the United States. Rutgers was originally a private university affiliated with the Dutch Reformed Church and admitted only male students, but evolved into and is presently a nonsectarian, coeducational public research university that makes no religious demands of its students.

University of Delaware

The University of Delaware traces its founding to 1743, when Presbyterian minister Francis Alison opened up his "Free School" in his home in New London, Pennsylvania. The school changed its name and location several times, ending up as the Academy of Newark in 1769 (chartered by the colonial government). Since Delaware was part of the Pennsylvania colony until 1776, the academy was denied charter as a college in order to prevent its competing with the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania). In 1833, the General assembly for the State of Delaware passed the "An Act to Establish a College at Newark", and the next year, Newark College opened. It changed its name in 1843 to Delaware College and it merged with the Academy of Newark. The school closed from 1859 until 1870 (Newark Academy separated from the college in 1869). On March 28, 1921, by another act of state assembly, it merged with the nearby Delaware Women's college (founded in 1913) to form the University.

University of Pittsburgh

Although early records of the University of Pittsburgh were largely destroyed in the Great Fire of 1845 as well as another fire in 1849, it is known that the school began its life as a preparatory academy, possibly as early as 1770, in an area that was then the western frontier of the nation. Presumably starting its life in a log cabin, Hugh Henry Brackenridge sought and obtained a charter for the school from the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that was passed by the assembly on February 28, 1787. Although chartered by and periodically receiving financial support from the state, Pitt remained private until financial pressures resulted in it becoming a state-related institution in 1966. Nonetheless, Pitt is the oldest continuously chartered institution of learning in the U.S. west of the Allegheny Mountains.

See also

• First university in the United States