First University in The United States - Claimants and Potential Claimants

Claimants and Potential Claimants

(In alphabetical order by full institutional name)

• Harvard University, founded in 1636, claims itself to be (v.i.) "the oldest institution of higher education in the United States". The claim of being "the first university" has been made on its behalf by others.
• The University of Pennsylvania makes claim on their website of being "America's First University". The university has published a book about being the first university in America, and their website contains numerous instances of the phrase "America's First University."
• The College of William and Mary's website states, "The College of William and Mary was the first college to become a university (1779)."