Oldest Public University in The United States - Rutgers University

Rutgers University

While it does not actively claim being the oldest public university, Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey was founded as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth oldest of nine colonial colleges founded before the independence of the American colonies.

Founded by Dutch Reformed clergymen, Queens College received its first charter in 1766 from William Franklin, the last Royal Governor of New Jersey and illegitimate son of Benjamin Franklin. It received a second, revised charter from Royal Governor Franklin in 1770. Queen's College later was renamed Rutgers College after Revolutionary War officer and benefactor Henry Rutgers in 1825. It became Rutgers University in 1924. Rutgers University became the state university of New Jersey by acts of the state legislature in 1945 and 1956.

Rutgers University does claim being the "Birthplace of College Football" because the first intercollegiate football game was played on 6 November 1869 in New Brunswick between students from Rutgers College and the "College of New Jersey" (now known as Princeton University).