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History of the University
The University of North Carolina was the first public university in the nation. In 1789, William Richardson Davie wrote the act that established the University. In 1793, he and fellow trustees laid the cornerstone of the first building, Old East. Students arrived in 1795, and UNC became the only public university to award degrees in the 18th century.
The School of Law was established in 1845. Other graduate programs began in 1876, followed by a summer school for teachers in 1877 and medical and pharmaceutical programs in 1879. In 1915, leaders broadened the mission of the University to include research and public service. Professional schools were established as follows:
- School of Education (1915)
- School of Commerce, now Kenan-Flagler Business School (1919)
- School of Public Welfare, now the School of Social Work (1920)
- School of Library Science, now the School of Information and Library Science (1931)
- Institute of Government, now the School of Government (1931)
- School of Public Health, now the Gillings School of Global Public Health (1936)
- Division of Health Affairs (1949)
- School of Dentistry (1949)
- School of Journalism, now the School of Media and Journalism (1950)
- School of Nursing (1950)
In 1922, the Association of American Universities (AAU) admitted UNC as a member, an acknowledgement of its growth in research and graduate programs.
In 1931, the North Carolina General Assembly established a Consolidated University comprised of the Chapel Hill campus, Woman’s College at Greensboro and North Carolina State College at Raleigh. In 1972, it created the UNC system, joining 16 state colleges and universities under a president and board of governors.
Learn more about Carolina’s history at:
The Carolina Story and History on the Hill.
What’s a Tar Heel
Carolina Traditions
Many legends and good luck omens have become popular lore at Carolina. Two of the most famous ones revolve around a poplar tree and a well. Read more on the Virtual Museum site.
University Day
University Day is an occasion to remember the University’s past and celebrate its future. The date, October 12, marks the laying of the cornerstone of Old East, the institution’s first building and the oldest state university building in the nation. Read more at the University Day site.
Bell Tower Climb
The UNC General Alumni Association invites folks to climb the Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower several times each year, including prior to home football games and during Senior Weekeach spring.
The 25 Oldest Colleges in America
Niche took a look at the founding years of American universities, including those that went through name changes and are still in operation today, and compiled this list of Oldest Colleges in America.
- Harvard University
- FOUNDING YEAR1636
- FOUNDERSMassachusetts legislature
- ACCEPTANCE RATE6%Even though this oldest Ivy went on to be named for university benefactor John Harvard, it originally went by the names “New College” or “the college at New Towne.”See more facts on Harvard’s Niche profile
- College of William & Mary
- FOUNDING YEAR1693
- FOUNDERSKing William III and Queen Mary III
- ACCEPTANCE RATE33%U.S. presidents like Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe went to this Virginia school, in addition to 16 signers of the Declaration of Independence.See more facts on William & Mary’s Niche profile
- St. John’s College – Annapolis
- FOUNDING YEAR1696
- FOUNDERSMaryland colony
- ACCEPTANCE RATE87%It may have been christened “St. John’s College” in 1784, but the school had its origins as “King William’s School” in 1696—Maryland’s first “free” school (“free” meaning to liberate students through education).See more facts on St. John’s Niche profile
- Yale University
- FOUNDING YEAR1701
- FOUNDERSClergymen
- ACCEPTANCE RATE6%The charter name of this school wasn’t too original (“Collegiate School”), but in 1718, it was renamed “Yale College” in honor of benefactor Elihu Yale, who served as governor of the British East India Company.See more facts on Yale’s Niche profile
- Washington College
- FOUNDING YEAR1782
- FOUNDERSEvolved from Kent County Free School
- ACCEPTANCE RATE56%Aside from allowing the college use of his name, George Washington also granted 50 guineas to this school in Chestertown, Md.See more facts on Washington’s Niche profile
- University of Pennsylvania
- FOUNDING YEAR1740
- FOUNDERSBenjamin Franklin
- ACCEPTANCE RATE10%Benjamin Franklin founded Penn (not to be confused with Penn State), which became the first academic institution to follow the multidisciplinary model used by European schools.See more facts on Penn’s Niche profile
- Moravian College & Moravian Theological Seminary
- FOUNDING YEAR1742
- FOUNDERSMoravians
- ACCEPTANCE RATE86%Originally known by the name Bethlehem Female Seminary, Moravian College was founded as the first boarding school for women in the United States.See more facts on Moravian’s Niche profile
- University of Delaware
- FOUNDING YEAR1743
- FOUNDERSFrancis Alison
- ACCEPTANCE RATE68%Like William & Mary, UD alumni include signers of the Declaration of Independence, including George Read, Thomas McKean, and James Smith.See more facts on UD’s Niche profile
- Princeton University
- FOUNDING YEAR1746
- FOUNDERSNew Light Presbyterians
- ACCEPTANCE RATE7%Not only was Princeton originally founded as the “College of New Jersey,” but it was also created in order to train ministers.See more facts on Princeton’s Niche profile
- Washington & Lee University
- FOUNDING YEAR1749
- FOUNDERSScotch-Irish Presbyterian pioneers
- ACCEPTANCE RATE19%This school went through a series of designations before settling on Washington & Lee, including the name “Liberty Hall” during the American Revolution.See more facts on Washington & Lee’s Niche profile
- Columbia University
- FOUNDING YEAR1754
- FOUNDERSRoyal charter of George II of Great Britain
- ACCEPTANCE RATE7%The oldest institution of higher education in the State of New York was founded with the name “King’s College” before being renamed “Columbia” in 1784.See more facts on Columbia’s Niche profile
- Brown University
- FOUNDING YEAR1764
- FOUNDERSBaptist Church Association support
- ACCEPTANCE RATE9%The school was originally called the “College of Rhode Island,” but was renamed in 1770 following a gift from Nicholas Brown Jr.See more facts on Brown’s Niche profile
- Rutgers University
- FOUNDING YEAR1766
- FOUNDERSMinisters of the Dutch Reformed Church
- ACCEPTANCE RATE60%You may know it today as simply “Rutgers,” but at one time the New Jersey public research university was called “Queen’s College.”See more facts on Rutgers’ Niche profile
- Dartmouth College
- FOUNDING YEAR1769
- FOUNDERSEleazar Wheelock
- ACCEPTANCE RATE12%As one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution, the college was incorporated as “Trustees of Dartmouth College.”See more facts on Dartmouth’s Niche profile
- College of Charleston
- FOUNDING YEAR1770
- FOUNDERSSeveral prominent South Carolinians
- ACCEPTANCE RATE78%The long list of founders went on to sign the Declaration of Independence (Thomas Heyward, Arthur Middleton, and Edward Rutledge) as well as the United States Constitution (Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Charles Pinckney, and John Rutledge).See more facts on CofC’s Niche profile
- Salem College
- FOUNDING YEAR1772
- FOUNDERSMoravians
- ACCEPTANCE RATE60%Located in Winston-Salem, N.C., Salem College is the oldest female educational institution that still operates as a women’s college.See more facts on Salem’s Niche profile
- Dickinson College
- FOUNDING YEAR1773
- FOUNDERSPennsylvania legislature
- ACCEPTANCE RATE48%Dickinson initially started as a grammar school, but soon people started pushing for it to become a college. The conversation to found the college ended up taking place on prominent businessman and politician William Bingham’s porch.See more facts on Dickinson’s Niche profile
- Hampden-Sydney College
- FOUNDING YEAR1775
- FOUNDERSSamuel Stanhope Smith
- ACCEPTANCE RATE47%In addition to being known as one of the few men’s colleges remaining in the United States, Hampden-Sydney is also the last college founded before the American Revolution.See more on Hampden-Sydney’s Niche profile
- Transylvania University
- FOUNDING YEAR1780
- FOUNDERSVirginia Assembly
- ACCEPTANCE RATE83%The first college west of the Allegheny Mountains has alumni that include two U.S. vice presidents, two Supreme Court justices, and many other government officials.See more facts on Transylvania’s Niche profile
- Washington & Jefferson College
- FOUNDING YEAR1781
- FOUNDERSThree frontier clergymen
- ACCEPTANCE RATE42%Three Princeton graduates (John McMillan, Thaddeus Dod, and Joseph Smith) founded this college in Washington, Pa., where it originated in three log cabin schools.See more facts on W&J’s Niche profile
- University of Georgia
- FOUNDING YEAR1785
- FOUNDERSGeorgia General Assembly
- ACCEPTANCE RATE56%The University of Georgia is the United States’ first state-chartered university and also the oldest and largest institution of higher education in the state.See more on UGA’s Niche profile
- University of Pittsburgh
- FOUNDING YEAR1787
- FOUNDERSHugh Henry Brackenridge
- ACCEPTANCE RATE53%The University of Pittsburgh was founded in early 1787 under its original name, “Pittsburgh Academy.”See more facts on Pitt’s Niche profile
- Franklin & Marshall College
- FOUNDING YEAR1787
- FOUNDERSFour prominent ministers
- ACCEPTANCE RATE39%Named for Benjamin Franklin, F&M was established in mid-1787 as a German college with the goal to preserve the “present republican system of government.”See more facts on F&M’s Niche profile
- Georgetown University
- FOUNDING YEAR1789
- FOUNDERSJohn Carroll
- ACCEPTANCE RATE17%The oldest Jesuit and Catholic university in the United States received charter under the name “The President and Directors of Georgetown College.”See more facts on Georgetown’s Niche profile
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- FOUNDING YEAR1789
- FOUNDERSNorth Carolina General Assembly
- ACCEPTANCE RATE28%UNC Chapel Hill is the oldest public university in the nation based on the start of its public instruction.
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