ATLAS · UNIVERSITIES · UNITED STATES
Universities in United States
United States has 2,030 universities on the map. The oldest dates to 1636. Most were founded in the modern era. Below: how they spread across the centuries, and the country’s oldest institutions. From Wikidata, snapshot 2026-06-22.
UNIVERSITIES2,030
OLDEST1636
FOUNDED 1900+1,209
By founding era
Before 12000 · 0%
1200–15990 · 0%
1600–1899696 · 34%
1900 or later1,209 · 60%
Date unknown125 · 6%
Oldest universities in United States
The country’s earliest institutions — the deepest roots of higher education here.
1636Harvard University
1693College of William & Mary
1701Yale University
1740University of Pennsylvania
1743University of Delaware
1746Princeton University
1749Washington and Lee University
1754Columbia University
1765Brown University
1766Rutgers University
1766Rutgers University–New Brunswick
1767Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons