Oldest Public Universities In USA

The USA is home to several top-ranked higher education institutions. In this article, we will be exploring some of the oldest public universities in USA. Founded between the 17th-18th centuries, these universities have successfully combined their rich historical heritage with a continuing commitment to change and innovation. Continue reading to learn more about the oldest public institutions in the United States.

List Of Oldest Public Universities In USA

The following is a list of some of the oldest top public universities in the United States, along with other important details:

University	Foundation Year	Tuition Fees (in USD)
College of William & Mary	1693	40,089
University of Delaware	1743	34,164
Rutgers University	1766	31,700
College of Charleston	1770	30,846
University of Georgia	1785	31,120
Castleton University	1787	31,500
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill	1789	33,150
University of Vermont	1791	31,700
University of Tennessee	1794	31566

College of William & Mary

Established in 1693, the College of William & Mary [W&M] is the oldest public university in the United States. The university currently enrolls nearly 9,000 students from over 60 countries around the world. W&M comprises over 650 faculty members and has a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1. 

College of William & Mary offers more than 40 different undergraduate and graduate courses in a wide range of subject areas. Every year, around 60% of its students study abroad in different parts of the world. Applications for admission at the College of William and Mary must be submitted by January 1 and must be accompanied by a $75 USD application fee.

University of Delaware

The University of Delaware was founded in 1743 and is located in Newark, Delaware. US News and World Report ranked the University of Delaware 93rd among national universities in 2022. The university offers a plethora of programs, including 150 UG courses, 250 PG courses, 100 study abroad programs, and much more.

At present, the University of Delaware has over 23,600 students with more than 185,000 alumni across the globe. In order to apply to this university, international students must fulfill certain admission requirements like English language proficiency scores (IELTS/TOEFL), standardized tests scores (SAT/ACT), personal statements, letters of recommendation, etc.

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Rutgers University

New Jersey’s #1 university, Rutgers is one of the oldest colonial colleges in the US. This public research university is a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance. Rutgers University, New Brunswick offers a choice of 150+ majors and minors to pursue UG courses and 400 graduate programs for those looking to get admissions. 

The university is highly recognized nationally for its research and it spends hundreds of millions on research and development annually with nearly 300 research centers on campus. At present, 50,254 students are enrolled at Rutgers University in various undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

College of Charleston

College of Charleston is a public university located in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Established in 1770, it is the oldest college in the state and the 13th oldest in the country. Admissions at the College of Charleston are handled with a holistic approach, wherein factors additional to the academic test scores are also considered which includes overall scholastic readiness, special talents, quality of leadership, and extracurricular accomplishments, among others. 

College of Charleston opens applications for undergraduate students in fall and spring and for graduate students in fall, spring, and summer. Academic records with consistent average grades within A or B must be provided at the time of admission. The minimum SAT and ACT scores to ensure high chances of acceptability at the institute must fall between the range of 1100 to 1250. 

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University of Georgia

The University of Georgia offers 430+ programs to both international and domestic students. Out of its 18 Schools and colleges, College of Education and Law School and the most enrolled institutions. The average tuition fee of the university is USD 31,120 (23.18 lakhs) for international students. Additionally, the average cost of living is estimated at USD 15,00 which is equivalent to 11.71 lakhs.

The University of Georgia offers 170 undergraduate programs, 148 master’s programs, and 114 doctoral programs. Communication and Media Studies is one of the top-ranked programs at the University of Georgia at #51 along with Accounting and Finance at #101. The University of Georgia offers admission in the seasonal intakes of Fall and Spring for the majority of its programs. 

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Castleton University

Castleton University is renowned for providing cutting-edge education to students from 36 countries worldwide. Being the 18th oldest university in the USA, Castleton enrolls 2400 students in its 75 UG and 8 PG programs each year. An easy acceptance rate of 83.8% indicates that getting admitted at the university is a cakewalk for students with a good academic record.

Applications for admission to Castleton University are invited for the fall and spring semesters. Applicants can make an online application directly to the university via the CommonApp portal. Supporting documents such as reference letters and personal statements hold a significant value while assessing the candidates. Indian students planning to study at Castleton University must be prepared to spend an amount of 35 to 40 lakhs annually on tuition fees and living costs.

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University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill offers many undergraduate and graduate programs respectively which include 74 bachelor’s, 104 master’s, 65 doctorate, and seven professional degree programs through the College of Arts & Sciences and its professional schools. The university is home to 19,743 undergraduate students and 11,796 graduate & professional students. The students enrolled are from 100 different countries. 

The university opens applications for Fall and Spring sessions. Undergraduate students are required to apply by January 15 for regular admission. Students are advised to fill out the online applications as soon as possible with a fee of $85. Out of all the tests, a minimum of 100 marks in TOEFL and 7 bands in IELTS respectively are accepted.

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University of Vermont

The University of Vermont invites admissions applications for the term of fall and spring all over the world. The university is a renowned name in the US education system that provides bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and accelerated master’s degree programs in areas of Arts, Humanities, Food and Agriculture, Health and Medicine, Business and Economy, Environment, and Sustainability, etc.

Admissions at the University of Vermont saw a 67.2% admit rate. Less than 75% of the admitted freshmen, were among the top 50% of their class. The University of Vermont offers admissions to students over 100 bachelors, 61 master's, 27 doctoral, and 35 accelerated master's degrees.

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University of Tennessee

University of Tennessee, USA is a premier public university with a history of more than 225 years incorporating a spirit of excellence among all its students. UT is a top-ranked university in the USA transforming the lives of more than 30,559 students who are pursuing their subject of specialization from a diverse range of more than 900+ UG and PG programs. Ranked among the top 350 universities across the globe, UT enrolls international students from over 100 countries every year.

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