A short time after the first colonists came to the territory, which we now call Massachusetts, the General Court of Massachusetts made the first contribution for Harvard College. It was in 1636. This school later became the famous Harvard University. It is the oldest university in the United
States. It was named in honor of John Harvard, who died in 1638. This man left his library and half of his property to the university. People knew that the future of the new country depended on education. And after the establishment of Harvard they began to establish other schools. In 1776 the
Americans declared their independence. By this time nine other institutions were opened. Their present names and the dates of their opening are:

College of Willian and Mary (1693).

Yale University (1701).

Princeton University (1746).

Washington and Lee University (1749).

Columbia University (1754).

University of Pensilvania (1755).

Brown University (1764).

Rutgers College (1766).

Dartmouth College (1770).
Some of the money for the educational institutions came from the government, but most of it came from people who felt that by giving their money they were investing in the new country. People believed that the new country needed colleges. They voted for their state governments to organize colleges, which would be supported by taxes. These are called state universities and they arc playing leading roles in the world of education in America. By 1894 all states had such universities. The University of
Michigan, which first opened as a school in Detroit in 1817, became a state university in 1837 when Michigan became a state.
In the early 1800s most people thought that only men should affend college. But other people fell certain that women too must be educated.
Some of them thought that the best would be to have co-educated colleges.
Others thought that there must be separate colleges for men and women;
Oberlin College, which was founded it 1833 was the first co-educational school. Mount Holyoke was founded in 1837. It was the first school for women. Other schools for women are: Vassar (1821), Wells (1868), Wellesley
(1871). In 1870 Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, California began to admit women to state universities. Now all public universities admit women. Even many private men's colleges are beginning to admit women. So the ideas about American education are changing.

Princeton University

Princeton University is a vibrant community of scholarship and learning that stands in the nation's service and in the service of all nations.
Chartered in 1746, and known as the College of New Jersey until 1896, it was British North America's fourth college. Fully coeducational since 1969,
Princeton in the 2002-2003 academic year enrolled 6,632 students -- 4,635 undergraduates and 1,997 graduate students -- with a ratio of full-time students to faculty members of 5.6 to 1. The University, with more than
12,000 employees, is Mercer County's largest private employer and plays a major role in the educational, cultural and economic life of the region.

The College of William and Mary.

The College of William and Mary, one of the nation's premier state- assisted liberal arts universities, believes that excellence in teaching is the key to unlocking intellectual and personal possibilities for students.
Dedicated to this philosophy and committed to limited enrollment, the
College provides high-quality undergraduate, graduate and professional education that prepares students to make significant contributions to the
Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation. In recognition, the media have included William and Mary among the nation's prestigious "Public Ivys," and ranked it first among state institutions in terms of commitment to teaching.

History

Chartered on February 8, 1693, by King William III and Queen Mary II as the second college in the American colonies. Severed formal ties with Britain in 1776. Became state-supported in 1906 and coeducational in 1918. Achieved modern university status in 1967. Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's premier academic honor society, and the honor code system of conduct were founded at William and Mary.

Location

Located in historic Williamsburg, Va., approximately 150 miles south of
Washington, D.C., midway between Richmond and Norfolk, Va.

Campus

Approximately 1,200 acres including picturesque Lake Matoaka and the
College Woods. Adjacent to Colonial Williamsburg, the Ancient Campus section is restored to 18th-century appearance.

Instructional Faculty

569 in arts and sciences, marine science, education, business administration and law; 93 percent of the faculty teaching undergraduate courses have attained terminal degrees.

Enrollment

7,500 of whom approximately 5,500 are undergraduates.

Student-Faculty Ratio