History of Higher Education in the U.S.
Higher education in the U.S. began in 1636 with four-year universities. The earliest colleges in the U.S. trained ministers, and colleges during this time were created for religious denomination. Harvard University, which was established in 1636, was the first college in the colonies. Following that year, universities such as William and Mary, Yale University, Princeton University, and Columbia University (previously King’s College) were also established.
The earliest colleges established were meant to be modeled after universities in England, such as Oxford and Cambridge. They also followed the models of Scottish universities as well. Universities in the U.S. during this time were either funded by the colonies or by England. Since primary and secondary schools were not established at this time, young boys who were usually fourteen or fifteen years old were admitted into these colleges.
When Harvard was established, it was focused on training clergymen. These men were trained for the ministry, however, training wasn’t the only focus. Although the men at Harvard during this time were training to go into ministry, only about half of Harvard’s first 500 graduates went into this field. Other studies at Harvard during this time led students to careers such as physicians and lawyers. Many have also studied what we call now liberal arts, which includes civic law, theology, Greek studies, and more.
More than sixty years later, William and Mary was founded. Similar to the majority of other colleges during this time, William & Mary was founded as a religious institution, specifically Anglican. An obligation was implemented for students, which required them to be members of the Church of England. Additionally, professors also had to fulfill the requirement of declaring their adherence to the Thirty-Nine Articles. Although studies ranged from philosophy to math and physics, this college and education primarily prepared one to become a minister.
The number of colleges began to emerge in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The number surged from 25 colleges to 241 colleges between 1800 and 1860. This resulted in new programs of study offered, including law, medicine, agriculture, and military service. There was also the emergence of new state universities, including the University of North Carolina and the University of Georgia, which were established in 1795 and 1801, respectively.
In 1862, land grant colleges began to be established by the Morrill Land Grant Act. This act provided states with federally controlled land for these public universities. The purpose of these land-grant schools was to teach branches of learning, which includes agriculture, mechanic arts, and military instructions. By including these scientific and classical studies, they have promoted liberal and practical education. As a result of the Morrill Land Grant Act, 70 additional institutions in the U.S. were created, and college transitioned into being about vocational training.
It wasn’t until the 1900s that colleges began receiving more applications. Because of this, new requirements began to be implemented. Despite colleges initially expanding their class sizes, this was no longer an option due to the rise in popularity of colleges. The early 1900s also had institutions created in order to educate groups of people who were generally excluded from traditional colleges. This includes minorities, immigrants, and women, all of which were not offered higher education before the establishment of these institutions to compensate.
SOURCES:
Is College for Everyone? An Introduction and Timeline of College in America [Art of Manliness]
History of College Education [ProCon]
First universities in the Western Hemisphere [Britannica]
IMAGE SOURCES:
Is There a Difference Between Churches and Ministries? [StartChurch]
Partners [2U]