Numerous colleges throughout the United States predate the country itself, and the earliest among them is Harvard University, which opened its doors in 1636.

Some states waited longer before establishing their initial institutions of higher learning. Alaska received its first college most recently, with the University of Alaska Fairbanks marking its centennial in 2017.

The oldest college in each state ranges from renowned Ivy League schools to leading public universities and smaller historic campuses, each representing a unique phase in the development of American higher education.

This compilation relies on the earliest founding dates reported by active institutions, incorporating origins from earlier seminaries, academies, and preparatory schools that evolved into colleges.

Continue reading to learn about the oldest college located in each US state along with Washington, DC.

ALABAMA: Spring Hill College in Mobile

Spring Hill College, located in Mobile, Alabama, opened in 1830 and is recognized as the state's earliest institution of higher education.

The campus website notes that it was the first Catholic college in the Southeast, the third-oldest Jesuit college, and the fifth-oldest Catholic college nationwide.

ALASKA: The University of Alaska Fairbanks in Fairbanks

Established in 1917, the University of Alaska Fairbanks welcomed its first students in 1922, as stated on the institutional site.

The Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines was renamed the University of Alaska in 1935, and the school granted its initial Ph.D. in 1955.

ARIZONA: The University of Arizona in Tucson

The University of Arizona traces its beginnings to 1885, though student enrollment started in 1891.

Britannica noted that by 1915 the university included three colleges covering letters, arts, and sciences; mines and engineering; and agriculture. At present the institution offers programs through 20 colleges.

ARKANSAS: University of the Ozarks in Clarksville

University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas, was established in 1834 by officials of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Initial classes took place inside a two-room log schoolhouse.

The institution later changed its name from Cane Hill College to The College of the Ozarks and eventually to The University of the Ozarks.

In 1957 it became the first traditionally white college in Arkansas to enroll African American students, according to campus records.

CALIFORNIA: Santa Clara University in Santa Clara

Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California, originated from the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asis, founded in 1777.

The university itself began in 1851 as a preparatory school and introduced collegiate courses in 1853.

It remains the oldest continuously operating institution of higher education in the state.

COLORADO: The University of Denver in Denver

The University of Denver was founded in 1864 under the name Colorado Seminary.

University records indicate it was established only six years after Denver City was formed in the Colorado Territory. The school later launched one of the country's earliest business schools.

CONNECTICUT: Yale University in New Haven

Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, ranks among the nation's earliest educational institutions.

Its origins reach back to the 1640s, although the Connecticut legislature granted a formal charter to the collegiate school in 1701.

Seventeen years afterward the school was renamed Yale College to honor benefactor Elihu Yale. It now stands as one of the world's leading universities and one of the eight Ivy League members.

DELAWARE: The University of Delaware in Newark

The University of Delaware was founded in 1743, placing it among the country's oldest centers of learning.

Campus information shows that a separate college opened in 1914 enrolling 58 women. In 1921 the two colleges combined to form the University of Delaware.

WASHINGTON, DC: Georgetown University in Washington, DC

Georgetown University in Washington, DC, was established in 1789. It is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher learning in the nation.

Classes commenced in 1792, and enrollment exceeded 40 students during the school's first year.

FLORIDA: Florida State University in Tallahassee

Florida State University in Tallahassee dates to 1851, when the state legislature authorized two seminaries of learning.

Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, received its charter earlier. Yet because it was not founded until 1885, Florida State University holds the distinction of being the oldest in the state.

GEORGIA: The University of Georgia in Athens

The University of Georgia in Athens became the first university in the nation to receive a state-supported charter in 1785. Its location in Athens was chosen in 1801, and classes started that same year.

HAWAII: The University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu

Relative to many of the nation's earliest colleges, the University of Hawaii at Manoa is a more recent establishment.

Founded in Honolulu in 1907, the school was created under the Morrill Act as a land-grant college emphasizing agriculture and mechanical arts.

IDAHO: Brigham Young University Idaho in Rexburg

Brigham Young University Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho, was founded in 1888. It began as Bannock Stake Academy and is operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The institution received its current name, Brigham Young University-Idaho, in August 2001.

ILLINOIS: McKendree University in Lebanon

McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois, was founded in 1828 by pioneer Methodists within the state.

It is the oldest college in Illinois and the oldest nationwide that maintains continuous affiliation with the United Methodist Church.

INDIANA: Vincennes University in Vincennes

Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana, was founded in 1801 as Jefferson Academy, making it the state's oldest institution of higher education.

The university sits in Indiana's oldest city, where numerous historic structures survive from its early period as a French fur-trading post.

IOWA: Loras College in Dubuque

Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, was founded in 1839 as a school intended to prepare young men for the priesthood.

Loras College adopted its present name in 1939 and became a coeducational institution in the fall of 1971.