The title of oldest public university in the United States is claimed by three universities: the University of Georgia, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and The College of William & Mary.
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University of Georgia
Located in Athens, Georgia, the University of Georgia received its charter from the state in 1785, making the University of Georgia the first state-chartered university in the United States. UGA brands itself as the "birthplace of the American system of higher education." However, the university did not accept its first students until 1801.[1]
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The state of North Carolina chartered the University of North Carolina in 1789, and construction on the campus began in 1793 near the center of the state. The university was the first public university in the country to admit students when it opened in 1795 and was the only such institution to award degrees in the 18th century.[2]
The College of William & Mary
Now a public university, The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia was founded by royal charter in 1693, making it one of the oldest colleges, public or private, in the United States. The college severed formal ties with England after the colonies declared independence, but remained private until financial troubles forced its closure after the Civil War. The Commonwealth reopened the institution as a public university in 1888, and it has operated as such ever since.[3]
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