9 Oldest Colleges Still Shaping America Today

3. Yale University - From Collegiate School to Ivy League Powerhouse

Yale University, established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, was founded by a group of Congregationalist ministers seeking to establish a college in the New Haven Colony. Named Yale College in 1718 after a generous donation from Elihu Yale, the institution quickly gained a reputation for academic excellence. Yale's early curriculum focused heavily on theology and the classics, but it gradually expanded to include a wider range of subjects. The college played a significant role in the intellectual and cultural development of the colonies, with its graduates going on to become influential figures in American society. Yale's transformation from a small regional college to a prestigious Ivy League university is a testament to its adaptability and commitment to innovation in education.