Some of the most prestigious American colleges and universities were established in the colonial period, before the War of Independence began in 1776. The first American college, Harvard, was established in 1636 near Boston, Massachusetts. William and Mary was founded in 1693 in Virginia. In the next century, Yale was established in 1701, the University of Pennsylvania in 1740, Princeton in 1746, Columbia in 1754, Brown in 1764, Rutgers in 1766, and Dartmouth in 1769. Attendance at these colleges was restricted to white males; women and blacks were not able to apply for admission.
a. Women, blacks, and white men did not have equal rights during the colonial period.
b. Most colleges were closed during the War of Independence.
c. Colleges founded after 1776 were not very prestigious