Penn Claims Title of Oldest U.S. University

Harvard students are not attending the oldest university in the United States, the Daily Pennsylvanian assorts. Brandishing a copy of Webeter's Dictionary the Quaker paper points out that Penn has sole claim to that honor.

According to the dictionary, a university is an institution of higher learning with professional or graduate schools in addition to an undergraduate college. Since Penn's medical school was founded in 1765 and the Harvard Medical School in 1783, the Quakers' claim is valid.

However, Harvard is the oldest university is continuous operation. In 1789, 11 years after its founding, Penn revoked its own charter, and it was not returned until 1791. During this period the Medical School west on handing out degrees, thus giving Harvard its claim to the oldest university title.