At Stanford, a spirit of optimism and possibility energizes our mission of discovery and learning. Here you’ll find a place of intellectual expansiveness, wide-ranging perspectives, and freedom to explore new lines of thinking. Expert advice, rankings and data to help you navigate your education journey and find the best college for you. Schools in the National Universities category offer a full range of undergraduate. As America’s first university, Penn has a history that dates back to 1740 and shares many ties with the colonial city of Philadelphia and the birth of our nation. Purdue University is a world-renowned, public research university that advances discoveries in science, technology, engineering and math. Johns Hopkins, founded in 1876, is America's first research university and home to nine world-class academic divisions working together as one university University is derived from the Latin phrase universitas magistrorum et scholarium, which roughly means community of teachers and scholars. [2]. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. University, institution of higher education, usually comprising a college of liberal arts and sciences and graduate and professional schools and having the authority to confer degrees in various fields of study. Learn more about the history of universities in this article. Since its founding in 1701, Yale University has been dedicated to expanding and sharing knowledge, inspiring innovation, and preserving cultural and scientific information for future generations. Cornell University is a private research university that provides an exceptional education for undergraduates and graduate and professional students. Cornell's colleges and schools encompass more than 100 fields of study, with locations in Ithaca, New York, New York City and Doha, Qatar. The University of Notre Dame is a private research university inspired by its Catholic character to be a powerful force for good in the world.