Difference Between Harvard College and Harvard University

Key Difference – Harvard College vs Harvard University
 

Harvard is one of the most prominent educational institutes in the USA and the whole world. However, many people don’t realize is that there is a difference between Harvard College and Harvard University. Harvard College is the “original Harvard”, the oldest institution of higher education in the US, founded in 1636. Harvard College Harvard College is the undergraduate liberal arts college of the Harvard University. Harvard University consists of 12 more professional and graduate schools in addition to Harvard College. This is the key difference between Harvard College and Harvard University.

CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Harvard College
3. What is Harvard University
4. Side by Side Comparison – Harvard College vs Harvard University
5. Summary

What is Harvard College?

Harvard College is the undergraduate liberal arts college of the Harvard University. It was founded in 1636 and is considered as the oldest higher education institution in the United States. So, this was the “original” Harvard that has a long and prestigious history.

There are about 6,700 undergraduates at the Harvard College, both male and female. Students are nearly 3,900 courses in 50 undergraduate fields of study, which are known as concentrations. Most of these concentrations are interdisciplinary.

Figure 1: Harvard College Logo

What is Harvard University?

Harvard University is an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is considered to be one of the most prestigious universities in the world. This university has 13 degree-granting schools excluding the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. Harvard College is one of these 13 schools. There are more than 20, 000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students across all these schools.

Schools in Harvard University

Given below is a list of schools that make up the Harvard University with the year they were established on.

• Harvard College – 1636
• Harvard Medical School – 1782
• Harvard Divinity School – 1816
• Harvard Law School -1817
• Harvard School of Dental Medicine – 1867
• Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences -1872
• Harvard Business School – 1908
• Harvard Extension School – 1940
• Harvard Graduate School of Design – 1910
• Harvard Graduate School of Education – 1920
• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health -1922
• Harvard Kennedy School – 1936
• Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences – 2007

However, it is the Harvard College that offers first degrees; others are graduate or professional schools which offer masters or doctoral programs.

Figure 2: Harvard University Logo

What is the difference between Harvard College and Harvard University?

Summary – Harvard College vs Harvard University

The difference between Harvard College and Harvard University lies in the organization of Harvard. Harvard College, founded in 1636, is one of the 13 schools of Harvard University. It is the Harvard College that offers the first degree; other 12 schools are graduate or professional schools. Harvard College only has undergraduate students whereas Harvard University also has graduate and professional students in addition to undergraduate students.

Image Courtesy:
1. “Harvard Wreath Logo 1” (Fair use) via Commons Wikimedia 
2. “Harvard shield-College” (Fair use) via Commons Wikimedia

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