List of colleges and universities named after people

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Many colleges and universities are named after people. Namesakes include the founder of the institution, financial benefactors, revered religious leaders, notable historical figures, members of royalty, current political leaders, and respected teachers or other leaders associated with the institution. This is a list of higher education institutions named for people.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Contents

[edit] Institutions named for people associated with the institution

[edit] Founders or their family members

The following institutions are named for the individual people who are credited as their founders. A few institutions were named by the founder in honor of a parent, child, spouse, or other close family member.

Institution Namesake Notes
Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV University was established by the Aga Khan in 1983 as part of the Aga Khan Development Network. [1]
Alice Lloyd College, Kentucky, USA Alice Spencer Geddes Lloyd Journalist turned social reformer; founded the school in 1923 as Caney Junior College.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India Mata Amritanandamayi Devi University's first chancellor and famed Indian spiritual leader[2]
Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India Dr.Rajah Sir Annamalai Chettiar Philanthropist who established several higher education institutions[3]
Audrey Cohen College, New York, USA Audrey Cohen Educator; established the institution in 1964 as the Women's Talent Corps
Babson College, Massachusetts, USA Roger Babson Entrepreneur and business theorist; founded the school in 1919 as Babson Institute
Bard College, New York, USA John Bard John Bard and his wife founded the college as St. Stephen's College.
Baylor University, Texas, USA Robert Emmett Bledsoe Baylor Texas judge who is regarded as one of three founders of the university.
Berry College, Georgia, USA Martha McChesney Berry founder
Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India B.M. Birla The founder was a member of the Birla family, one of the foremost business houses in India[4]
Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani, Rajasthan, India Ghanshyam Das Birla The founder was a member of the Birla family, one of the foremost business houses in India
Blackburn College, Illinois, USA Gideon Blackburn Preacher Blackburn, a former president of Centre College, was working to establish the new school at the time of his death in 1838, but opening of the school was delayed until 1859.[5]
Bob Jones University, South Carolina, USA Bob Jones, Sr. Evangelist preacher Bob Jones founded Bob Jones University in 1927.
Bond University, Queensland, Australia Alan Bond High-profile businessman Alan Bond founded Bond University in 1987.
Bradley University, Illinois, USA Family of Lydia Moss Bradley Lydia Moss Bradley founded the school in 1897 in memory of her husband Tobias and their six children, all of whom had died early and suddenly, leaving her a childless widow.
Brigham Young University, Utah Brigham Young Mormon church leader Brigham Young personally purchased the buildings of the failed University of Deseret, forming Brigham Young Academy in 1876. Brigham Young University campuses in Hawaii and Idaho now also bear his name.
Butler University, Indiana, USA Ovid Butler Established in 1855 as North Western Christian University; renamed in 1875 in honor of its founder, a Restoration Movement preacher and abolitionist who had achieved his goal of forming a Christian university in Indiana [6]
Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania, USA Andrew Carnegie, Andrew W. Mellon, and Richard B. Mellon The university was formed by the merger of Carnegie Institute of Technology, founded in 1900 by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, and the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research, founded in 1913 by Andrew and Richard Mellon.
Case Western Reserve University, Ohio, USA Leonard Case, Jr. The university was formed by the affiliation of Case School of Engineering (originally Case School of Applied Science, founded by Case in 1877) and Western Reserve University.
Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand King Chulalongkorn the Great Established in 1917 by King King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) of Siam (Thailand) and named in honor of his father.
Clark University, Massachusetts, USA Jonas Gilman Clark Clark was both the founder and principal benefactor of the university, making major gifts in his lifetime and leaving a bequest that totaled about $2,915,000 in 1900. [7]
Clarkson University, New York, USA Thomas Streatfeild Clarkson Entrepreneur who was killed in 1894 trying to save a worker in his sandstone mining business. His family started the college in his memory.[8]
Cogswell College, California, USA Henry D. and Caroline Cogswell Henry Cogswell, who founded the college in 1887 with his wife Caroline, was a dentist and temperance crusader. The defunct Henry Cogswell College also bore his name.
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York, USA Peter Cooper Industrialist, inventor, and politician who conceived of the idea of having a free institute in New York. He erected a building and endowed the institution, which he presented to the City of New York in 1858.
Cornell College, Iowa, USA William Wesley Cornell College was established as Iowa Conference Seminary in 1853 and renamed in 1857 in honor of iron tycoon Cornell, who is sometimes described as the school's founder.[9][10]
Cornell University, New York, USA Ezra Cornell University was founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White
Creighton University, Nebraska, USA Edward Creighton Founded in 1878 through a gift from Mary Lucretia Creighton, who directed in her will that a school be established in memory of her husband.
Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie Founded in 1818 by Ramsay, the British Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia
Dharmsinh Desai University, Gujarat, India Dharmsinh Desai Member of Parliament, educationist and social worker who established the institution in 1968[2]
Drexel University, Pennsylvania, USA Anthony Joseph Drexel I Philadelphia financier and philanthropist who founded the school in 1891
Emerson College, Massachusetts, USA Charles Wesley Emerson Founded the college in 1880 as a school of oratory
Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya Lord Egerton Maurice of Tatton Founded in 1939 on land donated by the British farmer [11]
Dr. Harisingh Gour University, India Dr. Harisingh Gour Founded the institution in 1946 as University of Saugar, using his life savings [12]
Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany Count Eberhard VI and Duke Karl Eugen Eberhard founded the university in 1477; in 1769 Duke Karl Eugen appended his first name to that of the founder.
Ferris State University, Michigan, USA Woodbridge Nathan Ferris Educator who founded the institution in 1884; later served as governor of Michigan and as a US Senator
GIK Institute, Topi, Pakistan Ghulam Ishaq Khan Named after a former president of Pakistan
Gibbs College Katharine Gibbs Founder of the institution, now operated as a chain of for-profit colleges
Gnessin State Musical College, Moscow, Russia Sisters Eugenia, Helena and Maria Gnessin Established in 1895 by the sisters, who were pianists
Gordon College (Massachusetts), USA Adoniram Judson Gordon Founder, in 1889; the college was originally known as the Boston Missionary Training School
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (GCTS), multiple USA locations Adoniram Judson Gordon and Russell Conwell Gordon started the Gordon Divinity School in Massachusetts in 1889; Conwell (also founder of ) started the Conwell School of Theology at Temple University; the two schools merged in 1969.
Goucher College, Maryland, USA John Goucher and Mary Fisher Goucher Established in 1885 as The Woman's College of Baltimore, renamed in honor of its founders in 1910 [13]
Harvey Mudd College, California, USA Harvey Seeley Mudd Benefactor who was involved in planning of the new institution, but died before it opened
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, New York, USA John Henry Hobart & William Smith Hobart College was founded in 1796 as Geneva Academy, becoming a college in 1822 under the leadership of Episcopal bishop John Henry Hobart. It was renamed in his honor in 1852. William Smith College was established as a coordinate college for women in 1906 with gifts from nurseryman William Smith.
Houghton College, New York, USA Willard J. Houghton Wesleyan Methodist minister who founded the institution in 1883
Hunter College, New York, USA Thomas Hunter Founder
Johnson Bible College, Tennessee, USA Ashley S. Johnson
Johnson & Wales University, USA Gertrude I. Johnson and Mary T. Wales
Kalasalingam University, Tamil Nadu, India Arulmigu Kalasalingam Founded by Mr. Kalasalingam [14]
Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University, Bihar, India Kameshwar Singh In 1961 Maharaja Kameshwar Singh donated his ancestral house, Anandbag Palace, a rich library and surrounding land to establish a Sanskrit university. [15]
King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia King Saud Founded by King Saud in 1957
LeMoyne-Owen College, Tennessee, USA Francis Julius LeMoyne & S. A. Owen LeMoyne (1798-1879), a Pennsylvania doctor, donated $20,000 to the American Missionary Association in 1870 to help establish the institution that became LeMoyne College. The namesake of Owen College, established in 1947 as S.A. Owen Junior College, was a distinguished religious and civic leader. The two historically black institutions merged in 1968.[16]
Leopold-Franzens University, Innsbruck, Austria Emperor Leopold I, Emperor Francis I Founded by Emperor Leopold I in 1669, re-established by Emperor Francis I in 1826.
LeTourneau University, Texas, USA R.G. LeTourneau Founder, with his wife Evelyn, of LeTourneau Technical Institute, formed in 1946 to educate veterans returning from World War II
Lipscomb University, Tennessee, USA David Lipscomb Restoration Movement minister who, together with James A. Harding, founded the institution in 1891
Magee College of University of Ulster, Northern Ireland Martha Magee Widow of a Presbyterian minister, who, in 1845, bequeathed £20,000 to the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to found a college for theology and the arts
Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat, India Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III Founder
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Vedic University, Madhya Pradesh, India Maharishi Mahesh Yogi [3]
Maharishi Open University Maharishi Mahesh Yogi [4]
Maharishi University of Management, Iowa, USA Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
McGill University, Quebec, Canada James McGill The university was established in 1821 by McGill's bequest of money and land.
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada William McMaster Founded the university in 1887
Millikin University, Illinois, USA James Millikin Local businessman who founded the school in 1901
Mills College, California, USA Susan Tolman Mills and Cyrus Mills Originally established as the Young Ladies Seminary; Susan and Cyrus Mills bought it in 1866, renamed it Mills Seminary, and later converted it to Mills College. Susan Mills served as principal and president until 1909.
Millsaps College, Mississippi, USA Reuben Webster Millsaps A Confederate veteran, Major Millsaps founded the college in 1889-90 by donating $50,000 and land for the campus.
M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia Mikhail Lomonosov University was established on the instigation of Ivan Shuvalov and Mikhail Lomonosov by a decree of Russian Empress Elizabeth in 1755.
Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, USA Dwight Lyman Moody
National Sun Yat-sen University, Republic of China (Taiwan) Sun Yat-sen Successor to Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, re-established in Taiwan by the ROC government
National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Kiev, Ukraine Petro Mohyla Institution traces its history to the 1632 merger of two other schools by Mohyla, Metropolitan bishop of Kiev and Galicia.
Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India Fath Jang Nawwab Mir Osman Ali Khan Asif Jah VII Last Nizam (ruler) of the Princely State of Hyderabad, whose charitable trust founded the institute in the 1960s [5][6]
Oral Roberts University, Oklahoma, USA Oral Roberts Televangelist preacher who founded the university in 1963
Osmania University, Andhra Pradesh, India Osman Ali Khan, Asif Jah VII Founded the university in 1918
Otis College of Art and Design, California, USA Harrison Gray Otis Founded in 1918 on land bequeathed for the purpose by Otis, founder of the Los Angeles Times newspaper
Pace University, New York, USA Homer Pace and Charles Ashford Pace Brothers who founded the school in 1906
Patten University, California, USA Dr. Bebe Patten Christian evangelist; founded the school in 1944 as the Oakland Bible Institute
Pepperdine University, California, USA George Pepperdine Businessman who had built a fortune founding and developing the Western Auto Supply Company; he established the college in 1937
Philipps University of Marburg, Germany Philipp I of Hesse founded the university in 1527
Pitzer College, California, USA Russell K. Pitzer California citrus grower who founded the college in 1963
Purdue University, Indiana, USA John Purdue Businessman Purdue donated funds to the state of Indiana to establish a college of science, technology, and agriculture in his name.
P.D. Memorial Religious and Educational Association,Bahadurgarh,India Prabhu Dayal noted philanthropist,his son founded association in 1996
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York, USA Stephen Van Rensselaer III Co-founder, with Amos Eaton
Rice University, Texas, USA William Marsh Rice Businessman whose designated that his estate be used to establish the institution
Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland Robert Gordon Merchant Gordon, who died in 1731, willed his estate to build a residential school for young boys in Aberdeen. That school was the genesis of the institution now called Robert Gordon University.
Roberts Wesleyan College, New York, USA Benjamin Titus Roberts and John Wesley Named in honor of both the college founder (Roberts) and the founder of Methodism and the Wesleyan Church (Wesley).
Rockefeller University, New York, USA John D. Rockefeller Founded in 1901 by the oil baron and philanthropist as the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research
Royal Holloway, University of London, England Thomas Holloway Founded Royal Holloway College as a women-only college in 1879
Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Uttar Pradesh, India Dr. Sampurnanand Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and cofounder in 1958 of the university that was renamed for him in 1974[17]
Sarah Lawrence College, New York, USA Sarah Lawrence, wife of William Van Duzer Lawrence The college was founded by New York real-estate mogul William Lawrence and named in honor of his wife.
Scripps College, California, USA Ellen Browning Scripps
Shimer College, Illinois, USA Frances Wood Shimer Founded the school in 1853 as a non-denominational co-educational seminary
Silpakorn University, Thailand Silpa Bhirasri Italian-born art professor who founded the university in 1943; he took the Thai name Silpa Bhirasri when he became a Thai citizen
Skidmore College, New York, USA Lucy Skidmore Scribner and her father, Joseph Russell Skidmore Lucy Skidmore Scribner formed the Young Women's Industrial Club in 1903 with inheritance money from her father, a prosperous coal merchant. In 1911, the club was chartered under the name "Skidmore School of Arts" as a college for vocational and professional training of young women.[18]
Smith College, Massachusetts, USA Sophia Smith Willed her inherited fortune to endow the founding of the college
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Andhra Pradesh, India Sathya Sai Baba Founded the institution in 1981
Stanford University, California, USA Leland Stanford, Jr. Founded by railroad magnate and California Governor Leland Stanford and his wife, Jane Stanford, and named in honor of their only child, who died of typhoid just before his 16th birthday.
Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China Dr. Sun Yat-sen Physician, president of the Republic of China, and Kuomintang leader who founded the university in 1924
Surendranath College, Kolkata, India Surendranath Banerjea Previously called Ripon College, named for the British Viceroy Lord Ripon; renamed in 1948-1949 for its founder, Indian nationalist leader Banerjea.
Thapar University, Punjab, India Family of Karam Chand Thapar Industrialist K.C. Thapar founded the school as the Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology in 1956[19]
Vassar College, New York, USA Matthew Vassar Brewer and merchant who founded the college in 1861
Washington College, Maryland, USA George Washington Founded in 1782 under the patronage of George Washington, who consented to give his name to the College and who served five years on the Board of Visitors and Governors, before beginning his presidency of the United States
Wells College, New York, USA Henry Wells Founder of Wells Fargo and American Express who established the school as a woman's college in 1868
Wheaton College (Massachusetts), USA Eliza Wheaton Strong Wheaton Female Seminary was established in her memory by her family in 1835.
Wheelock College (Massachusetts), USA Lucy Wheelock Founded the college in 1888 [20]
Whitworth University, Washington, USA George Whitworth Founded institution in 1883 as Sumner Academy; renamed in his honor in 1890

[edit] Benefactors or their family members

Institution Namesake Notes
Agnes Scott College, Georgia, USA Agnes Scott George Washington Scott, Confederate general and businessman, gave $112,250 to Decatur Female Seminary (which he helped organize), which then renamed itself in honor of his mother.
Albertson College of Idaho, USA Joe Albertson Grocery retailer and major donor to the The College of Idaho, which changed its name in his honor in 1991, but reverted to its original name in 2007.[21]
Ball State University, Indiana, USA The Ball Brothers Founders of the Ball Corporation who bought the Indiana Normal Institute out of foreclosure and donated it to the state of Indiana.
Baruch College, New York, USA Bernard M. Baruch The School of Business and Civic Administration of the City College of New York was renamed in 1953 for Baruch, a wealthy financier and devoted alumnus. The school received $9 million from his estate upon his death in 1965.[22]
Bates College, Maine, USA Benjamin E. Bates Boston financier; provided financial support for school's expansion in 1863
Bennett College, North Carolina, USA Lyman Bennett Donations from Bennett, a New York businessman, provided funds to build a permanent campus.
Bexley Hall (seminary), Ohio and New York, USA Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley Benefactor of Kenyon College in Ohio, where Bexley Hall was founded
Bocconi University, Milan, Italy Luigi Bocconi University was founded with the help of an endowment from wealthy merchant Ferdinando Bocconi and was named for Bocconi's son, who had died in the First Italo–Ethiopian War.
Bowdoin College, Maine, USA James Bowdoin Former Massachusetts governor whose son James Bowdoin III was an early benefactor of the school, which was chartered in 1794.
Brown University, Rhode Island, USA Family of John Brown and Nicholas Brown Local businessmen, the Browns were among the signers of the College of Rhode Island's original charter in 1764 and became major benefactors; it was renamed in their honor in 1804.
Bucknell University, Pennsylvania, USA William Bucknell Originally the University at Lewisburg; renamed in 1886 in honor of the benefactor from Philadelphia who assisted the school during the post-Civil War recession.
Carleton College, Minnesota, USA William Carleton Originally Northfield College; renamed five years after its establishment (in 1871) to honor benefactor William Carleton, who had given US$50,000 to the fledgling institution.
Chapman University, California, USA Charles C. Chapman Originally called Hesperian College and later California Christian College; renamed in 1934 in honor of Chapman, the chairman of the institution's board of trustees and a principal benefactor.
Clare College, Cambridge, UK Elizabeth de Clare Originally founded in 1326 as University Hall but suffered financial hardship; was refounded in 1338 as Clare Hall by an endowment from Elizabeth de Clare, a granddaughter of Edward I.
Clemson University, South Carolina, USA Thomas Green Clemson (1807-1888) Clemson's will directed that most of his estate be used to establish a college to teach scientific agriculture and the mechanical arts to South Carolinians.
Coe College, Iowa, USA Daniel Coe Farmer in the Catskills region of New York who pledged $1,500 toward the 1853 founding of the Cedar Rapids Collegiate Institute (later renamed in his honor). His pledge was made with the stipulation that the school be coeducational.
Colby College, Maine, USA Gardner Colby Originally (in 1813) the Maine Literary and Theological Institution and later Waterville College, was renamed for Boston merchant Colby due to his financial support which helped the school survive during the American Civil War.[23]
Colgate University, New York, USA William Colgate and family Originally the Baptist Education Society of the State of New York and later Madison University, was renamed for Colgate (founder of the company that became Colgate-Palmolive) in 1890 in honor of nearly 70 years of involvement and service by the Colgate family.[24]
Converse College, South Carolina, USA Dexter Edgar Converse Cotton mill owner who was among the school's founders and made substantial contributions [25]
Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, USA William Legge, 2nd Earl of Dartmouth Large donor to and a leading trustee for the English trust established for the benefit of the college
Denison University, Ohio, USA William Denison Local Ohio farmer who donated to the university (then Granville Theological Seminary)
DePauw University, Indiana, USA Washington Charles DePauw Originally called Indiana Asbury University, renamed in 1884 in honor of DePauw's substantial donations, which totaled over $600,000 during his lifetime.
Dickinson College, Pennsylvania, USA John Dickinson Signer of both the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of the United States who was President of Pennsylvania at the time of the college's founding and who donated 500 acres (2.0 km2) of land for the campus
Drake University, Iowa, USA Francis Marion Drake Endowed the institution in 1881; later became governor of Iowa
Drew University, New Jersey, USA Daniel Drew Financier who endowed the school (originally Drew Theological Seminary) at its founding in 1867
Duke University, North Carolina, USA Washington Duke Name changed from Trinity College to Duke University in 1924, after tobacco industrialist James B. Duke established The Duke Endowment. The name honors the donor's deceased father.
Eckerd College, Florida, USA Jack Eckerd Founder of Eckerd Drugs; donated $12.5 million to Florida Presbyterian College, which was renamed in his honor in 1972
Eugene Lang College, New York, USA Eugene Lang Originally The New School for Liberal Arts; renamed in 1985 following a generous donation by philanthropist and educational visionary Lang and his wife Theresa
Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey, USA Col. Fairleigh S. Dickinson, Sr. co-founder of Becton Dickinson
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, Massachusetts, USA Franklin W. Olin Founder of the Olin Corporation; College's endowment is funded primarily by his F. W. Olin Foundation
Grinnell College, Iowa, USA Josiah Bushnell Grinnell
Hamline University, Minnesota, USA Leonidas Lent Hamline Methodist Bishop who provided US$25,000 of his own money to launch the school, founded in 1854.
Harvard University, Massachusetts, USA John Harvard Young clergyman whose bequest was (in 1639) the first principal donation to the new institution
Hofstra University, New York, USA William Hofstra University was established on the grounds of the Hofstra estate with funds that his widow's will designated for creating a memorial to her husband.[7]
Hollins University, Virginia, USA John Hollins and Ann Halsey Hollins early benefactors
Howard Payne University, Texas, USA Edward Howard Payne A large gift from Payne (brother-in-law of one of the founders) helped to establish the institution [8]
Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, USA Johns Hopkins Hopkins, who died in 1873, bequeathed $7 million for the founding of the university and Johns Hopkins Hospital. At the time, this was the largest philanthropic bequest in U.S. history, the equivalent of over $131 million in 2006.
Juilliard School, New York, USA Augustus Juilliard Named for Juilliard, a textile merchant, who bequeathed a substantial amount for the advancement of music in the United States
Kenyon College, Ohio, USA Lloyd Kenyon, 3rd Baron Kenyon Lord Kenyon was one of the college's earliest benefactors in 1824. Another was Lord Gambier, whose name was given to the associated village, Gambier, Ohio.[26]
Kettering University, Michigan, USA Charles Kettering Inventor, proponent of cooperative education, and an early benefactor of the school under one of its previous names.[9]
King College, Tennessee, USA James King College was originally located on land donated by Reverend King.
King Edward Medical University (Kemc), Lahore, Pakistan Edward VII of the United Kingdom Founded as Lahore Medical College, renamed King Edward Medical College after receiving assistance from the King Edward Medical Memorial Fund[10]
Kotelawala Defence University, Colombo, Sri Lanka General Sir John Kotelawala Established on an estate donated by Kotelawala, a former Prime Minister of Ceylon
Université Laval, Quebec, Canada Bishop François de Laval First Bishop of New France
Lawrence University, Wisconsin, USA Amos Adams Lawrence Philanthropist Lawrence contributed $10,000 toward the school's founding
Lewis University, Illinois, USA Frank J. Lewis philanthropist who funded the construction of many of the school's buildings
Macalester College, Minnesota, USA Charles Macalester Philadelphia, PA, businessman who sponsored the institution's conversion from a school to a college
Meharry Medical College, Tennessee, USA Samuel Meharry Meharry was a young white man who, in 1826, was aided after an accident by a family of freed slaves. Afterward, he promised to repay their help by doing "something for your race." Fifty years later, he and four brothers donated $15,000 to assist with establishment of the medical department at Central Tennessee College; that department later became Meharry Medical College.[27]
Paul Smith's College, New York, USA Apollos (Paul) Smith Smith amassed a fortune in real estate and other businesses after starting out as a hunting guide in the Adirondacks. His son left a bequest to start a college in his name.
Philander Smith College, Arkansas, USA Philander Smith Renamed from Walden Seminary in 1882 to recognize the financial contributions of Adeline Smith, the widow of Philander Smith
Radcliffe College, Massachusetts, USA Ann Mowlson Lady Ann Mowlson, née Radcliffe, established the first scholarship at Harvard University (Radcliffe's parent institution) in 1643.
Reed College, Oregon, USA Simeon Gannett Reed and Amanda Reed Oregon pioneers; Amanda Reed's estate provided the endowment with which the college was founded.
Rhodes University, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa Cecil Rhodes The establishment of the university was aided by the Rhodes Trust.
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Jersey, USA Robert Wood Johnson III Originally Rutgers Medical School, received its current name in 1986[28]
Robinson College, Cambridge, England David Robinson British philanthropist who gave Cambridge University £17 million to establish a new college
Rowan University, New Jersey, USA Henry Rowan and Betty Rowan Formerly Glassboro State College; was renamed in 1992 after the Rowans gave $100 million to the school, at the time the largest gift to a public college.[29]
Russell Sage College, New York, USA Russell Sage
Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA Henry Rutgers American Revolutionary War hero whose donations helped the college (originally called Queen's College) survive difficult financial times[30]
Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University, India Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Mother of Sir Vithaldas Thackersey, who made a generous contribution in her memory.[31]
Spelman College, Georgia, USA Laura Spelman Rockefeller Wife of donor John D. Rockefeller
Stetson University, Florida, USA John Batterson Stetson Creator of the Stetson hat; donated generously to DeLand University, which changed its name to John B. Stetson University in 1889.
Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey, USA Edwin A. Stevens His bequest helped to establish the institution
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, India J.R.D. Tata
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, India Sir Dorabji Tata Established with support from the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust;[32]; trust founder Sir Dorabji Tata was influential in establishing the Tata family's industrial endeavors.[33]
Thiel College, Pennsylvania, USA A. Louis Thiel Provided initial funding for the school in 1866, donating $4,000 that he had received from an investment in the new oil industry in Titusville, Pennsylvania [34]
Tufts University, Massachusetts, USA Charles Tufts Donated the land for the campus
Tulane University, Louisiana, USA Paul Tulane Tulane was converted from a public to a private university in the late 19th century with financing from the endowments of Paul Tulane and Josephine Louise Newcomb.
Vanderbilt University, Tennessee, USA Cornelius Vanderbilt Provided the institution its initial $1 million endowment.
Wheaton College (Illinois), USA Warren L. Wheaton Early donor who also was a founder of the city of Wheaton, Illinois.[35]
Williams College, Massachusetts, USA Ephraim Williams Benefactor whose estate helped to found the college in 1793
Wilson College (Pennsylvania), USA Sarah Wilson first major donor to the college
Winthrop University, South Carolina, USA Robert C. Winthrop Donor whose contribution was enough to rent the institution's first one-room building
Wofford College, South Carolina, USA Benjamin Wofford Methodist minister whose $100,000 bequest founded the college in 1854
Yale University, Connecticut, USA Elihu Yale benefactor
Young Harris College, Georgia, USA Young Harris benefactor

[edit] Other institutional associations

Institution Namesake Notes
Barnard College, New York, USA Frederick A.P. Barnard President of Columbia College in the years prior to Barnard's founding as Columbia's sister school; was a proponent of higher education for women
Cardinal Stritch University, Wisconsin, USA Samuel Cardinal Stritch Originally St. Clare College; renamed in 1946 when Stritch, who had been Archbishop of Milwaukee when the school was established within that archdiocese, became a Roman Catholic cardinal.
Cheikh Anta Diop University, Senegal Cheikh Anta Diop Senegalese historian and anthropologist who worked at the University of Dakar, which was renamed for him after his death.
Claremont McKenna College, California, USA Donald McKenna Originally named Claremont Men's College for its location; the name of McKenna, one of the school's founding trustees, was added to the name when the school became coeducational in 1976[36]
Crichton College, Tennessee, USA Dr. James B. Crichton Established in 1941 and formerly called Mid-South Bible College, renamed in honor of this former school president and professor in 1986
C.W. Post College, New York, USA Charles William Post Breakfast cereal inventor and father of Marjorie Merriweather Post, who sold the school's campus to Long Island University.[37]
Dawson College, Montréal, Quebec Canada John William Dawson Sir William Dawson Professor of geology and principal of McGill University (Dawson's parent institution) from 1855 to 1893
Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary Loránd Eötvös Physicist who researched and taught in the university (then called University of Budapest), which was renamed in his honor in 1950
Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany Ernst Moritz Arndt German patriotic author and poet who was a student at the university and later taught history there; his name was added to the university's name in 1933
Faulkner University, Alabama, USA James H. Faulkner Longtime supporter and chairman of the board of trustees
Furman University, South Carolina, USA Richard Furman A founder of the South Carolina Baptist Convention whose efforts in support of Baptist missions and education led to the establishment of Furman University (and other institutions) and whose organizational concepts were eventually adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention. His son was the school's first president.[38]
Hamilton College, New York, USA Alexander Hamilton Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, was one of the institution's first trustees.
Henderson State University, Arkansas, USA Charles Christopher Henderson Early trustee of the college originally called Arkadelphia Methodist College
Hendrix College, Arkansas, USA Eugene Russell Hendrix Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which had recently purchased the school previously named Central Collegiate Institute
Kean University, New Jersey, USA Robert Winthrop Kean Member of the U.S. House of Representatives and father of former New Jersey governor Thomas Kean. Campus site once belonged to the Kean family,[39] including land purchased while Robert Kean was in Congress.[40][41]
Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli, Rome, Italy Guido Carli President of the University from 1978 until his death in 1993
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria Obafemi Awolowo First Nigerian premier of the Western Region of Nigeria who was also the university's founding statesman and first Chancellor
Rhodes College, Tennessee, USA Peyton Nalle Rhodes Former president of the college which had previously held names including Montgomery Masonic College, Stewart College, Southwestern Presbyterian University, and Southwestern at Memphis.
Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary Ignác Semmelweis The medical school, first established in 1769, was renamed in 1969 in honor of 19th century Hungarian physician Semmelweis, discoverer of the cause of puerperal fever, who was a professor and chairman in the institution's Faculty of Medicine[42]
Seton Hall University, New Jersey, USA Elizabeth Ann Seton Mother Seton was the first American-born Catholic saint. The university was founded 1856 by her nephew, Archdiocese of Newark Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley, who named the institution for his aunt.
Sharif University, Tehran, Iran Majid Sharif Vaghefi Islamic martyr (1949-1975) and graduate of Aryamehr University, which was renamed as a memorial after Iran's Islamic revolution
Trevelyan College (Durham University), England G. M. Trevelyan Historian who served as Chancellor of Durham University from 1950 to 1957
Van Mildert College (Durham University), England William Van Mildert Prince-Bishop of Durham from 1826 to 1836 and a leading figure in the founding of Durham University in 1832
Warren Wilson College, North Carolina, USA Warren Hugh Wilson Presbyterian minister who served on the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which named the college in his honor after his death[11]

[edit] Institutions named for contemporary royalty or politicians

Some educational institutions carry the names of members of royalty or political leaders who were in power at the time the institutions were established or received their present names. Some of these schools were given the names of the leaders who officially chartered them (for example, Charles University of Prague in the Czech Republic and College of William and Mary in the United States). Other institutions may have received other forms of support from their namesakes.

The following list includes both institutions named for members of royalty or politicians in power at the time the institutions received those names and institutions that were named for recently deceased royalty or politicians who may have been special supporters of the schools. Institutions named for family members of such leaders also are listed.

Institution Namesake Notes
Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria Ahmadu Bello Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, was the first premier of Northern Nigeria
Cégep André-Laurendeau LaSalle, Quebec Canada. André Laurendeau novelist, playwright, essay writer, journalist and politician in Quebec, Canada.
Austin Peay State University, Tennessee, USA Austin Peay Governor of Tennessee; died in office (in 1927) two years before school opened
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba Israel David Ben-Gurion School was originally University of the Negev, but was renamed after the death of Ben-Gurion, Israel's first Prime Minister, in 1973
Charles University of Prague, Czech Republic Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor Holy Roman Emperor who authorized the establishment of the university
George Brown College, Toronto, Canada George Brown 19th century politician and newspaper publisher and one of the Fathers of Confederation.
Collège Gérald-Godin Gérald-Godin Ste-Geneviève, Canada Quebec poet, journalist and politician.
Grant MacEwan College, Edmonton, Canada Dr. J.W. Grant MacEwan, Author, educator, and former lieutenant governor of Alberta
Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Andhra Pradesh N.T. Rama Rao Famous actor in Telugu film industry and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh when institution was founded in 1986[43]
Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Himachal Pradesh, India Yashwant Singh Parmar Established in 1962 as the Himachal Agricultural College and Research Institute; was named in 1985 for Parmar, popularly called "architect of Himachal Pradesh," who had been the first Chief Minister of the state and was an advocate for the Horticulture and Forestry University [44]
Kim Il-sung University, Pyongyang North Korea Kim Il-sung Founder of Communist North Korea
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia King Fahd First the College of Petroleum and Minerals and later the University of Petroleum and Minerals, was renamed in 1986 in honor of King Fahd,[45] who ruled Saudi Arabia from 1982 to 2005.
King Faisal University, Dammam Saudi Arabia King Faisal Established in 1975, the same year that King Faisal was assassinated
Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco Mohammed V of Morocco Sultan of Morocco who became King in 1957, the year the university was established
University of Naples Federico II, Italy Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor Holy Roman Emperor who authorized the establishment of the university
Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Prince Sultan Born in 1928, currently Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia
Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom The university received a royal charter from Queen Victoria in 1845.
Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, Jharkhand State, India Dr. Rajendra Prasad First president of India
Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Uttar Pradesh, India Sanjay Gandhi Deceased son of Indira Gandhi, who was India's prime minister when the institute was established in 1983.[46]
College of William and Mary, Virginia, United States of America King William III and Queen Mary II of England College was founded in 1693 by a Royal Charter issued by King William and Queen Mary
Zayed University, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan First president of United Arab Emirates

[edit] Institutions named in honor of historical people not connected with the institution

[edit] Religious figures

The following universities and colleges are named for people who are noted primarily for their contributions to religion, including theologians, saints, holy people, and founders of religious denominations. Most, but not all, of the institutions of higher education named for religious figures are religious institutions.

Institution Namesake Notes
Acharya Nagarjuna University, Andhra Pradesh, India Nagarjuna Founder of the Madhyamaka path of Mahayana Buddhism
Albertus Magnus College, Connecticut, USA Albertus Magnus Medieval Roman Catholic philosopher and theologian
Albright College, Pennsylvania, USA Jacob Albright Preacher who founded the Evangelical Association (later the Evangelical United Brethren Church)
Allen University, South Carolina, USA Bishop Richard Allen Founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
Aquinas College St. Thomas Aquinas Medieval Roman Catholic theologian; the name "Aquinas College" is used by several institutions of higher education around the world
Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Punjab, India Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar 12th century Sufi preacher, saint of Punjab, and poet of Punjabi language
Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel Meir Bar-Ilan Leader of Religious Zionism
Barton College, North Carolina, USA Barton W. Stone Founder of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Atlantic Christian College was renamed in his honor in 1990.
Bellarmine University, Kentucky, USA Robert Bellarmine Catholic saint
Calvin College, Michigan, USA John Calvin Theologian of the Protestant Reformation
Canisius College, New York, USA Petrus Canisius Catholic Saint
DePaul University, Illinois, USA St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Saint
George Fox University, Oregon, USA George Fox Founder of the Quaker movement
Gonzaga University, Washington, USA Aloysius Gonzaga Catholic saint; patron saint of youth
Guru Ghasidas University, Chhattisgarh, India Guru Ghasidas Hindu saint; founder of the Satnami sect of Hinduism[12]
Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Haryana State, India Guru Jambheshwar Hindu saint of the 15th century, founder and guru of the Bishnoi sect [47]
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, India Guru Gobind Singh Sikh warrior, poet, and spiritual leader [48]
Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India Guru Nanak Dev Founder of Sikhism
Hatfield College (Durham University), England Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham from 1345 to 1381
John Carroll University, Ohio, USA John Carroll Originally St. Ignatius College, renamed in 1923 for Carroll, the first archbishop of the Catholic Church in the United States and founder of fellow Jesuit institution Georgetown University
La Salle University, Pennsylvania, USA Jean-Baptiste de la Salle Catholic saint whose work contributed to improving education
Le Moyne College, New York, USA Simon Le Moyne Catholic missionary of the Society of Jesus
Collège Lionel-Groulx, Quebec Canada Canon Lionel-Groulx Catholic Priest, Quebec historian, editor
Loyola Marymount University, California, USA Saint Ignatius of Loyola Founder of the Roman Catholic Society of Jesus (Jesuits)
Loyola University Chicago, Illinois, USA Saint Ignatius of Loyola Founder of the Jesuits
Luther College, Iowa, USA Martin Luther Leader of the Protestant Reformation who founded Lutheranism
Cégep Marie-Victorin, Quebec, Canada Brother Marie-Victorin Christian Brother and botanist, founded the botanical garden in Montréal, Quebec.
Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg, Germany Martin Luther Leader of the Protestant Reformation who also was a professor in Wittenberg
Momoyama Gakuin University, Osaka, Japan Saint Andrew The school's English name is St. Andrew's University, for St. Andrew, one of the Twelve Apostles. (The Japanese name refers to its original location in an area of peach orchards.)[49]
Otterbein College, Ohio, USA Philip William Otterbein Clergyman who founded the United Brethren in Christ
Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands Saint Radboud Originally the Catholic University of Nijmegen, renamed in 2004 for the Radboud Foundation (named for Saint Radboud, a medieval Bishop of Utrecht), which had the goal of stimulating Roman Catholic higher education and funded the university.
Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires province, Argentina Saint Andrew Founded by Scottish immigrants in 1838 and named for the patron saint of Scotland
St Aidan's College (Durham University), England Aidan of Lindisfarne Missionary credited with restoring Christianity to Northumbria in the 7th century.
University of St Andrews, Scotland Saint Andrew Patron saint of Scotland
Université Sainte-Anne, Collège de l'Acadie, Nova Scotia, Canada Saint Anne The mother of the Virgin Mary
St Chad's College (Durham University), England St. Chad Bishop of Mercia
St Cuthbert's Society (Durham University), England St. Cuthbert Patron Saint of Northumbria
Saint Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, Canada St. Francis Xavier Co-founder of the Jesuits
College of St Hild and St Bede (Durham University), England St. Hild and St. Bede Hild, Abbess of Whitby and Bede, Monk of Wearmouth and Jarrow (and the first English historian)
St John's College (Durham University), England St John the Evangelist Author to whom the Fourth Gospel is traditionally attributed
Saint Joseph's University, Pennsylvania, United States Saint Joseph Husband of Mary, mother of Jesus
St Mary's College (Durham University), England The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of the Lord
Saint Michael's College, Vermont, USA