28 A Brief Look at American Higher Education
The Ancient Roots of Higher Education
The roots of higher education stretch back thousands of years, to ancient times when people like you and me were just starting to get curious about the world. In Mesopotamia, around 3000 BCE, elite students were learning to read, write, and study things like religion and astronomy. This was the very beginning—kinda like the first school where they trained people to be the experts and leaders of their society.
Jump forward to Classical Greece with schools like Plato’s Academy (established in 387 BCE) and Aristotle’s Lyceum (founded in 335 BCE). This is where people really got into the art of asking questions—a lot of questions. They viewed education primarily in terms of debating and arguing to find the truth. This way of thinking influenced schools for thousands of years to come.
When the Roman Empire rolled around, education got an upgrade: it focused more on rhetoric and speaking skills, which were seen as important for public life. Rome’s first law school was founded around 460 CE, while monks set up schools to train clergy starting in 550 CE. This mix of styles and goals—practical skills for everyday life, deep philosophical questioning, and religious education—laid the groundwork for what higher ed would become.
The Foundations of Universities
By the Middle Ages, universities started taking shape in Europe. The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is considered the oldest in the world. Bologna and others like the University of Paris (1150) focused on legal studies, arts, medicine, and theology. In these institutions, you were either learning about laws, figuring out what makes people tick, or studying the mysteries of the universe. Instruction was lecture-based and Latin was the language of scholarship.
By the Renaissance, things started changing. People started digging into old texts, challenging ideas, and inventing things. The liberal arts also came back—the original “well-rounded education.” Scholars started experimenting and using empirical evidence, basically, “let’s test if this works rather than just assume it’s true.” It was the dawn of modern science, and universities were at the heart of it all.
American Beginnings
Fast forward to America (we’re moving fast). Our colleges have been around since the colonial era, with Harvard being the first, founded in 1636 to train clergy. Others like William & Mary and Yale followed soon after. These schools focused on a broad education—what’s now sometimes called the “liberal arts”—covering a bit of everything. It’s why today you have to take those general education classes even if you’re an engineering major.
In the 1800s, as America expanded, we needed more colleges, and we needed them fast. Enter the Morrill Land Grant Acts of 1862 and 1890, which gave federal land to states to start new colleges. These schools focused on agriculture, engineering, and military science, trades and fields that were practical and needed for a growing country. This is where major public universities like Michigan State and Texas A&M got their start.
The 20th Century and Beyond
World War II spurred higher education in new ways. The GI Bill let veterans go to college and suddenly higher education wasn’t just for the elite. By 1950, there were over 1,800 colleges and nearly 2.7 million students. Financial aid programs kept expanding, and more and more people had the chance to go to college. The emphasis on higher education today as a prerequisite for many jobs is a post-WWII phenomenon.
Here in Idaho, we have places like Boise State University and the University of Idaho, public institutions funded by state taxes, which means more affordable tuition for residents. Non-profit private schools like Northwest Nazarene University and the College of Idaho are also options if you want smaller classes or a faith-based experience. Then there’s the for-profit sector—schools like the University of Phoenix—which focus on getting students ready for specific careers.
At the community college level, schools like the College of Western Idaho (CWI) offer affordable tuition and technical training. These places are all about getting you the skills you need, whether it’s to go straight into a job or transfer to a four-year university.
What’s Next?
Today, the higher education system is massive, with almost 4,000 colleges and about 16 million students. But it’s not perfect: tuition is rising, student debt is a problem, and only about 60% of students finish their degrees within six years. So, yes, there are challenges. But despite the issues, American higher education remains dynamic and diverse.
Whether you’re looking to dive into science, explore art, or get hands-on training for a job, there’s a place for you.