Harvard is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States, established in 1636 by vote of the Great and General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It was named after the College’s first benefactor, the young minister John Harvard of Charlestown, who upon his death in 1638 left his library and half his estate to the institution. A statue of John Harvard stands today in front of University Hall in Harvard Yard, and is perhaps the University’s best known landmark. Harvard University has 12 degree-granting Schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. The University has grown from nine students with a single master to an enrollment of more than 20,000 degree candidates including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. There are more than 360,000 living alumni in the U.S. and over 190 other countries.

Haverford is one of America's leading liberal arts colleges, a close-knit intellectual community that combines the Quaker values of dignity, tolerance and respect with a rigorous academic program. Guided by the College's Honor Code–one of the oldest in the country–Haverford students demonstrate an awareness for the greater good in how they work, study, socialize, debate and resolve conflict. Our students are entrusted with freedom and responsibility from their first days on campus—an act of trust that aims to develop the whole person and create a lasting bond between the individual and the institution. Students leave Haverford with an increased sense of independence, curiosity and confidence, as well as lasting bonds with friends and faculty. Whether they go on to advanced education, the workforce, travel, or public service, they leave grounded and well-equipped for rich, dynamic lives.

Founded in 1850, Hiram College cherishes its heritage as an institution of academic excellence and rare distinction. College costs are rising everywhere, but Hiram guarantees tuition will not increase over a student's four years. In our unique semester system, students study a normal course load for twelve weeks, and then spend the last three weeks concentrating on one class. Small class sizes mean individualized attention. Hiram students get to know their professors on a one-on-one level, collaborating in research and fieldwork. All study abroad programs are run in-house, with Hiram staff and professors shaping and leading each trip. Twenty-nine percent of the Class of 2011 studied abroad. Classroom instruction meets real world application through our seven Centers of Distinction, which bring in speakers, provide internships, hold workshops and more. Established in 1967, this treasure trove of natural resources provides students with the opportunity to supplement classroom activities with hands-on learning experiences.