1755: Benjamin Franklin Founds America’s First Practical University

The University of Pennsylvania breaks from tradition and rewrites education.

January 15, 1755 — When Benjamin Franklin Founded America’s First “Modern” University

INTRO — A COLLEGE FOR ACTUAL LEARNING, NOT JUST LATIN DRILLS

On January 15, 1755, Benjamin Franklin founded the College of Philadelphia — which later became the University of Pennsylvania.

Up to this point, colonial education followed the British model:

• memorize Latin

• debate theology

• become a minister

• repeat

Franklin looked at this and said:

“Why don’t we teach… practical things?”

Thus, Penn became the first university in America designed to prepare students for real-world careers, not just religious life.

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PART I — FRANKLIN’S BIG BRAIN IDEA

Franklin imagined a school that would teach:

• science

• mathematics

• philosophy

• business

• medicine

• engineering

• modern languages

• and yes… still some Latin

He wanted a college where students didn’t just recite knowledge — but used it.

It was revolutionary for its time.

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PART II — WHAT MADE PENN DIFFERENT?

1. Secular + Practical

Unlike Harvard or Yale, Penn didn’t center its curriculum on religious training.

It leaned into:

✔ commerce
✔ civic leadership
✔ scientific thinking
✔ public service

In other words:
It was the first “so what can you actually do with this degree?” school.

2. Professional schools

Penn became home to:

• America’s first medical school

• America’s first business school (Wharton, later)

• one of the earliest law programs

It was the blueprint for American professional education.

3. Franklin’s educational philosophy

Franklin believed education should produce citizens who could:

• innovate

• build

• govern

• contribute

• solve problems

A refreshing change from the era’s “become a pastor or perish.”

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PART III — HOW PENN SHAPED THE U.S.

The University of Pennsylvania produced generations of:

• physicians

• bankers

• lawyers

• inventors

• politicians

• engineers

• entrepreneurs

It became a critical institution in shaping early American civic infrastructure.

Franklin would be proud — or at least moderately smug.

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PART IV — FUN FACTS YOU DIDN’T ASK FOR BUT YOU’RE GETTING ANYWAY

✔ Franklin wanted students to exercise

He included physical fitness in the original curriculum.
Gym class before it was cool.

✔ Penn pioneered American public lectures

Finally: education for people who weren’t wealthy.

✔ The campus was a colonial social hotspot

Imagine powdered-wig frat parties.

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CONCLUSION — THE UNIVERSITY THAT SAID “LEARNING SHOULD BE USEFUL”

January 15, 1755 marks a turning point in American education.

Franklin’s vision gave birth to a university built not on tradition alone, but on the idea that knowledge should improve society.

The result?

A uniquely American model of higher education — one that still influences universities worldwide.

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🔥 CALL TO ACTION

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❓ FAQ

Q: Was Penn the first university in the U.S.?

Not technically — but it was the first modern university focused on practical education.

Q: Why was it different from early colleges like Harvard?

Franklin rejected the purely religious curriculum and pushed for science, business, and civic leadership.

Q: What schools originated at Penn?

America’s first medical school and later the first business school.