Harvard University, founded in 1636 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. It began with nine students and a single master, and took its name from clergyman John Harvard, who in 1638 bequeathed half his estate and a library of over 400 books to the fledgling college. Today, the university comprises fourteen schools spanning teaching, research, science, law, medicine, business, public policy, and the arts.
Harvard educates more than 24,000 students annually and employs 20,667 faculty and staff. Its academic reach extends well beyond campus: a global alumni network of over 400,000 former students connects graduates across virtually every field and country. The university is sustained in part by a tradition of philanthropic support that traces directly back to John Harvard's original bequest - a practice now nearly four centuries old.
Research is central to Harvard's identity. Across its fourteen schools, faculty and students work on questions spanning the full range of human inquiry, from the basic sciences to law, medicine, and the arts. The institution's stated mission is oriented toward addressing pressing challenges facing humanity and expanding the boundaries of knowledge.
