Hamilton College

Hamilton College is a private liberal arts college located in Clinton, New York. Founded in 1793, it is one of the oldest colleges in New York State. The college offers a Bachelor of Arts degree and is known for its emphasis on writing, speaking, and a broad-based liberal arts curriculum. Hamilton operates on an open curriculum model that allows students to design their academic paths across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. With an undergraduate enrollment of about 2,000 students, Hamilton College attracts students seeking small classes, close faculty interaction, and a residential campus experience in a rural setting in central New York.

Hamilton College was founded in 1793 as the Hamilton-Oneida Academy by Presbyterian minister Samuel Kirkland in Clinton, New York. The academy was originally established to educate both white settlers and members of the Oneida Nation. In 1812, the institution received a charter from the New York Board of Regents and became Hamilton College, named in honor of Alexander Hamilton, who had served on its first board of trustees. Azel Backus was elected the first president in 1812. During the nineteenth century, Hamilton College developed as a small liberal arts institution serving primarily men. In 1968, Kirkland College was established as a coordinate women’s college, and in 1978 the two institutions merged, making Hamilton College fully coeducational. Since then, Hamilton College has expanded its academic offerings, strengthened its emphasis on writing and open curriculum policies, and evolved into a residential liberal arts college with a national student body.