The Founding of Oberlin College

  On Dec 3, 1833: The First College to Offer Co-Ed Classes Opens

Today in 1833, the first classes were held today at a new college in Oberlin, Ohio. The student body consisted of 29 men and 15 women, making Oberlin the first college to offer coeducational classes.

At first, women could only earn something called the Ladies Degree. And the first female students were dismissed from classes on Monday to do male students’ laundry. But by 1837, Oberlin was awarding them Bachelor’s degrees with the men.

Most education in the early days of the republic was coeducational. But by the late nineteenth century, women were discouraged from pursuing higher education except at women’s colleges with limited curricula.

Since then, the percentage of women students has grown significantly until today, when they are 58 percent of all college students, and owe 67 percent of the $1.8 trillion of student debt.

“Today in American History with Jeff Nilsson” can be heard on select public radio stations across the U.S.

Image: Old College Chapel and Tappan Hall at Oberlin College, ca. 1860 (Oberlin College Archives)

Source Facebook Saturday Evening Post