The First College to Accept Women Was in Georgia!

For several years, higher school education was only considered to be a privilege provided to the men of the United States and the entire world. Women were still allowed to get a school education but they were not permitted to attend universities or to get a college degree. This was all about to change for the state of Georgia!

Photo by Wesleyan College

The seeds for the creation of a women’s college in Georgia were planted in the 1820’s. However, the plans for the college did not come into effect for another decade.

In 1836, this privilege that had took place for years finally changed. American society became an important part of the antebellum social reform movement.

Wesleyan College was formed. The college became the first university to ever provide women with college degrees and allowed them to attend a university.

The college opened in January of 1839.

By the end of the Wesleyan College’s first term over 168 students had enrolled. This was considered an incredible number at the time since most state-sponsored colleges in the southern United States had fewer than 200 students.

Wesleyan College is a private 4 year liberal arts college for women. The university is located just on the outside of Macon, Georgia.

Wesleyan College has a reputation of being one of the South’s top-ranking educational institutions for women.

The university’s mission is to be “Forever first in women’s education-striving for excellence, grounded in faith, and engaged in service to the world”.

Unlike other women institutions who only allowed women to be taught high school-level course work and did not grant the women with degrees, Wesleyan College provided the women with instruction in several subjects including history, ancient and modern languages, philosophy and etc.