When this Ohio college was founded in 1833, it became the first co-ed college in the US, and in 1841, first to award degrees to women. Which school?

When the Oberlin Collegiate Institute was founded in 1833 by Reverend John Jay Shipherd and Philo Penfield Stewart, it was established with a mission to train teachers and other Christian leaders for the American West. From its inception, the Ohio school was coeducational, a revolutionary concept at the time. This commitment to "the joint education of the sexes" was a core tenet of its founders, who believed in elevating the "female character" by providing women with the same educational opportunities as men.

Initially, women were enrolled in a separate "Ladies Course." However, in 1837, the institution took the groundbreaking step of admitting women into its baccalaureate program. This led to a historic milestone in 1841, when three women, Mary Hosford, Elizabeth Prall, and Caroline Mary Rudd, were awarded bachelor's degrees, becoming the first women in the United States to receive such degrees in a coeducational program.

Oberlin's progressive ideals extended beyond coeducation. The college began admitting Black students in 1835, becoming one of the first in the country to do so. Its commitment to social justice was further exemplified by its active role in the abolitionist movement and its function as a stop on the Underground Railroad. This early history of inclusivity solidified Oberlin College's reputation as a pioneer in American higher education.