Founded in 1783, Dickinson College was the first college established in the newly recognized United States of America. It is named to honor John Dickinson, the penman of the
and a signer of the Constitution.
Dickinson is a liberal arts college, offering bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees. It prides itself on its small student:faculty ratio. The average class size is 15. Its 104-acre campus is in Carlisle, a pre-revolutionary town of about 20,000. Nearly 80% of students receive some form of financial aid.
Among its illustrious alumni, Dickinson counts , 18th .