[Sacajaweau]

Harvard was first. College of William and Mary the second.

[Mears]

They are private,not public.

[Pamlico]

Harvard and William and Mary are private. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the first university funded by the public.

[centurion316]

Public university. Harvard and William Mary were private universities. UNC was established by an Act of the North Carolina government.