University Libraries

Washington University's original name of "Eliot Seminary" was changed in 1854 to "Washington Institute in St. Louis". In 1857, the institution's name was changed again to "Washington University". In 1976, the words "in St. Louis" were added to the University's name in order to better identify our institution in the national media.

Washington University takes its name from President George Washington. However, Washington University in St. Louis is not the first institution to bear the name of the nation's first president. Washington College, located in Chestertown, Maryland, has been known by that name since its founding in 1782.

Research by our Public Affairs Office has found that Washington University in St. Louis shares the name "Washington" with several institutions of higher education. Below are names of the universities with whom our institution shares the Washington name, in alphabetical order. Information about the names of the institutions has been added, when it was known. As additional information becomes available, it will be added to this space.

Please note that this list covers two-year and four-year colleges. It does not attempt to cover the many primary and secondary schools named for George Washington, nor does it take into account cities, libraries, public parks, and streets named after Washington.

American University - Washington College of Law - Washington DC

Booker T. Washington College of Business

Central Washington University - Ellensberg, Washington

Founded 1890 as Washington State Normal School
Name changed to Central Washington College of Education 1937
Name changed to Central Washington State College 1961
Name changed to Central Washington University 1977

Eastern Washington University - Cheney, Washington

Founded 1882 as Benjamin Cheney Academy
(State of Washington entered the Union 1889)
Name changed to Eastern Washington College of Education 1937
Name changed to Eastern Washington State College 1961
Name changed to Eastern Washington University 1977

George Washington University - Washington DC

Founded 1821 as Columbian College
Name changed to George Washington University 1904
(William Greenleaf Eliot, co-founder of Washington University in St. Louis, entered Columbian College in 1826 and graduated from Columbian in 1830)

Immaculate College of Washington

Lake Washington Technical College - Kirkland, Washington

University of Mary Washington - Fredericksburg, Virginia

Founded 1908 State Normal and Industrial School of Women, Fredericksburg Virginia
Name changed to State Normal School for Women 1914
Name changed to State Teachers College, Fredericksburg Virginia 1924
Name changed to Mary Washington College 1938
Name changed to Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia 1944
Became independent of University of Virginia and changed name back to Mary Washington College 1972
Name changed to University of Mary Washington 2004

University of Washington - Bothell, Washington

University of Washington - Seattle, Washington

Founded 1861 as the Territorial University of Washington
New charter establishes the University of Washington, 1891
(State of Washington joined the Union 1889)

University of Washington - Tacoma, Washington

University of Wisconsin - Washington County

Washington Bible College - Lanham, Maryland

Founded 1938 as Washington Bible Institute
Name changed to Washington Bible College 1956

Washington College - Chestertown, Maryland

Founded 1782 as Washington College

Washington County Community College - Calais, Maine

Washington International University

Washington State Community College - Marietta, Ohio

Washington State Community College District (State of Washington)

Washington State University - Pullman, Washington

Founded 1890

Washington State University - Spokane, Washington

Washington State University - Tri-Cities

Washington State University - Vancouver, Washington

Washington Theological Union - Washington, D.C.

Washington University in St. Louis

Founded 1853 as Eliot Seminary
Name changed to Washington Institute 1854
Name changed to Washington University 1857
Words "in St. Louis" added to university's name, 1976

Washington and Jefferson College - Washington, Pennsylvania

Founded 1781; first charter from 1787 as Washington Academy
Merger of Washington College (est. 1806) and Jefferson College (est. 1802) creates Washington and Jefferson College 1865

Washington and Lee University - Lexington, Virginia

Founded 1749 as Augusta Academy
Name changed to Liberty Hall 1776
Name changed to Liberty Hall Academy 1782
Name changed to Washington Academy 1798, in recognition of an endowment gift from George Washington; name later changed to Washington College
Name changed to Washington and Lee University 1871, in honor of Robert E. Lee's service as President of the university.

Western Washington University - Bellingham, Washington