Asbury College

Baltimore, Maryland, United States · Est. 1816

About

Official

A historic Methodist college in Baltimore that operated from 1816 to the 1830s.

  • Founded in 1816 in Baltimore, Maryland
  • Methodist-affiliated private college
  • Licensed to operate by Maryland in 1818
  • First president: Samuel K. Jennings (Rutgers graduate)
  • Closed in the early 1830s after brief operational period
  • One of the earliest Methodist colleges in the United States

History & Mission

Asbury College was founded in 1816 as a Methodist institution in Baltimore, Maryland, approximately 20 years after Cokesbury College—the only other Methodist college in the United States at that time—had burned down. The college obtained its license to operate from Maryland in 1818. It represented an important effort by the Methodist church to establish higher education in the early American republic.

Academic Structure

The college was led by Samuel K. Jennings, a Rutgers College graduate who had studied medicine with his father, Jacob Jennings. Jennings served as both president and professor of mental and moral science. The institution employed four additional professors alongside Jennings, creating a small but structured academic faculty.

Closure & Legacy

Asbury College remained operational through at least 1832 but closed shortly thereafter, making it a short-lived but historically significant institution in Maryland's educational landscape. It is now listed among Maryland's defunct colleges and universities.

Founded
1816
Courses
0
Total intake
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AffiliationMethodist
HousingNot available
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Courses offered
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Data last verified June 2026 · compiled from official sources