Miami was a University before Florida was a state

Miami University was founded in 1809. It was named after the Miami Indians who once resided in Ohio. It was located just west of the Symmes Purchase in Oxford, Ohio. John Cleves Symmes was expected to construct a school as part of his obligation after receiving a major grant of land in Ohio. He repeatedly refused to do so, and residents of southwestern Ohio founded their own institution of higher education. Although chartered in 1809, Miami University did not open its doors to students until 1824.

The college relied on tuition and rent from college-owned land to finance the institution. Miami University's reputation grew quickly, and it became known as the "Yale of the West." One of its most famous professors was William Holmes McGuffey.

During the 1830s, abolitionist sentiment began to divide the faculty and students. In Ohio, support for an end to slavery often began on college campuses. Many Ohioans, however, either favored slavery or did not want the slaves freed. Due to these divisions, Miami University had some difficult times until the Civil War. During the 1870s and early 1880s, the school closed its doors due to a lack of funds. The Ohio legislature later appropriated twenty thousand dollars to allow Miami University to reopen. One of Miami University's most famous graduates was Benjamin Harrison who later became a President of the United States.

Three national fraternities originated at Miami University: Phi Delta Theta, Beta Theta Pi, and Sigma Chi. Today, Miami University has an enrollment of fifteen thousand undergraduate students and more than one thousand graduate students.

There are eight “Miami” cities in the United States. None of them are home to the University of Miami or Miami University.

People have been confounded, frustrated and fascinated with the parenthetical game surrounding the University of Miami — a private high-education institution in Coral Gables, Fla. — and Miami University, a public higher-education institution in Oxford, Ohio — for decades. Students, alums, faculty and others from both schools will happily proclaim they’re the REAL Miami.

Technically, Miami (Ohio) is the REAL Miami. The school was established in 1809, more than a century before Miami (Fla.) in 1925. The latter bears the Miami name because Coral Gables borders Miami on its southwest side. The former is not — and has never been — located in or near a Miami, Ohio. It is, however, named after the Miami Tribe, a group of Native Americans who inhabited parts of present-day Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.

Oxford, a small city 40 miles northwest of Cincinnati, sits in the Miami Valley in western Ohio. It’s about 20 minutes west of the city of Little Miami, which lies on the banks of the Great Miami River, a tributary of the Ohio River that was used extensively by the Miami people. 

So, the next time you consider suggesting it’s dumb to have two Miami schools, think again. The REAL Miami has one of the most fascinating origins of any school in the country.

A public ivy league school located in the beautiful Oxford, Ohio. It was founded in 1809, years before Florida even became a state, and 120 years before the University of Miami (Florida) was instituted. It is a mid-sized school known for its top ranked business and education programs along with its incredibly attractive student body. North Faces, polo’s and Greek letters are a staple, and weekends are never boring. Hockey is our sport, even though we still don't give a damn for the whole state of Michigan.

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A public ivy league school in Ohio with a lot of white snobbish rich people located in Oxford, Ohio that's more than 120 years older than the University of Miami, Florida.

There are some amazingly gorgeous women that goto that school. Dress code there is monogrammed J.Crew with gears wearing pearls and pink popped collars.

The campus is one of the most beautiful in the nation.

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(Miami girls)
Ugg Boots
Pearls
Sunglasses that cover at least 3/4 of the whole face
North Face jacket
credid card signed in daddys name
bitch attitude
pesonalized sorority bags (none other than vera bradley)
popped collars (never went out of style...just never was in style)
horribly fake tan
vera bradley bag
weight limit 130 lbs (except on North Quad, Rugby/basketball/volleyball, in general manly women)
vocabulary consisting mostly of the words totally, like, oh my god, also shortening of words like... vacation to vaca ect.

actual overheard conversation at Miami University.....
"Jessica, oh my god your not going to believe this, so... I just talked to my parents and we got in a huge fight. My dad says I actually have to get a job this summer....

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A public university located in the small town of Oxford, Ohio, Miami University is a fairly large school that is often confused with University of Miami (located near the Florida city). Its athletic teams are known as the Redhawks and play in the Mid-American Conference, or MAC. A very high proportion of the student body belongs to a fraternity or sorority, which is somewhat unusual amongst Midwestern universities.

Miami supporters like to claim that it's a public ivy, and while there is a credited list of public ivies, it's fairly large and includes Ohio State University among dozens of others. Miami supporters also like to claim that Miami is the best public university in the state of Ohio; however, OSU is much better-known and consistently ranks above it in practically every college ranking publication. Most people outside of academia or the state of Ohio consistently confuse this school with the one in Florida.

Despite the fact that Miami University is a public, i.e. comparatively cheap, university in a reasonably diverse state, its student body is unusually white and wealthy. Miami University is an above-average university, nobody can reasonably dispute this. However, its superiority complex is ridiculous; there's nothing wrong with being the second-best public school in one of the most populated states in the country.

High School Senior 1: I'm pretty excited, I just got into Miami University!
High School Senior 2: Cool, I'm going to OSU in the fall.
HSS1: Dude, that sucks! I'll be going to a public ivy whooo!!!!
HSS2: WTF does that mean?
HSS1: That means it's the best school outside of Yale, MIT, Stanford, and Duke, dudebra!
HSS2: You realize that the ivy league is a sports conference; MIT, Stanford, and Duke are not in it, right?
HSS1: Look nerdbra, look at the college rankings! You're just jealous!
HSS2: I just looked up the US News and World Report. OSU: 53. Miami: 77.
HSS1: Look nerdbra, you're just jealous that you won't get to party with my frat bros, bra!
HSS2: This is getting ridiculous. I'm gonna go study for my AP test.
HSS1: Nerd!!!!!

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The state university in Ohio that wishes it could be more like it's older sibling Ohio University (1804).

Populated by rich assholes who like to feel as if they are superior to everyone else. At Miami, you are what you wear.

A school also known for their successful athletic teams, which garner no student support.

"Friends don't let friends go to Miami."

"Today we salute you trendy Miami girl. In your pointed-toes stilettos, you understand that having blisters and cramped pinky toes is a small price to pay for the approval of your peers. Sure, your Vera Bradley bag and oversized pearls may appear to have been stolen from your grandmother, but we rest assured that your daddy bought them for you fair and square. And yes, you may be snobby to every guy that appraoches you, but we know that you're only doing them a favor by helping them understand that they are, in fact, gay. So here's to you trendy Miami girl, because everyone knows that behind your dyed blonde hair and falsely-tanned skin there sits a real person in the driver seat of that lexus SUV; and that real person... is a pale brunette."

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Known as the 3rd best university in Ohio, as reported by US and World News, behind top ranked Ohio State University and Ohio University. A mid-sized university located in Oxford, OH. More than 120 years older than The University of Miami in Florida.

Known for its Hockey team, and well-ranked business programs, and known as a college with little diversity and a reputation of egotistical students.

Contrary to reports, the University is ranked more than 20 spots behind The Ohio State University in the US and World News Report of the nation's best colleges. The median family income of the student's families is also 7% lower than those that attend Ohio State.

Did Miami Ohio or Miami Florida come first?

Technically, Miami (Ohio) is the REAL Miami. The school was established in 1809, more than a century before Miami (Fla.) in 1925.

When did Miami University become a University?

The official act to establish Miami University was passed on February 17, 1809. Miami is the tenth oldest public university in the nation and takes its name from the tribe that once inhabited the area known as Ohio's Miami Valley.

Why is it called Miami University if it is in Ohio?

It was named after the Miami Indians who once resided in Ohio. It was located just west of the Symmes Purchase in Oxford, Ohio.

Who started the University of Miami?

The university began in earnest in 1925 when George E. Merrick, founder of Coral Gables, granted 160 acres (0.6 km2) and nearly $5 million ($77.3 million, adjusted for current inflation) for the university's founding.