The difference between college and university in the United States

The difference between college and university in the United States

The difference between college and university raises questions for many of our students. Many people think that college is a private institution, while universities are publicly funded. Others think that universities are more prestigious than colleges. But in fact, the list of differences looks a little different. Let’s look at the differences between college and university in America, and what you need to consider when choosing one.

What is College?

In the United States, colleges are very different types of institutions:

• High school, where students are prepared for college.
• Junior colleges with vocational programs (community college or city college).
• Institutions of higher learning with bachelor’s degree programs.
• Subdivisions of universities in certain fields, such as the College of Law at American University.

The closest equivalent to colleges and technical colleges in the United States are community and community colleges. These last 2 to 3 years, and then graduates receive an associate’s degree that allows them to get a job or continue their education in the third year of the bachelor’s degree.

It is much easier to apply to a community college after high school than to a university, and tuition costs are less than half that. But a U.S. college degree is considered more prestigious and carries a higher paycheck when you graduate.

Colleges that belong to the higher education system usually offer four-year bachelor’s degrees. Some overtake the major universities in rankings, and differ from universities only in their small size and narrower field of study.

A special kind of college in America is the so-called liberal arts colleges. The preferred choice is for students who want a classical liberal arts education.

What is a University

Universities in the United States are institutions of higher learning. They are often divided into colleges by subject area. For example, Northeastern University has colleges of science, law, business, engineering, health sciences, art, and design.

Universities are distinguished from colleges by their larger size, opportunities for graduate study, and research activities.

College

• undergraduate
• tuition only;
• 500 to several thousand students.

University

• Undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate;
• teaching and research;
• up to several tens of thousands of students.

A university with academic work, graduate studies, and tens of thousands of students would be a university, despite the word College in its name. For example, one of the best universities in the United States is Dartmouth College, which is part of the prestigious Ivy League.

You can also use the geographical reference of the university as a clue. If the name of the university mentions the state, you are looking at a large public university, such as the University of Kansas.

Colleges usually have more than one building, and university campuses are often a city. The University of Central Florida campus has dormitories, gymnasiums, swimming pools, cafeterias, theaters, and stores so you can live, study, play sports, join hobby clubs, work, and play.