While everyone uses the general term “college” to describe the school you attend after high school, did you know there is actually a difference between a college and a university? Not only that, but there are also major differences between public and private colleges and universities. Your options don’t stop there; other higher-education options include community colleges and vocational schools.
When you are looking at a prospective institution of higher education, it helps to be able to identify what type of school it is and if that is the right choice for you. Here are brief descriptions of the most common types of colleges and universities:
Community colleges, also known as junior colleges, offer two-year programs that result in an Associate or Liberal Arts degree and often include specialized career training and certification.
Community colleges are a wonderful option for students who want to further their education close to home while expanding future college and career opportunities. Because these colleges receive public tax dollars at the local, state and federal levels, the tuition is very low when compared to four-year public and private universities. Community colleges design their two year programs to transfer credits to a four-year college or university, so after a few semesters at the community college, you can transfer and go on to earn your Bachelor’s degree (B.A.; B.S.) at a four-year school with most of your general education requirements behind you.
Career colleges and vocational/technical schools offer specialized programs to prepare students for a specific trade or industry. Career colleges are worth considering if you are focused on a specific field or have already identified your ideal career, such as being a chef or an auto mechanic. Be sure to check to see if these colleges are accredited and which classes and credits will transfer to public colleges and universities in case you decide to go on to earn an undergraduate or graduate degree later.
Liberal arts colleges offer four-year degree programs focusing on a general liberal arts education in the humanities and sciences (these include art, literature, languages, philosophy, history, mathematics, and science). These schools lead to a bachelor’s degree in “Liberal Arts” rather than channeling students into a particular subject area or specific discipline as a major or minor. Liberal Arts undergraduates often go on to graduate schools or professional schools to earn degrees in medicine, law, business or theology.
Public four-year colleges offer undergraduate programs that lead to a bachelor's degree in the arts or sciences (B.A. or B.S.) – they do not offer graduate programs. They are called “public” because they receive taxpayer funding from their states and also from the federal government. If you are “in-state”, meaning you are a resident of the state the school is in, your tuition will be much more affordable because you and your family have paid taxes that help support these colleges. If you are out-of-state, meaning you do not reside in the state where the school is located, the tuition is substantially higher and you may take into consideration your college financing and financial aid offers when coming to a decision to attend an out of state college.
Public universities generally consist of three types of schools: colleges where you earn an undergraduate (bachelor's) degree, professional schools, and graduate schools. Universities offer advanced post-graduate educational opportunities such as Master's Degrees and Doctoral Degrees. They may include schools of medicine and law. Many students transfer from colleges into universities to earn advanced degrees.
Private colleges and universities are funded primarily by organizational endowments, alumni contributions, and other funding outside of governmental agencies and taxpayer funds. The cost of attending private colleges and universities are usually much higher than public colleges and universities. Although costs are higher here, do not count these Private institutions out as they tend to give out more financial aid and scholarships than public institutions.