College Vs. University: What Is the Difference?
Written By: Michael McCarthy
Published: 8/15/2022
Whatever kind of school you're looking for, you can find either a college or a university that fits the bill: large and small, public and private, parochial and secular, online and campus-based. So what's the difference, and how can you choose which type of institution to attend?
Schools that only feature undergraduate education are typically called colleges; a college may still offer graduate degrees, but a university nearly always will. However, even .
Written By: Michael McCarthy
Published: 8/15/2022
Whatever kind of school you're looking for, you can find either a college or a university that fits the bill: large and small, public and private, parochial and secular, online and campus-based. So what's the difference, and how can you choose which type of institution to attend?
Schools that only feature undergraduate education are typically called colleges; a college may still offer graduate degrees, but a university nearly always will. However, even .
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College University Differences Which Is Better? FAQs Bottom LineWhat Is a College?
"College" has many meanings, but three are especially relevant to higher learning. According to Merriam-Webster's to train people for technical and agricultural careers in the 19th century. The name comes from their initial source of funding: The federal government gave each university parcels of land that it could sell for a profit. Today, many of the most prominent public universities in each state have their origins as land-grant institutions, though a few private universities also got their start in this way.
- Sometimes certificates
- Bachelor's degrees
- Master's degrees
- Doctoral degrees
What Are the Differences Between a College and a University?
The main difference is only a difference some of the time: Colleges may or may not offer graduate degrees, while nearly all universities do offer at least a few. Beyond this, it's mainly a matter of what an institution chooses to call itself.
Colleges may or may not offer graduate degrees, while nearly all universities do offer at least a few. Beyond this, it's mainly a matter of what an institution chooses to call itself.
One common misconception is that universities are larger institutions than colleges. In fact, several community colleges make the list of date back to the 19th century, including a few that predate the U.S. Civil War. They initially served an exclusively Black student population, but today that have degree programs, faculty, and services that feel right for your educational and career goals. Whether an institution calls itself a college or university is secondary.
However, you may not know which types of schools to research in the first place. Below, we've listed a few questions you can ask yourself to help determine which kinds of schools appeal to you.
Am I pursuing an associate degree?
A community college is often the best option for earning an associate degree. These schools tend to cost much less than four-year colleges, especially if you attend your local school. Even enrolling in an online community college program is often more affordable than an associate at a four-year institution. As long as your college is institutionally accredited, you'll likely have little trouble transferring your credits into a bachelor's program in the future.
Do I want a rounded college education or to focus narrowly on my major?
Nearly all schools have some general education requirements, such as one or two writing composition, science, and math courses for non-majors. But liberal arts colleges often feature comprehensive general-education requirements with more courses in the humanities, arts, and social sciences. They also tend to have smaller class sizes with more dialogue and less emphasis on gathering data.
Do I want to major in science, technology, mathematics, or engineering (STEM)?
As with any other factor in your college search, there's no hard-and-fast rule about where to study for a STEM degree. But you may want to consider a research university because these institutions often pour money into maintaining state-of-the-art laboratories and research centers. You may have more research opportunities and chances to learn from professors at the cutting edge of their fields.
What Is a College?
"College" has many meanings, but three are especially relevant to higher learning. According to Merriam-Webster's to train people for technical and agricultural careers in the 19th century. The name comes from their initial source of funding: The federal government gave each university parcels of land that it could sell for a profit. Today, many of the most prominent public universities in each state have their origins as land-grant institutions, though a few private universities also got their start in this way.
- Sometimes certificates
- Bachelor's degrees
- Master's degrees
- Doctoral degrees
What Are the Differences Between a College and a University?
The main difference is only a difference some of the time: Colleges may or may not offer graduate degrees, while nearly all universities do offer at least a few. Beyond this, it's mainly a matter of what an institution chooses to call itself.
Colleges may or may not offer graduate degrees, while nearly all universities do offer at least a few. Beyond this, it's mainly a matter of what an institution chooses to call itself.
One common misconception is that universities are larger institutions than colleges. In fact, several community colleges make the list of date back to the 19th century, including a few that predate the U.S. Civil War. They initially served an exclusively Black student population, but today that have degree programs, faculty, and services that feel right for your educational and career goals. Whether an institution calls itself a college or university is secondary.
However, you may not know which types of schools to research in the first place. Below, we've listed a few questions you can ask yourself to help determine which kinds of schools appeal to you.
Am I pursuing an associate degree?
A community college is often the best option for earning an associate degree. These schools tend to cost much less than four-year colleges, especially if you attend your local school. Even enrolling in an online community college program is often more affordable than an associate at a four-year institution. As long as your college is institutionally accredited, you'll likely have little trouble transferring your credits into a bachelor's program in the future.
Do I want a rounded college education or to focus narrowly on my major?
Nearly all schools have some general education requirements, such as one or two writing composition, science, and math courses for non-majors. But liberal arts colleges often feature comprehensive general-education requirements with more courses in the humanities, arts, and social sciences. They also tend to have smaller class sizes with more dialogue and less emphasis on gathering data.
Do I want to major in science, technology, mathematics, or engineering (STEM)?
As with any other factor in your college search, there's no hard-and-fast rule about where to study for a STEM degree. But you may want to consider a research university because these institutions often pour money into maintaining state-of-the-art laboratories and research centers. You may have more research opportunities and chances to learn from professors at the cutting edge of their fields.