TYPES OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Image via Wikipedia

TYPES OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

PUBLIC:

Ø  Majority of public universities are operated by the states and territories, usually as a part of state university system.

Ø  Each state supports at least 1 state university and several support many more. For example: California has 3 public higher education systems:-

1.       11 campus University of California campus

2.       23 Campus California State University System

3.       109 Campus California Community Colleges system.

Ø  Local cities and counties may also support colleges and universities.

Ex. Montgomery College, Washington DC, is funded and operated on behalf of the county government. It’s primary support comes from the taxpayers within the county where it operates and it may receive some funding for specific projects from either state or federal government.

Ø  There is no “National” University in the USA, which means the federal government doesn’t manage any public institutions directly.

Ø  The only public institutions managed by the federal government are the “5” service academics:

1.       Army

2.       Navy

3.       Air Force

4.       Coast Guard

5.       Merchant Marine

Ø  Also, the use of name of a state or city, doesn’t automatically mean that it is a public university. Ex: Murray State University is a public university whereas University of Pennsylvania is a private institution.

PRIVATE:

Ø  They do not receive any primary support from any government entity.

Ø  They can be either non-profit or for-profit institutions.

Ø  For-profit institutions focus more on careers and technical education. Ex: University of Phoenix.

Ø  Also, these private universities/colleges are either secular or may have a religious affiliation such as Protestantism, Roman Catholicism etc.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COLLEGE & A UNIVERSITY IN THE USA

Ø  Universities are more research oriented institutions which provide both Undergraduate and Postgraduate education.

Ø  Some universities have professional schools, which are attended by those who plan to be practitioners instead of academics. Ex: Business schools, medical school etc.

Ø  In USA, these different units within the universities are called colleges or schools.

Ø  These colleges/schools are divided into departments. Ex: An Anthropology department within a college of Arts & Sciences within a larger university.

University

Colleges / Schools

NOTE:

Ø  Boston College, Dartmouth College, College of William and Mart have retained the term ‘College’ in their name in spite of being a university

Ø  Likewise, Wesleyan University uses the term ‘University’ even though it offers only a few graduate programs.

LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE:

Ø  4 year institutions which focus on Liberal Arts are called Liberal Arts College.

Ø  These colleges emphasize more on interactive instruction. Hence, the student faculty ratio is much low as compared to in universities. Also, they have lower enrolments.

Ø  Liberal Arts Colleges have classes taught by full-time faculty rather than graduate student teaching assistants (TAs), who often teach classes at research universities.

Ø  Most of the liberal Arts Colleges are private although there are a few Public as well.

Posted in: California,California State University,Colleges and Universities,Education,Montgomery College,Murray State University,Public university,Washington DC