Types of Colleges

Is a college the same thing as a university? What does "liberal arts" mean? Why are some colleges called public & others private? There several different options to keep in mind when search for colleges.

Public & Private colleges

Public colleges are funded by local & state governments & usually offer lower tuition rates than private colleges, especially for students who are residents of the state where the college is located.

Private colleges rely mainly on tuition, fees, & private sources of funding. Private donations can sometimes provide generous financial aid packages for students.

For-Profit colleges

These are businesses that offer a variety of degree programs which typically prepare students for a specific career. Credits earned may not transfer to other colleges, so be sure to check with the admissions office at each college.

4-Year & 2-Year colleges

4-Year colleges offer programs that lead to a bachelor's degree. These include universities & liberal arts colleges.

Liberal Arts colleges

These colleges offer a broad base of courses in the liberal arts, which includes areas such as literature, history, languages, mathematics, & life sciences. Most are private & offer 4-year programs that lead to a bachelor's degree. These colleges can prepare you for a variety of careers or for graduate study.

Universities

Universities often are larger & offer more majors & degree options--bachelor's, master's, & doctoral degrees--than colleges. Most universities contain several smaller colleges, such as colleges of liberal arts, engineering, or health sciences. These colleges can prepare you for a variety of careers or for graduate study.

Community colleges

Community colleges offer 2-year programs that lead to either an associate's degree or prepare you to transfer to a 4-year college to earn a bachelor's degree. They also offer other associate degrees & certifications that focus on preparing you for a certain career. Community colleges are often an affordable option with relatively low tuition.

Vocational/Technical & Career colleges

Vocational/Technical & career colleges offer specialized training in a particular industry or career. Possible programs of study include the culinary arts, firefighting, dental hygiene, & medical-records technology. These colleges typically offer certificates or associate's degrees.

Colleges with a special focus

Some colleges focus on a specific interest or student population. These include:

• Single-sex colleges
  • All 4-year public colleges, and most private colleges, are coed. There are some schools that are specifically for men or for women.
• Religiously affiliated colleges
  • Some private colleges are connected to a religious faith. The connection may be historic only, or it may affect day-to-day student life.
• Specialized-mission colleges
  • Historically black colleges & universities focus on educating African American students. Hispanic serving institutions are colleges where at least 25% of the full-time undergraduate students are Hispanic. These schools may offer programs, services, & activities targeted to the students they serve.