There are many different types of institutions represented among the approximately 4,500 colleges and universities in the USA. There are Liberal Arts Colleges, Universities, Engineering and Technical Colleges, and more. Since the US is home to many different types of institutions, we will provide a sample of the different types of institutions below:
A general program of 4-year study wherein the student takes courses in a wide variety of subjects such as History, Literature, foreign languages, Math, Philosophy, social sciences, Natural Sciences, Art, etc. The student majors in one of these areas and graduates with a Bachelor's Degree in Science (BSc) or Arts (BA). The curriculum gives the student a sound education with the intention of developing general knowledge and reasoning ability, as opposed to training for a career. They fulfil the requirement for entrance to graduate school where most liberal arts graduates specialize in a particular area.
An academic organization that grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of fields and, which supports at least two degree-granting professional schools. It is composed of a number of schools or colleges each of which encompasses a general field of study. Universities generally offer a broad range of both undergraduate and graduate degree programs, are generally larger than other types of colleges, and typically offer more majors and have more research facilities than do other colleges. Undergraduate classes or sections are often taught by graduate students.
These are independent professional schools, which provide four-year training programs in the fields of engineering and the physical sciences. They are often known as Institutes of Technology or Polytechnic Institutes.
A college for the study of classical music or other arts, typically in the continental European tradition.
These schools offer a combination of liberal arts training and intensive training in a variety of specialized fields such as Berklee College of Music, Rhode Island School of Design, Cal Arts, etc.
These colleges award Associate Degrees at the completion of two years of full-time study. They frequently offer technical programs of study that prepare students for immediate entry into the job market and are said to result in terminal degrees. In addition, many of these colleges offer general education programs that are the equivalent of the first two years of a bachelor's degree program. The majority of two-year public colleges have open admissions policies. This option is a wonderful way to help support the costs of a US education by doing the AS or AA degree for the first two years and then transferring to a more costly BA/BS degree supporting institution.
Schools may be publicly controlled or independent and privately controlled. Usually, publicly controlled schools are large, less selective for state residents, but more so for out-of-state residents, and less expensive for state residents than private schools. However, a few state universities are highly selective and competitive. (i.e. University of California, Michigan, Illinois.) Independent, privately controlled schools are usually smaller and more expensive than public institutions.
Several universities are test-optional, so your SAT or ACT may not even been a factor in the admission decision. See the links below regarding test optional universities and speak with the college counselors if you want to explore this further. For further resources about types of standardized tests that might be required, please see the Testing section of this handbook. Some test optional links are:
FairTest - Typically the most complete list of test optional universities
NACAC List of Test Optional Universities - over 400!
Always cross reference this with the information on the university website.
See further information in the USA Financial Aid section under 'Funding Your University Studies' in this handbook.
Each US university and college sets its own admission standards and decides which applicants meet those standards. Therefore, you must apply separately to each university or college.
One of the most important factors in the admissions decision in the U.S. is the quality of the school transcript. Admissions officers will review your academic record from grade 9-12, considering the grades earned, the level of difficulty (rigour) of the courses taken, and trends in academic consistency and improvement.
The US practices a holistic review of each application so they will take into consideration grades, test scores, resume/CV, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work.
A Bachelor's (BA/BSc./BEng/BBA) degree in the U.S. is typically a four-year program. Some institutions offer credit and/or advanced standing for the IB Diploma or Diploma Courses (Certificates) or AP courses.
For over 1,000 universities, applications are now received via the Common App. The Common App handles all the administrative data of your application, your financial information (crucial in establishing whether you are worthy of any financial aid) and the essays and supplements you have to submit. There is a comprehensive application guide on the Common App website.
A smaller number of universities use the Coalition application.
Some state systems also have their own platforms which enables students to apply to different campuses, for example, the University of California, California State , Apply Texas and Apply Suny.
A handful of universities (for example, Georgetown and Brigham Young University) require applications directly through their website, like.
Systems which offer a university or scholarship-matching service (such as Questbridge or Match by Concourse) are now available. Discuss with your college counselor whether any of these might be useful for you.
There are several resources available. The list below is not meant to be exhaustive but just a starting place. We work with students individually to explore other relevant resources.
College Niche (there is a filter for test optional too!)
Best Colleges: The Public Ivies, Little Ivies, and Other Ivy League Equivalents
College Scorecard (government site that helps to look at several factors)
PayScale - one way to look at the average pay after graduation