🏫 What’s a College?

In the U.S., a college typically refers to a smaller institution that focuses on undergraduate education. These schools often have:

• Smaller class sizes 🧑‍🏫
  
  

• A tight-knit campus community 🤝
  
  

• Personalized attention from professors
  
  

• Fewer overall majors or programs
  
  

There are a few types of colleges:

• Liberal Arts Colleges (like Davidson College in NC): Offer a well-rounded education across many disciplines.
  
  

• Community Colleges: Two-year schools that award associate degrees and career certificates. Many NC students start here and transfer later!
  
  

• Specialty Colleges: Focus on a specific field (e.g., art, music, or health sciences).
  
  

🏛️ What’s a University?

A university usually refers to a larger institution that offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. These schools often include:

• Multiple “colleges” or schools within the university (like a College of Business, School of Nursing, etc.)
  
  

• Graduate programs (like master’s and doctoral degrees)
  
  

• A strong emphasis on research 🔬
  
  

• More campus facilities, extracurriculars, and majors
  
  

Some well-known North Carolina universities include UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, and Duke.

Use CFNC.org to explore both colleges and universities in North Carolina—and filter by size, location, and program. It’s a one-stop shop to plan, apply, and pay for college in our state!