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Colleges, Universities, and Institutes:
The Distinction
Degree-granting institutions in the United States can be called
by any of these terms, and colleges and institutes are in
no way inferior to universities. As a general rule, colleges
tend to be smaller than universities and usually do not offer
doctoral degrees, while a university offers a wide range of
graduate programs, including doctoral degrees. Universities
emphasize research as well as teaching (traditionally a strength
of colleges), and universities that offer doctoral programs
are usually referred to as research universities. The words
"school," "college," and "university"
will be used interchangeably throughout this booklet.
An institute usually specializes in degree programs in a
group of closely related subject areas, so you will also come
across degree programs offered at institutes of technology,
institutes of fashion, institutes of art and design, and so
on. Research centers offer graduate degrees or research and
training opportunities, and they may or may not be affiliated
with universities.
Within each institution you may find schools such as the
school of arts and sciences or school of business. Each school
is responsible for the degree programs offered by the college
or university in that area of study.
Private and Public
Institutions
Both public and private universities offer degree programs.
The terms "public" and "private" refer
to the way in which universities are financially supported.
Public universities may also be called state universities,
and some include the words "state university" in
their title or include a regional element such as "eastern"
or "northern." State universities tend to be very
large with enrollments of 20,000 or more students. Since public
universities obtain a part of their support from the state
in which they are located, the tuition they charge is often
lower than that charged by private institutions. In addition,
public institutions generally charge lower tuition to state
residents (those who live and pay taxes in the state) than
to students coming from outside the state. International students
are considered out-of-state residents and therefore do not
benefit from reduced tuition at state institutions.
Private institutions are supported by student tuition, investment
income, research contracts, and private donations. Tuition
fees tend to be higher at private universities than at state
universities, and they charge the same tuition to all students,
both state and non-state residents. Colleges with a religious
affiliation and single-sex colleges are private. In general,
private universities have enrollments of fewer than 20,000
students, and private colleges may have 2,000 or fewer students
on their campuses.
Except for financial considerations, the public or private
nature of a university should not be a factor in selecting
a graduate program. High quality programs exist in both types
of institutions. Of more importance is the institution's commitment
to the graduate program. This commitment is found in its willingness
to maintain a first-class faculty and to provide excellent
facilities for advanced study, including libraries, laboratories,
computers, and other equipment. Another important factor to
consider in many disciplines is the presence of strong departments
in other fields relevant to your interests so that you can
have access to scholars and courses in disciplines related
to your own.
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