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> Colleges,
Universities, and Institutes: The Distinction
> State
Universities
> Private
Universities
> Community
Colleges
> Technical
and Vocational Colleges
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 and usually offer only undergraduate degrees,
while a university also offers graduate degrees. 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.
Within each college or university you will find schools,
such as the school of arts and sciences or the school of business.
Each school is responsible for the degree programs offered
by the college or university in that area of study.
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State Universities
State universities are founded and subsidized by U.S. state
governments (for example, California, Michigan, or Texas)
to provide low-cost education to residents of that state.
They may also be called public universities to distinguish
them from private institutions. 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, and generally admit a wider range of students
than private universities. State university tuition costs
are generally lower than those of private universities. Also,
in-state residents (those who live and pay taxes in that particular
state) pay much lower tuition than out-of-state residents.
International students, as well as those from other states,
are considered out-of-state residents and therefore do not
benefit from reduced tuition at state institutions. In addition,
international students may have to fulfill higher admission
requirements than in-state residents.
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Private Universities
Private institutions are funded by a combination of endowments,
tuition fees, research grants, and gifts from their alumni.
Tuition fees tend to be higher at private universities than
at state universities, but there is no distinction made between
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.
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Community Colleges
Community colleges
provide two-year associate degree programs, usually called
the associate of arts (A.A.) or associate of science (A.S.)
degrees, as well as excellent technical and vocational programs.
As the name suggests, community colleges are community-based
institutions with close links to secondary schools, community
groups, and employers, and many U.S. students live close to
campus with their families. Community colleges can be public
or private institutions and are sometimes called junior colleges
or two-year colleges. A growing number of international students
are choosing to study at community colleges. Tuition costs
are often lower at two-year than at four-year institutions,
and many have agreements to allow students on transfer programs
to move easily into the third year of a bachelor's degree
at the local state university.
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Technical and
Vocational Colleges
These institutions specialize in preparing students for entry
into, or promotion within, the world of work. They offer certificate
and other short-term programs that train students in the theory
behind a specific vocation or technology, as well as in how
to work with the technology. Programs usually last two years
or less. There are several thousand technical and vocational
colleges across the United States, and they may be private
or public institutions. Further information is provided in
'Short-Term Study.'
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