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What Is The Difference Between A College And A University?
As you begin to think about higher education, you may find yourself asking: what is the difference between a college and a university? This is a common question, because so often in casual conversation the terms are used interchangeably. When people say they are "going to college" they could be attending a college or a university.
A University Is a Collection of Colleges
Both colleges and universities can be publicly or privately run. Where they tend to differ, however, is in their degree offerings. For the most part, a college offers degrees in one area. A university offers degrees in a variety of areas because it is actually composed of a collection of colleges. If you attend a university, you might graduate from that university's college of business, college of liberal arts, or college of education, depending on your major.
Colleges and Universities Differ in Degree Offerings
If a university is a collection of colleges, it makes sense that universities have larger student bodies. Class size tends to be larger at universities, and professors are often prized for their research accomplishments as well as their teaching efforts. Often, student to faculty ratios can be smaller at colleges. Universities confer degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, whereas colleges tend to deal exclusively with four-year bachelor's degrees.
Ask which Is Better for You
Colleges aren't better than universities and vice versa. Whether you chose to apply or enroll in one or the other should depend on your needs and goals--and the specific college or university to which you're applying.
The following schools can provide you with more information about attending college:
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