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" are
used interchangeably throughout this section.
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.
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 most 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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