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.
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.
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.
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.
Read "U.S. Community Colleges — A Gateway to U.S. Higher Education
for International Students" by Judith Irwin, Director of
International Programs and Services for the American Association of
Community Colleges (AACC).
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.' |
|
