On the other hand, private colleges or universities are institutions of higher learning funded by private donors and individuals who are not part of the government. However, many private colleges offer the opportunity to customize your program of study by working closely with advisers. While private colleges are generally more expensive, their ability to offer more attractive financial aid packages can sometimes make them more affordable than public universities. The word \"college\" can mean many different things depending on where you're from. However, don’t let that deter you from applying. On average, private colleges and universities have smaller class sizes. Private colleges are not bound by the legal principle of separation between church and state, and therefore may be religiously affiliated. Do I learn better in discussion-based courses? This is also important to consider when choosing to apply to either a college or university because colleges tend to have smaller class sizes with more individual attention for the student, whereas universities might not. College is where you go to earn your undergraduate degree, whether that be an associate's or bachelor's. Do I want the “college experience” of a vibrant, social campus with a wide variety of activities? The campus environment at public schools is less intimate, with professors less likely to know all of their students’ names. Pick the long-term, financially successful college. And you may want to consider these differences before you start applying. Universities can have everything from Greek life to sports teams, and the atmosphere on a university campus can feel like one large community within its own bubble. But whether you choose to apply to colleges, universities or both, one is not really better than the other. She hopes to use her experience to help inform others. Private colleges and universities have fewer students and therefore fewer choices. Basically, this means that the huge tuition gap does not lead to an equally large salary gap. There is a difference between colleges and universities. But in the U.S., college is where you go after high school. Public universities typically have a larger student body than private colleges. SoFi does not guarantee the accuracy of information provided by Edmit, its affiliates or subsidiaries. The team behind making paying for college achievable for everyone. Private colleges may employ more distinguished faculty or publish influential academic research more often. Degrees from top private universities can be more marketable because of their reputation. (Public colleges also receive donations.). However, as long as the school has the program you're looking for, at the end of the day, it's just a name. As a result, the government covers part of the cost of attendance at public colleges. Since all programs and operating costs are funded by private individuals, students must cover the full cost of attendance (without subsidies from the state). The Coronavirus Impact on College Financial Health. The bottom line is this: Public universities are significantly more affordable than private colleges and universities. These universities also tend to have highly successful alumni networks, which can be valuable for graduates. We have another article giving an, in-depth comparison of for-profit and nonprofit institutions. Not surprisingly, public universities are mostly filled with in-state students. Student loan products offered by "SoFi" are made by SoFi Lending Corp. (CFL# 6054612, NMLS# 1121636) and not by any covered educational institution displayed on the Edmit platform. Will a “party school” atmosphere be distracting to me? For residents of that same state, the cost of attendance is often significantly lower than that of private schools in the same state. For example, UCLA is a public university and is funded by the state of California. Do I want the ability to work closely with advisers and customize my program of study? The Edstimate® is Edmit’s best estimate of the price you’ll pay for a college. A public university, also commonly called a state university, is funded by the public through the government of that state. Before becoming a writer, Hana worked as a teacher for several years in the U.S. and around the world. The term "college" typically refers to community colleges (two-year schools) and four-year schools. Both types of colleges have their advantages, and we’ll discuss them in this article. This is why tuition is cheaper for in-state residents than it is for out-of-state residents. The student body population, campus size, and class sizes are all bigger at public schools. Public universities are generally bigger than private colleges. You can find just about any program or degree at a public university. These systems constitute the majority of public-funded universities in the country. Private colleges may … A covered educational institution's name or logo on the Edmit platform is not an endorsement by the covered educational institution of SoFi's student loan products. For out-of-state residents attending public universities, tuition and fees totaled $12,383 on average. While the two share a lot of similarities, there are some notable differences in the college vs. university definition. After all, it's not uncommon to hear people refer to colleges as universities and universities as colleges.