What's the difference between "College" and "University"?

Answer 1

College

The term college (Latin collegium) is most often used today to denote an educational institution. More broadly, it can be the name of any group of colleagues (see for example electoral college, College of Arms). Originally it meant a group of people living together under a common set of rules (con-, "together" + leg-, "law"); as a consequence members of colleges were originally styled "fellows" and still are in some places. The precise usage of the term varies among English-speaking countries.

University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees at all levels (bachelor, master, and doctorate) in a variety of subjects. A university provides both tertiary and quaternary education. The word university is derived from the Latin universitas, meaning corporation, since the first medieval European universities were simply groups of scholars.


Universities and Colleges

In relation to universities, the term college normally refers to a part of the university which does not have degree-awarding powers in itself. Degrees are always awarded by universities, colleges are institutions or organisations which prepare students for the degree. In some cases, colleges prepare students for the degree of a university of which the college is a part (eg colleges of the University of London, University of Cambridge, etc) and in some cases colleges are independent institutions which prepare students to sit as external candidates at other universities (eg many higher education colleges prepare students to sit for external examinations of universities). In the past, many of what are now universities with their own degree-awarding powers were colleges which had their degrees awarded by either a federal university (eg Cardiff University) or another university (eg many of the post-1992 universities).

Answer 2

The difference between a college and a university is that a college just offers a collection of degrees in one specific area, while a university is a collection of colleges. When you go to a university you are going to be graduating from one of their colleges, such as the business college. As to which is better, it depends on what you want. Single colleges tend to be smaller while universities are bigger, but universities are better known.

Answer 3

A college technically only has undergraduate degrees, wile a university has graduate as well. But this is not a steadfast rule. For example Boston College is technically a university, but when it gained its graduate school there was already a Boston University, so it kept the "college" name. Also, the College of William and Mary, kept its name just because of its heritage.

So there is a rule and but there are some exceptions, as always.

Answer 4

College is a 2 year program & University is 4 Year program

Answer 5

Technically speaking, a college offers up to undergraduate degrees (Bachelor's). Universities offer advanced degrees, meaning Master's and Doctorates as well.

Answer 6

Colleges are smaller, and universities are collections of colleges all under one board of directors.