What is the difference between a college and university? Is an institue different?

Answer 1

There are two answers to this question.

Internally, Universities are made up of colleges which are made up of departments (which may or may not be made up of programs)

Univerisities also have another structure called schools. These are typically the Graduate School, the Medical School etc.

For example, at New Mexico State, the electrical engineering technology program is in the Department of Engineering Technology which is in the College of Engineering which is part of the University.

Departments have chairs or heads, Colleges have Deans and the university has lotsa bosses.

Externally, If a school is "just" a college, it usually means that it just has departments. This means that there is no Graduate School.

Institutes can be anything. Virginia Military Institute is a full blown university. But generally institutes are non-public vocationally oriented schools.

Answer 2

A college typically doesn't have graduate/professional schools. So you can't get a law, med, dental degree from a college. However, at a university you can. An institute I believe is not a degree granting school. You probably will just get a certificate. I'm on too sure on an institute...

Answer 3

College doesn't offer Bachelor or Masters degree. University has many different major, offering Bachelor degree and often also Masters degree. Institute is an education provider specializing in only one major, for example hospitality and tourism, institute of technology, etc.

Answer 4

universities generally have graduate programs. colleges generally don't.
also, professors are usually expected to publish original work at universities instead of just teaching.
"institute" is just a general term that can be applied wherever you want.