What is the difference between a college and a university?

Question

My college is "university-bound" for the fall, and a lot of people here are upset about that. But I don't get it, is it really that different?

Answer 1

You have some great answers here.."Mia Mia" and "Dude Man" along with others have provided a diversified opinion on the differences between College vs. University. A primary example of this, so that you might gain a more established understanding is:

For Example: UOP(University of Phoenix) is an accredited University that provides a variety of mix of the following:

Colleges within the University
Small group educational base
Hands-on Experience of the Instructors/Professors
Here you are Paying for your Degree as it is more Student Friendly in terms of scheduling, meeting, testing ,etc.
Tuition is expensive
Privately owned (so tuition increase does happen with notice given to the student/faculty)

UNLV (University of Nevada Las Vegas)

Colleges within the University
60 students or more per class
Huge Campus (miles long in perimeter, etc)
Private donations/minimal Government Funding
Tuition cost increase with or without notice to the students/faculty
Number oriented...meaning that the more students they get to graduate from that college, the more financial stability that university has
Degrees range from BA-PhD. (double majors, fraternities/sororities, etc.)
Best Accreditation (international, national, etc.)

Any State College

Small group educational base (no more than 30 to 40 students per class)
Funding based on Students, Demographics, Government Financial Support, Grants, etc.
Degrees range from AA to Bachelors
Tuition cost is at least 45% cheaper than the average University

Just a general breakdown so that you can see the difference. Enjoy and be Safe...(smiles)

Answer 2

In Canada, usually a college is more technical oriented, and usually offers diploma (2-3 years) and certificate programs. They tend to offer programs such as mechanics, information technology, diploma nursing, and general business or accounting.

Some colleges have joint partnerships with local universities, so university students can also get hands on training and experience and graduate with both a college and university degree.

A university offers full bachelor's degree programs (and often graduate or professional studies, like Medicine), and does not really have a technical component. You will have some hands-on labs, but the majority of your work is the THEORY behind what you will have to do. The majority of students here will end up with a 3 or 4 year program of studies, although universities also offer certificate programs in business etc. through their continuing education department.

Answer 3

A college is a sub-division of a university. A university will contain several colleges, where the colleges specialize in a particular subject. For example at MIT is the Sloan College of Business. The University of Bridgeport has the Fones College of Dental Hygiene.

If you go to a univerisity, you have the ability to take classes at any of the colleges associated within the university. If you go to a standalone college, your kind of stuck with whatever their specialty is.

As a student I would think it's to your advantage to go to a university. I would assume the college has certain financial advantages being in a university system too?

Answer 4

The accreditation policies are more stringent for a university so that it cannot offer the same flexibility in class schedule that a college can.

universities come from the latin words uni and veritas... meaning one truth, and so they oft times also do not make for the most free-thinking educational atmosphere and take on a one dimensional personality. Whereas this can be good because it is a stronger more united truth, it is not necessarily as flexible.

Finally universities are free to take more funding from the state than a college due to these more rigid restrictions, and so can build more and give more to the students.

There are other differences I believe but these are the ones I'm aware of.

Answer 5

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 6

In the United States, it makes no different. A university offers graduate degrees, while a college does not. Since you're an undergrad, it doesn't matter.

Answer 7

I was at one college that changed over to a university. It remained basically the same as far as students were concerned. The main concern of the teaching staff was that a university had to have a greater percentage of PhD.s in order to be classified as a university. I don't know if that is the real difference, but it could be a consideration.

Answer 8

College: An institution of higher learning that offers undergraduate programs, usually of a four-year duration, that lead to the bachelor's degree in the arts or sciences (B.A. or B.S.). The term "college" is also used in a general sense to refer to a postsecondary institution. A college may also be a
part of the organizational structure of a university.”

University is defined as: “University: An educational institution that
usually maintains one or more four-year undergraduate colleges (or
schools) with programs leading to a bachelor's degree, a graduate
school of arts and sciences awarding master's degrees and doctorates
(Ph.D.s), and graduate professional schools.”

Hope that helps.

Answer 9

Grad school.

But the difference is really one of semantics, and not any real difference. While there is a common usage distinction , you can use the terms interchangably as the following confusing and contradictory definitions from your US government attest.

The US government defines college: “College: An institution of higher learning that offers undergraduate programs, usually of a four-year duration, that lead to the bachelor's degree in the arts or sciences (B.A. or B.S.). The term "college" is also used in a general sense to refer to a postsecondary institution. A college may also be a part of the organizational structure of a university.”

University is defined as: “University: An educational institution that usually maintains one or more four-year undergraduate colleges (or schools) with programs leading to a bachelor's degree, a graduate school of arts and sciences awarding master's degrees and doctorates (Ph.D.s), and graduate professional schools.”

“Colleges, Universities, and Institutes: The Distinction 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.”

Answer 10

University is a pretty much a high end college. You need to get accepted to a university and it costs more. Some say you get a better education but I think it is just better for graduate level classes as the lower level are usually taught by the T.A's (teacher's aid)