What is the difference between a state college and a university college? Example, Ohio State, Ohio University

Answer 1

Most states have several public universities. In many states, there is one public university that stands out from the others. Each state's naming convention is different. In most states, The University of XXXX is the highest ranking public school in the state and The XXXX State University is the second best.

For example -- The University of Michigan is one of the best universities in the nation. Michigan State University is a great school -- but not as good. Same thing with North Carolina -- UNC at Chapel Hill is a great university. NC State is not quite as prestigious.

California has several state systems. The University of California has several campuses (the best one is at Berkeley). All of them are excellent research universities. The state also has several California State University campuses. They are not selective and are not research schools. The worst UC school is better than the best CSU school.

But not all states follow this rule. The University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League university. The best public university in the state is Penn State. Ohio is another state where Ohio State is the best school in the state.

Then there is New Jersey -- where the state university is Rutgers.

Go figure.

Answer 2

A lot of these state schools that have virtually the same names, like Ohio University and Ohio State, comes from an old tradition that really isn't relevant anymore. Along time ago, universities would create specialties, so "state" schools like Ohio State, Indiana State, etc. specialized in education and teacher training, and state schools like Ohio University, Indiana University, Kentucky University, etc, all focused on the sciences or liberal arts. These were not the mega universities that we have now- and they received much more of their funding by the state (now it's something like 20%- but it use to be over 50%)- so the state dictated and organized the university to teach the maximum amount at the lowest cost. With the state pulling money away- universities have found that they personally do better if they offer a much broader amount of degrees- so Ohio State is no long a 'teaching' college- but a university that probably overs science and liberal arts degrees as well. But they all still keep those old names that use to distinguish their purposes.

Answer 3

Name. But you need to know the full and proper names of the schools. Your example might not have been the best.

Ohio State University and Ohio University are both state schools as well as universities. Both are subsidized by the state of Ohio and both are Universities (just see their websites).

People in the US tend to use the word college and university interchangeably, but if you had to distinguish them, universities offer grad degrees whereas colleges just offer 4 yr bachelor degrees or less. A university can be made up of several colleges as well.

Answer 4

Universities are made up of many different colleges (College of Education, College of Letters and Sciences, College of Engineering, etc.). A four year university differs from a 4 year college in that universities have an emphasis on research. State institutions for higher learning receive taxpayer dollars as part of their yearly budget. In my home state of Idaho we have 3 universities--The University of Idaho, Idaho State University, and Boise State University. We also have a 4 year college--Lewis and Clark State College.

Answer 5

Those are both public, they are just named differently.