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We’re just going to be honest here … figuring out your path after high school can be confusing and daunting! Let’s acknowledge that now so you don’t feel like you’re the only person in the world who doesn’t know exactly what your next steps are. (Because you definitely are not the only person in the world who doesn’t know what your next steps are!)
There’s a lot to consider when thinking about the college or university that will be the best fit for you. Do you know that you’d prefer the bustle of a big, expansive university campus? Are you positive it’s more important to have smaller class sizes? Do you feel without a doubt that you want a university that also gives you access to specialized colleges?
Or maybe you’re asking yourself, “wait a minute … there’s a difference between college vs university?”
If you fall into that last category, fear not! We’re here to help you figure out the differences between colleges and universities, what they have in common, and what to consider when deciding where to apply.
What’s the difference between college vs university?
People often use these terms interchangeably, but strictly speaking, colleges and universities differ in degree types and programs: “college” usually refers to undergraduate institutions (and also to community colleges or vocational/technical schools), whereas “university” normally refers to the overall institution that offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
So while colleges and universities share a lot of qualities (and while both offer you some truly amazing educational opportunities), there are some important differences between colleges and universities to think about when you consider where you want to spend the next phase of your life.
So, what is college? Generally speaking, colleges in America focus on undergraduate programs and they encourage students to study a range of subjects (instead of specializing in one area of study as an undergrad). Typically, the class sizes are smaller, the student-teacher ratio is smaller, and the campus is smaller (“smaller” as in, more intimate).
If colleges tend to be smaller in scale, universities tend to be, you guessed it … larger. Universities often offer an array of undergrad and graduate programs (so you could conceivably stay at the same place if you decide to pursue a graduate degree, but one step at a time). The classes tend to have more students, and universities often focus a great deal on research (both for faculty and for students). It’s a misconception that colleges don’t offer research opportunities (many definitely do), but research tends to be more prevalent in universities (a lot of times this has to do with funding). University campuses also tend to be more expansive, so if getting lost in a maze of cool buildings sounds like your perfect afternoon, a university might be just the thing for you.
What is a college?
We know, we just told you about what colleges are in general, but there are different types of colleges to consider in addition to deciding between college or university. Try not to think of these additional variations as adding to the confusion, though! These different types of colleges offer really cool and distinct ways to learn, to decide how you might eventually want to specialize, and how to earn the degree that makes the most sense for you. Let’s jump in!
What is a Liberal Arts college?
A liberal arts college is an undergraduate institution focused on studying the liberal arts and sciences. Liberal arts colleges really take the idea of a broad scope of study to heart. In fact, encouraging students to learn across a number of disciplines is kind of the point of a liberal arts education. The curriculum at these colleges usually includes math, visual and performing arts, and the humanities (things like literature, language, philosophy, history, ethics). So instead of focusing on a specific career as the end goal (the way pre-med does, for example), liberal arts colleges help develop skills and habits of mind that students can apply in a number of ways. You’ll learn to be a strong critical thinker at a liberal arts college, to look at the big picture of whatever you’re studying, and develop deep knowledge of a range of subjects. It’s pretty awesome when you think about it!
What is a Community college?
Community colleges sometimes get a bad rap (we’re not sure where this came from), and this can prevent students from considering an educational path that might be just right for them. Maybe you’re not ready to commit to a 4-year program. Maybe cost is an important factor for you and your family. Maybe you already know what you want to do after college and an Associate degree is exactly what you need to get there. These are all things that make community colleges good choices for some students.
Community colleges offer 2-year programs and tend to be a more cost-effective alternative (often vastly more cost-effective) to 4-year colleges or universities. Because of this, many students complete their general education courses at a community (or junior) college, and then transfer to a 4-year college or university to complete their degrees. Community colleges also offer certificate programs in things like health-related fields, hospitality, accounting, computer science and application, graphic design, public safety, the list goes on and on. And on and on. That’s why community colleges are an excellent option if you have a specific career in mind OR if you really don’t and want to learn what’s out there for you.
What is a technical or vocational college?
Like community colleges, technical and vocational colleges offer 2-year programs, but these programs focus on very specific skills and trades (so their certificate programs don’t usually require or offer general education courses). The goal of these colleges is to teach you the skills you need to step right into a specific job after completing the program, so like a community college that offers certificate programs, technical and vocational colleges are an excellent choice for those of you who already know the specific trade you want to pursue as your career (for example, you want to be an electrician or work in tech support or have a career in business administration). Technical and vocational colleges usually also offer generous financial aid and student support services (including helping you find a job after graduation).
What is a university?
So far, all we’ve told you about universities is that they’re “bigger.” Probably not enough information to help you decide if a university is right for you! Let’s get into more detail so you get a better sense of what a university actually is.
There are public universities (UC schools, for example) and private universities (like Harvard). Public universities receive government funding and private universities depend more on endowments and donations. Both offer undergraduate and graduate programs, and as we mentioned above, both give students many opportunities to engage in research (in a lab, for example, or by working with a professor on their research projects).
(Side note: if you’re looking to do research as a high schooler, you have options to explore.)
Like liberal arts colleges, universities do require general education courses that provide students with a broad range of study, but then students declare a major (Anthropology, for example) and the remainder of their coursework focuses on that specific area of study.
Classes at universities tend to have more students (picture sitting in a lecture hall with 100 of your closest friends), but as you move from general education courses to courses related to your major, the classes do get smaller and more specialized.
Many universities also have colleges within them (just to make things even more confusing). These colleges house specific programs within the larger university (for example, the College of Letters and Arts or the College of Applied Sciences). And in a school like Harvard, which is Harvard College AND Harvard University, the former refers to undergrad studies and the latter to graduate studies (if you’re interested in learning more because Harvard is a place you dream of, click here to see more about Harvard College vs. Harvard University).
Pros & cons of college vs. university
As with almost anything that requires us to make comparisons, there are pros and cons of colleges and universities.
Colleges will usually offer you smaller class sizes, which often means you’ll get to know your professors and classmates much better. Since professors typically have fewer students, this gives them the chance to offer more individualized attention. And college campuses tend to be smaller (physically and in terms of student population), so students really get to know the nooks and crannies of where they’re going to school.
The flip side is that the smaller size of colleges can mean fewer opportunities to do things like play on sports teams, engage in research, and encounter other students who are interested in different things than you are (and experiencing those differences can be a really cool part of your post-high school experience).
Universities, on the other hand, present you with so many paths. There are hundreds of majors to choose from, sports teams to play on (or just cheer for if you’re more of an armchair quarterback), chances to engage in research of your own or as part of a research team, and the possibility of continuing on as a grad student if you’ve really found your home at your university.
But again, there are some cons. Bigger class sizes mean less individualized attention from your professors, huge campuses can feel less intimate and welcoming, and for some students, too many choices can feel a little overwhelming. So, which do you choose?
Should you choose a college or university?
We wish we could give you a simple answer to this question, but it all boils down to what’s important to YOU and what you hope to get out of your college experience. So here’s how you can think through your choice:
If you know that you’d get lost in a big university with 10,000 students, then a college might be the right choice for you. But if you’re the kind of person who relishes having seemingly endless choice and variety, a university could be just right. If you like exploring big new spaces and being surrounded by a lot of people, check out universities.
But if you picture your college experience as one in which you foster close relationships with your professors, the chance to really get to know the people sitting next to you in class, and a program that focuses more on a broad educational foundation as opposed to a specialized set of skills, a college might be perfect for you.
The important thing as you consider colleges vs. universities is which one is most likely to give you the experience you’re hoping for. You might have spent your whole life in small schools or a small town and are ready to experience being in a more bustling environment. Or maybe you’ve been in a metaphorical big pond for as long as you can remember and are ready to see what life in a small pond is like.
Both colleges and universities will give you the chance for amazing educational and social experiences, but those experiences might be vastly different depending on where you choose to spend the next few years of your life. Hopefully, you feel better equipped to think about how these differences can help you make your choice! And whenever you’re ready to take the next step and begin your applications, check this out for some tips about writing a personal statement to help you on your path.
Special thanks to Jessica for writing this blog post.
Jessica has a Ph.D in English from the University of Southern California and teaches English at a Los Angeles-area independent school, where she has also been English department chair and a class dean. Sandra Cisneros is her hero, and she loves books, her awesomely-sarcastic family, the beach, and more books. Oh, and her sweet pitbull/lab mix named Ruby.
Top values: Curiosity, equity, wonder
