College Vs University: What Are The Key Differences? 

If you are in your final year of high school, then you must be wondering about the next step. The stress of deciding which degree to pursue, which college/university to choose, and so on is a tough process. You must have seen ‘college and ‘university’ word being used. But did you know that both these words have different meanings? We often use this word interchangeably, without knowing what it really means. While both offer study programs to students, there are some differences that we’ll find out below.  

Key Differences: 

Both, college and University offer students with undergraduate education, such as bachelor’s and associate degrees. However, there are some differences in both. 

Colleges are smaller and usually focus on one or some fields of study. The number of students in college and class size is also smaller as compared to universities. Moreover, some colleges also have specific racial groups, genders, ethnicity, and more.  

On the contrary, universities can be understood as large educational spaces that offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. These are large in size, as there are thousands of students in a university. The class sizes are also bigger, and many fields of study are taught here. 

What are Colleges? 

A college is an educational institution that serves students seeking undergraduate degrees. Colleges may offer bachelor’s degrees, certificates or associate degrees. Since colleges are smaller than universities, they offer degrees in specific fields of study only. These degrees include associate, bachelor’s and award certificates. For example, courses and programs on cybersecurity, automatic technology, and more.  

You may come across many different types of colleges on the internet. But do you know what they really mean? Let’s understand how every college can be different: 

• Liberal Arts College: As the name suggests, these colleges aim to shape critical thinkers, by teaching them subjects such as language, humanities, and more. They offer holistic education and may include natural sciences as well. 
• Vocational Colleges/Trade Schools: These educational institutes usually help prepare students who wish to pursue fields that require high levels of training. Some examples of such careers include plumbing, culinary arts, dental assisting, and more. 
• Community Colleges: These types of colleges offer associated programs of 2-year duration. These degrees help students to pursue entry-level employment, or four-year degrees. Vocational programmes and professional certificates can also be found in community colleges.  
• Specially designated Colleges: These kinds of colleges are built especially to cater to a specific population. One example of such colleges is Historically Black Colleges & Universities. 

What are Universities? 

A university can be understood as an educational institution that offers undergraduate, postgraduate as well as graduate programs. These are usually four-year programs, unlike the ones in colleges. Universities are bigger and offer degrees in various fields. Whether it’s Humanities, Commerce or Science related subjects, universities have degrees in all. Therefore, universities welcome many admissions every year.  

However, the number of students in the university also plays a role in what kind of university it is. This is because there are many private universities that choose to take only a selected number of students. While public universities usually do not have a set number on the intake number.  

Can a college exist within a university? 

You may have heard that several colleges exist within a university. This sounds confusing, right? Since colleges provide education in specific fields of study, they exist within university. One example of this is that of Northwestern University. This university has a Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences in it, which focuses on fields of arts. But don’t get confused here. If you are enrolled in a university, but studying in a college within the university, you will still be considered a university student.  

Should you choose a college or university? 

Now that you know the difference between a college and university, you can make your decision with full information. There is no such thing as whether university is better or a college. Both educational institutions provide knowledge and help students grow academically, professionally and socially. However, it is absolutely your call on which one to choose.  

If your dream career requires you to go through some extensive training, then colleges may be the right decision. Additionally, if you like to study in small classes, and with less crowds, then definitely go for college.  

On the contrary, if you are looking forward to developing research skills, then choose university for your career. However, be ready to sit in large classes, and among several students if you go to a public university. So, start your study abroad research now, and get yourself enrolled in your dream college/university. 

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