Private Vs Public Universities

Are you about to finish high school and planning to join a university? Are you also confused about which university to choose? Private University or a Public University? Before you select a university for yourself, you must first understand how these two universities differ from each other, and which one is better.  

We understand that finding a university or college is a difficult, confusing and overwhelming process. Therefore, we are here to help you choose one. After reading this blog, you will know everything that you need to know about the difference between private and public universities.  

What is a private university?

In this private Vs public university debate, let’s first understand what a private university is. A private university can be understood as an educational organization or institution that gets its funding from private helpers, donators, and tuition fees of students. Many universities in the world are private ones, including some of the most prestigious ones, such as Ivy League schools. They can be either for-profit or non-profit institutions, as they do not receive any funds from the government of the country. When you compare these universities with public ones, you will realize that they are smaller, because of limited financing sources. Therefore, there are a smaller number of students and classrooms in the universities.  

Some top Private Universities in the world

Now that you have the answer to ‘What is a private college?’, let’s see some of the renowned and top-notch private universities around the world: 

• Stanford University
• MIT
• Harvard University 
• Yale University 
• Columbia University 
• Princeton University 
• Amity University 
• Vanderbilt University 
• Boston College 
• Johns Hopkins University 

What is a Public University?

Before you decide on public Vs private college, let’s understand what a public university is. A public university, or a state university can be understood as an educational institution which is funded by the state government.  Public universities, as compared to private universities, are bigger in size, have a greater number of students and have less tuition fees. The classes of public universities are bigger, and you will not find many international or out-of-state students in these universities. This is because they need to admit more of their state students to maintain the funding that the government provides them with. The goal of public universities is to provide affordable and easily accessible education to everyone in society; hence the tuition fees are less. 

Some top Public Universities in the World

• University of California
• University of Michigan 
• University of Florida 
• University of Cambridge 
• Imperial College London 
• University of Melbourne 
• University of Sydney 
• University of Queensland 
• University College London 
• University of California

Difference between Private College and Public University

From the information given above, you must have gotten an idea about the public and private college definition. But, if you are still confused about how exactly do they differ, then refer to the table given below. 

Private V/s Public College: Which one to choose?

From the above-mentioned information, you already know the difference between public and private colleges. Now, it’s time to choose one from them. There is no one answer to which type of university is better, since both the universities have their own perks. The education quality, learning opportunities and exposure is provided in both universities. If you are looking for a university where you can build a professional relationship with your professors, and have one-to-one interaction with them, then private universities may be the ideal choice for you. However, if your priority is to find a university which is affordable and has less tuition fees, then public universities are your answer.  

Also Read:- College Vs University, University of Oxford Vs University of Cambridge