Often used interchangeably in the United States, the terms “college” and “university” are actually not synonyms. While both kinds of institutions offer undergraduate education, they are not the same thing. The main difference between colleges and universities is degree types and program offerings.
Table Summary
| College | University |
| Undergraduate programs | Undergraduate and graduate programs |
| Mostly private | Public or private |
| Usually more devoted to undergraduate teaching | Generally more devoted to research |
| Smaller student population | Larger student population |
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Definitions
There are numerous types of colleges: liberal arts colleges, community colleges, and technical/vocational colleges. These institutions are often smaller than universities with fewer students and more intimate campuses, as well as fewer program offerings. Colleges are usually private institutions that receive little to no state funding, which means they don’t focus as much on research.
Universities are private or public institutions that offer both undergraduate and graduate programs. They usually have larger campuses and more students than colleges and offer a variety of programs. Unlike colleges, universities are generally more devoted to research and tend to feature several research facilities and labs.
College VS University
Colleges and universities are both higher education institutions that offer undergraduate degrees. While colleges generally offer fewer programs, universities not only offer more undergraduate degrees but also graduate programs. Besides, colleges tend to focus more on undergraduate teaching, while universities generally focus on research.