College and university are two different educational systems and each one offers distinctive advantages. Depending upon the student’s career goal, one may be more suitable than the other. To determine which is best for you, it’s important to understand the differences between college and university.
What Is College?
College is a smaller educational system offering two- and four-year institution degree programs. In the two-year associate degree program, students are trained in a specific field, such as accounting, medical assisting or auto repair. On the other hand, the four-year bachelor’s degree program prepares students for a profession or specialized field, such as nursing, social work or engineering. Many college programs offer internship opportunities as well; allowing students to gain hands-on experience in a field of interest.
What Is University?
University is a multi-level educational system offering four- and six-year programs. The four-year bachelor’s degree program prepares students to enter a profession upon graduation or continue on to a master’s or doctorate degree.
Those who pursue a six-year degree program will typically receive a master’s degree and a doctorate degree. At the university level, students are exposed to courses from many different fields and specialties, including natural science, social science, engineering and humanities.
Size and Student to Faculty Ratio
The size and student-to-faculty ratio are two major differences between college and university. Colleges offer smaller class sizes, allowing students to receive more individual attention and close interaction with faculty. Universities are larger, often with classrooms of 20 to 30 students, so professors may not be able to give as much individual attention.
Course Offerings
At the college level, programs typically specialize in a particular field, such as technology or allied health. At the university level, programs can be interdisciplinary and integrate studies from multiple disciplines. For example, a student pursuing a degree in engineering at a university might take a diverse curriculum including mathematics, chemistry and physics.
Cost and Financial Aid
The cost of college and university varies significantly based on the type and length of program. For students pursuing a two-year associate degree, college is usually more affordable. Most two-year associate degree programs can be completed in two years and tuition costs are much less than those of a four-year bachelor’s degree at a university.
Additionally, there are many scholarship and grant opportunities available at both college and university; however, there may be more available at university due to larger student population.
Final Thoughts
In short, college and university are two different levels of education, each offering unique benefits and drawbacks. College is typically a two-year program offering specialized training, while university is four- and/or six-year program offering interdisciplinary learning.
Generally, college is more affordable, offers personalized learning and smaller class sizes, while university provides access to more resources due to its larger student and faculty population. Ultimately, the decision of which to attend boils down the student’s career goal and financial situation. Now you know the key differences between college and university.
