There are many different types of institutions among the approximately 3,500 colleges and universities in the United States. One would do well to choose a "type" of institution before narrowing a choice down to specific institutions.

Liberal Arts Colleges

A general program of four-year study wherein the student takes courses in a wide variety of subjects such as History, Literature, Foreign Languages, Math, Philosophy, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, Art, etc. The student majors in one of these areas and graduates with a Bachelor’s degree. The liberal arts curriculum gives the student a well- rounded education, and is often an excellent basis for continued study at the graduate level.

University

An academic organization which grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of fields. It is composed of a number of "schools" or "colleges" each of which encompasses a general field of study. Universities generally offer a broad range of both undergraduate and graduate degree programs, are generally larger than other types of colleges, and typically offer more majors and have more research facilities than do other colleges.

Engineering or Technical Colleges

These are independent professional schools which provide four-year degrees in the fields of engineering and the physical sciences. They are often known as Institutes of Technology or Polytechnic Institutes.

Professional Degree-Granting Schools

These schools offer a combination of liberal arts training and intensive training in a variety of specialized fields (Eastman School of Music, Rhode Island School of Design, Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, etc.)

Community/Junior Colleges

These colleges award associate degrees at the completion of two years of full-time study. They frequently offer technical programs of study that prepare students for immediate entry into the job market. In addition, many of these colleges offer general education programs that are the equivalent of the first two years of a bachelor’s degree program; students can then transfer to a four-year university to complete the bachelor’s degree. The majority of two-year colleges have open admissions policies.

Private vs. Public Institutions

Colleges and universities may be publicly controlled or independent and privately controlled.

Private schools are not necessarily "better" than public institutions. Usually public schools are larger, less selective for state residents (but more so for out-of-state residents), and less expensive for state residents than private schools.

However, some state (i.e., public) universities are highly selective and admission is competitive, e.g., the University of Virginia, the University of Michigan and the University of California. Private schools are generally smaller and more expensive than public institutions.