The US has many types of institutions in higher education, most notably public universities, private institutions, and community colleges. Each type of institution differs from the other– from its acceptance, programs offered, financial aid, and class size.
In this section, we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of each US institution. We’ll also discuss the scholarship opportunities international students can apply for.
Types of US Universities and Colleges
1. Public Universities
Many international students will recognize the names of UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Georgia Tech. This type of US institution is often called a public university. US Public universities are funded by the government. Domestic and international students often choose public universities over other institutions due to the variety of study programs offered.
| US PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES |
| PROS |
CONS |
Large Student Body
– around 10,000 to 50,000 total enrollment
– large population of international students |
Large Class Size and Limited Interaction Between Students and Professors
– classes are taught in large lecture halls with hundreds of other students
– large class size could hinder attentiveness and class discussions |
Variety of Majors
– offer a variety of majors which can be confusing |
Graduate Assistants
– As part of the work-study program, many classes are taught by graduate assistants, who are less qualified than professors. |
High Acceptance Rate
– acceptance rates in public universities are much higher compared to private universities |
Limited Financial Aid
– offer little to no financial aid to international students. |
Honors College
Some public universities offer a specialized program called honors college. Honors colleges differ greatly in different universities, but some common advantages of enrolling in honors colleges are early course registration, small class size, dedicated faculty, and housing with other honors students. Some honors colleges even let you start your medical or law careers early.
Financial Aid and Scholarships Opportunities in Public Universities
Public universities are funded by taxes so most schools offer little to no financial aid to international students. However, there are a few exceptions. For example, the University of Alabama offers International Freshman Automatic Merit Scholarships to undergraduate students. This is an automatic full-tuition scholarship to any student with a GPA of 4.0, 36 on the ACT, and 1,600 SAT.
2. Private Institutions
Private institutions are funded by tuition, endowment, and various gifts from alumni and individuals. Private institutions can be grouped into two categories: private universities and liberal arts colleges.
Private Universities
Private Universities are the most famous type of colleges in America. These include the Ivy League schools, Notre Dame, and Caltech. Typically, total enrollment in private universities is 4,000-10,000 students.
| US PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES |
| PROS |
CONS |
Small Student Body
– smaller student body and quiet atmosphere |
Limited Majors
– Because of the small number of students, it often offers limited majors |
Small Class Size and Active Interaction between Students and Professors
– small student-faculty ratio and class size- encourage class discussion and building strong relationships among peers |
Very Expensive without Financial Aid
– the cost of attendance is usually over $50,000 per year. |
Name Recognition
– names of some private universities are easily recognized. |
Difficult to Get Into
– low admission rates |
Generous Financial Aid
– offer generous financial aid even to international students. |
|
Liberal Arts Colleges
Liberal Arts Colleges are another type of college in America. To international students, it might be the most unfamiliar type of college. Most international students and even domestic students may have never heard of Williams College, Amherst College, Swarthmore College, and Pomona College, which are the best-ranked liberal arts colleges to date.
Two main advantages of Liberal Arts Colleges are their focus on undergraduate students and their emphasis on writing and critical thinking skills. Most do not offer any graduate programs, though some may only offer a couple of majors. Because of the lack of graduate programs, professors in this kind of institution have more time for undergraduate students and for lesson preparations.
Not only does it focus on undergraduate students, but it also prioritizes writing and critical thinking skills. In Liberal Arts Colleges, students are expected to write many essays, debate, and engage in class discussions.
| US LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES |
| PROS |
CONS |
Small Student Body
– a student body of 1,600-2,500. The small student body fosters a closely-knit and friendly community |
Limited Majors
– because of its small student body, it only offers limited majors.
– most schools do not offer engineering programs, only a few colleges |
No Graduate Program
– classes are taught by actual professors, and not by the graduate assistants |
Very Expensive without Financial Aid
– the cost of attendance usually amounts to over $50,000/year |
Small Class Size and Interaction Between Students and Professors
– encourage class discussion and strong relationships between students and professors |
Location
– located in small towns with populations of less than 10,000, though some are located near big cities. |
Generous Financial Aid
– offers generous financial aid even to international students |
Name Recognition
– many people do not recognize the names of Liberal Arts Colleges. |
|
Difficult to Get Into
– generally much harder to be admitted than public universities. |
Financial Aid and Scholarship Opportunities in Private Universities / Liberal Arts Colleges
To many students, the word “private” indicates a ridiculous amount of money. Although that is partially true, private universities offer numerous scholarships and grants to international students. Some financial aid covers up to the full cost of attendance (tuition, room, board, books, and travel expenses). For example, Ivy League institutions like Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell University provide different types of scholarships depending on the student’s needs.
3. Community Colleges
Another type of college is Community Colleges whose main purpose is to provide an education to everyone. As a result, community colleges accept almost anyone who turns in their application. Most community colleges offer only associate degrees (2-year degrees), but you can easily transfer to a university after receiving an associate degree to get a bachelor’s degree (4-year degree).
| US COMMUNITY COLLEGES |
| PROS |
CONS |
High Acceptance Rates
– basically accept everybody and do not usually require standardized tests that are required by other universities |
Low Academic Reputation
– not known for providing the best education, a problem that could be solved by transferring to a state university. |
Very Affordable
– the total cost of attendance is cheap, amounting to around $20,000/year. |
Limited Majors
– do not offer many majors. |
Offers Good ESL Program
– since it accepts many international students, most tend to offer good ESL programs. – students not proficient in English might want to enroll in community colleges to improve their GPA so they can transfer to state universities. |
Housing
– most community colleges do not provide housing. Students need to look for accommodation outside the campus |
Transfer Admission Guarantee
– students can transfer to a state university after they have received an associate degree to earn a bachelor’s degree (4-year degree). – Community Colleges have transfer agreements with state universities which would automatically transfer you if you meet certain criteria. |
No Financial Aid
– do not award financial aid to international students. If they do, the amount of financial aid is very small. |
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Financial Aid and Scholarships Opportunities in Community Colleges
Community Colleges generally do not offer any scholarships to international students because most of the institutions offer relatively cheap tuition.
Knowing the different types of US institutions and their available financial aid is an important factor when planning your studies abroad. This information will help determine if your study goals are attainable or not.
We hope that this article on Different Types of Colleges and Financial Aid was helpful. For more information on studying abroad, make sure to check out the Available Programs for International Students and Guide to Studying in the USA sections!
