The American system of higher education can be bewildering in its diversity. There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, about half of which are private rather than public, tax-supported institutions. There are essentially four broad categories of postsecondary educational institutions:
(1) vocational or trade schools,
(2) junior colleges (including most community colleges),
(3) colleges, and
(4) universities.
Trade Schools and Technical Colleges
Trade schools can be public or private and offer courses that are generally not considered to be at the college level. They are similar to the vocational high schools except that they are geared toward adults and may or may not require a high school diploma (or equivalent) for admission.
Junior Colleges and Community Colleges
Junior colleges were once a common element of U.S. higher education, but the rise of community colleges in the last half of the twentieth century has left few of them in place. They were designed to help students bridge the gap between high school and college and to offer coursework that is generally considered to be the equivalent of the first two years at a college or university. Community colleges also offer two years of course work, after which students receive either a two-year (associate) degree or transfer to a four-year college or university. Some junior and community colleges resemble vocational schools, others are very academic in their focus. Careful research is needed to determine the right fit.
Colleges
Colleges are four-year institutions leading to the bachelor of arts (or science) degree and have few if any graduate programs. There are both state and countless private colleges. Some of the most prestigious undergraduate institutions are colleges rather than world-famous universities. For example, Amherst, Williams, Swarthmore, and Wellesley are generally considered to be of the same caliber as Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford. There are a few colleges that still enroll only women (and even fewer — just two — that enroll only men).
Universities
Universities offer a range of graduate, professional, and research programs in addition to undergraduate degrees. Some of them enroll as many as 50,000 students. Tuition at most private institutions is considerably higher than at state-supported schools, but all have tuition charges that will appear high to people from most other countries. Remember that unless you are a permanent resident or U.S. citizen (or one of a few other immigration categories), most public financial aid is unavailable to you. Some states will offer the in-state tuition discount to all of its residents regardless of citizenship; others will not. Keep in mind, though, that there is considerable merit-based financial aid available from the institutions themselves.
In many countries it is very difficult to get into a university because of competitive entrance examinations but easy to graduate once you are admitted. In the United States, it is relatively easy to gain admission to many colleges or universities but often quite difficult to finish all course work successfully in order to graduate. Universities and colleges rated at the top academically are very competitive, but most high school graduates are able to find a college or university that matches their qualifications.
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