What Is The Difference Between A School, College, And University In The USA?

Many people get confused between school, college, and university in the USA and think they are the same, or some people don't know the differences between them. But, the truth is that they are not the same and have several disparities.

Let us know the differences between them-

What is a School?

In the US, school is an institute where people come to learn; therefore, it can comprise both children and adults. You can also call a college or university a school. In fact, you can refer to any graduate, undergraduate program, secondary school, or any English Language institute as a school.

The word school was emanated from the Greek word scholē, which means respite. A school allows you to explore and learn new things that you can use in further studies. There are various types of schools in the US, such as public schools, private schools, and charter schools, that are gaining popularity lately.

A college in the US is not a high school or secondary school. The thirteenth year of school is when the college and university program begins when you are around 17 or 18 years old.

What is a College?

Colleges are separate schools. They are usually small institutions that focus on undergraduate education. 

They are not situated inside the university, but some are part of universities. In addition, various colleges render graduate programs in a few subjects.

There are three types of colleges in the US, namely Community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and professional/vocational schools. They usually take two years to complete, and you are given a degree or certificate after their completion. Therefore, if you want to learn about a specific field of study for an undergraduate program, you can opt for a college. 

What is a University?

University offers students with graduate and undergraduate degree programs. Schools with a university in their names are large prominent institutes, and they provide an array of degree programs and focus majorly on doing research. Usually, universities have larger classes than colleges as they have smaller classes.

If you want to opt for a Ph.D. or a master's degree, you can opt for universities as they provide more facilities and opportunities. But, because of the various facilities and programs you get in universities, they are deemed more expensive.

The difference must have been clear by reading the above article; you can choose any of the three, but it will depend on your budget, course type, opportunities you are looking for, and their facilities. Make your decision wisely after doing thorough research.