1st Step: College Prep Lingo
Types of Colleges
- Public colleges are funded by local and state governments and usually offer lower tuition rates than private colleges, especially for students who are residents of the state where a college is located.
- Private colleges rely mainly on tuition, fees and private sources of funding. Private donations can sometimes provide generous financial aid packages for students. Many private colleges are religiously affiliated or were religiously affiliated when they first opened.
- Proprietary/For-profit colleges: These are businesses that offer a variety of degree programs which typically prepare students for a specific career. They tend to have higher costs, which could mean graduating with more debt. Credits earned may not transfer to other colleges, so be sure to check with the admission office at each college.
- Four-year colleges offer four-year programs that lead to a bachelor's degree. These include universities and liberal arts colleges.
- Two-year colleges offer programs that last up to two years that lead to a certificate or an associate degree. These include community colleges, vocational-technical colleges and career colleges.
- Universities often are larger and offer more majors and degree options—bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees—than colleges. Most universities contain several smaller colleges, such as colleges of liberal arts, engineering or health sciences. These colleges can prepare you for a variety of careers or for graduate study.
- Community or Junior colleges offer two-year associate degrees that prepare you to transfer to a four-year college to earn a bachelor's degree. They also offer other associate degrees and certificates that focus on preparing you for a certain career. Community colleges are often an affordable option with relatively low tuition.
- Technical Institutes and Professional Schools offer programs for students who have made clear decisions about what they want to study and emphasize preparation for specific careers (i.e. trade schools for mechanics, electricians, cosmetology, etc.)
Colleges with Specialized Missions
- Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) are colleges, universities, or systems where total Hispanic/Latin-x enrollment constitutes a minimum of 25% at either the undergraduate or graduate level.
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) find their origins in the time when African-American/Black students were systematically denied access to most other colleges and universities. Students at HBCU's have a unique opportunity to experience an educational community as the majority. They find committed faculty members who encourage their expectations of success.
- Tribal Colleges are similar to HBCU's, in focusing on the needs and education of Native American/Indigenous students.
- Women's Colleges, with their larger number of female faculty and administrators, offer college women confidence-building role models, greater opportunities to serve in a full rage of student leadership positions, and a heightened awareness of career possibilities for women. Women's college graduate a high number of science majors, as well as students who continue on to graduate school and/or professional studies.
College descriptors provided by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).