Is there a distinction between a College and a University in the US?

[Locut0s]

Here in Canada there is a much sharper distinction between the 2 types of institutions. However the lines are starting to blur. Classically a college never gave out degrees and offered courses in areas of study that a university would either not carry or not specialize in. Things like nursing and the like. However they also offer most of is not just about all of the courses an undergrad would take at a university for a broad range of degrees. So they are a step up from vocation schools. The credits for these courses are then transferable to just about any University. Some students may take almost all of their undergraduate courses at a College before transferring to a university. Many students start out at a College then go on to University or use Colleges as a means of rounding out their credits for a degree they are taking at university. For example they may take a language course or two at a college and apply those credits to a degree in Psychology or something as part of their breadth requirements. However more colleges are starting to offer genuine degrees nowadays. From what I know of the US system you guys don't have a sharp distinction like this and the two terms college and university seem to be used interchangeably. I am confused by this.

 

[eits]

colleges make up university

 

[pray4mojo]

Short answer, no.

You can call a university a college but you can't call a college a university.

 

[StageLeft]

Short answer, no.

You can call a university a college but you can't call a college a university.

Thus long answer is yes...?

 

[Jeeebus]

the short answer is

 

[Colt45]

"technical institute" gets no love :'(

 

[Ayah]

I thought it was:
University = Conducts post-doctorate research
Colleges = No research, no graduate studies

 

[Babbles]

I do not think there is a technical difference, per se, but I believe traditionally research level institutions are universities (typically compromised of many colleges) and institutions that grant only bachelor degrees or limited amount of masters degrees - the typical "liberal arts college" - are usually not research oriented and as such identified as colleges and not universities.

I think really it is just all colloquial uses of the terms, and not standardized definitions of the two words.

 

[IronWing]

There used to be but back in the '70s lots of colleges changed their names to university so the distinction has been lost.

 

[nageov3t]

I always thought it was that if the institution had more than one college, it was a university.

 

[mugs]

Usually colleges are undergrad only, universities have post-graduate programs

Edit: What you're describing as a college sounds like what we call a community college or a junior college

 

[Poulsonator]

Usually colleges are undergrad only, universities have post-graduate programs

Pretty much this.

The school I'm currently enrolled in changed its name in September. The college asked us, its students, to come up with a name, and eventually we'd get to vote on which one we liked best. The only rule was we couldn't use the word "university", and for the exact reason above.

 

[coldmeat]

I thought colleges specialized in more hands-on and workforce oriented courses. That's what it's like around here.

 

[RESmonkey]

colleges only have undergrad
unis have both undergrad and grad

 

[Hacp]

From my understanding, colleges have masters and bachelors programs. Universities churn out the PHDs.

 

[Printer Bandit]

Where does an "Institute of Technology" fit in?

 

[destrekor]

your system in Canada sounds like the exact same thing in the U.S.

Most people never really pay attention to the noun they use to describe their advanced schooling, but that distinction is clearly there.

All the bachelor degree granting schools are Universities. They also all show it in their name.
In fact, all the schools in the U.S. show the proper noun in their school name.

Also, many of the large universities call the specific schools within the university a "college". The College of Business is a common one.

Colleges, and many are called "community college", though in essence it's just the name and they are all the same type, are exactly like they are (apparently) in Canada.
They are more advanced vocational schools, and offer a wide variety of classes that typically meet the general education course requirements for 4-year degrees, and almost always transfer. Otherwise, these colleges offer Associates Degrees (2-year), which is basically G.E. courses and a specific vocational focus.

 

[TruePaige]

I thought it was:
University = Conducts post-doctorate research
Colleges = No research, no graduate studies

Actually we have lots of colleges in this country who do have graduate studies and research and just haven't changed their names, many for tradition purposes.

Also as an aside, we also have "Institutes of Technology" in this country, such as MIT which cloud it further.

Wonder what other countries would think of my resume, since I am going to have "College" at the end of my schools name.heh

 

[destrekor]

Where does an "Institute of Technology" fit in?

depends on the actual school.
Many are full-fledged universities, while some are basically colleges, while others are basically like a college yet offer a narrow range of 4-year degrees (if memory serves right, though it seems most x.I.T. schools are most definitely full universities.

 

[Poulsonator]

Colleges, and many are called "community college", though in essence it's just the name and they are all the same type, are exactly like they are (apparently) in Canada.
They are more advanced vocational schools, and offer a wide variety of classes that typically meet the general education course requirements for 4-year degrees, and almost always transfer. Otherwise, these colleges offer Associates Degrees (2-year), which is basically G.E. courses and a specific vocational focus.

My college offers a 4-year bachelor's degree now, hence the reason for the name change.

 

[Capt Caveman]

colleges only have undergrad
unis have both undergrad and grad

Wrong. Numerous Colleges offer Graduate Programs/Degrees

 

[tokie]

too many people I know here in Canada look down upon the word "college". If they hear an American say they go to college, they think less of them since they associate it with trades-training like community colleges.

basically, Canadians are elitists with the words college/university.

 

[mugs]

your system in Canada sounds like the exact same thing in the U.S.

Most people never really pay attention to the noun they use to describe their advanced schooling, but that distinction is clearly there.

All the bachelor degree granting schools are Universities. They also all show it in their name.
In fact, all the schools in the U.S. show the proper noun in their school name.

Also, many of the large universities call the specific schools within the university a "college". The College of Business is a common one.

Colleges, and many are called "community college", though in essence it's just the name and they are all the same type, are exactly like they are (apparently) in Canada.
They are more advanced vocational schools, and offer a wide variety of classes that typically meet the general education course requirements for 4-year degrees, and almost always transfer. Otherwise, these colleges offer Associates Degrees (2-year), which is basically G.E. courses and a specific vocational focus.

Uh........... false.

 

[Tiamat]

A university has many colleges within it.

 

[rockyct]

Wrong. Numerous Colleges offer Graduate Programs/Degrees

and my university didn't have a PhD program and barely offered masters degrees.