Difference between a "college" and a "university?"

[Chiyo-chichi]

Someone has asked me to tell him the diff. I don't think there is a definitive answer. Universities are generally larger & more research-driven. I don't think the designation has to do with degrees conferred. Some colleges award master's (and doctoral?) degrees and not all universities award doctoral degrees.

Any help, DUers?

[barb162]

1. short answer: Universities have multiple colleges

[Chiyo-chichi]

4. right, but...

I mean an institution that calls itself a college instead of a university.

[underpants]

2. A College generally is concentrated on one field

say the College of medicine or the College of business

while a university is a group of several colleges.

[Midlodemocrat]

3. I think it has to do with student population.

I remember reading when Mary Washington College became Mary Washington University it was because of the number of students.

[flamingyouth]

7. I think you're right

Similarly, I recall when Seattle Pacific College became Seattle Pacific University. :hi: :hug:

[Orangepeel]

5. I thought it was an administrative distinction

I'm a bit embarrassed that I don't know for sure, but I thought that it was an administrative distinction in that a College or a School has budgeting and administrative responsibility and that a University was a collection of Colleges.

So, for example, at a College, things like faculty hiring decisions are made by someone like a VP of Administrative Affairs and at a University, the decisions are made by the Dean of the College or School.

:shrug:

[Chiyo-chichi]

6. as I said,

I don't think there is a definitive answer.

Boston "College" also refers to itself as a "university."

Colleges are generally smaller, but I don't think there is a set number of students required to call yourself a university.

[Burma Jones]

8. The Difference I've noticed, besides student population

is that Universities offer advanced degrees and Colleges do not.....

[CatholicEdHead]

12. Exactly

That is it.

[Jamastiene]

9. That reminds me of a British usage question I have.

I have noticed that the British say "university" and "hospital" not "the university" and "the hospital." I wonder if that means we are saying it wrong or what?

I know community college means my frustration having to deal with the small town mentality and less options when it comes to majors I have to choose from. I'd rather be a computer programmer than a computer engineer, but the options aren't that good unfortunately.

[Chan790]

10. There no longer is a difference

however...as many people have pointed out...it used to be that a university was a collection of colleges. That distinction has gone by the wayside as an increasingly large number of colleges have become universities (by definition) and kept their collegiate names (Boston College is the most notable example). In general however in terms of the current academic landscape, colleges (Vassar, Wesleyan, Sarah Lawrence) tend to be smaller (and sometimes more selective and thus prestigious, especially in the northeast) than universities.

Many important colleges are parts of larger universities...for example Columbia U. has both Barnard College and King's College (which was the initial institution and predates the founding of the US) as part of a larger university.

Oxford and St. Andrews, the two most prestigious universitys in the UK, are both organized in this way to this day. Oxford is made up of over 40 different sub-colleges, the most influental and noted of which is Trinity College.

[Chiyo-chichi]

11. so those colleges

were/are not divisions of the university (e.g., College of Arts & Sciences) but were or are separate educational institutions?

[Chan790]

15. Barnard and King's?

Barnard is the women's undergraduate college (co-ed now I believe...but a unique progam...it's kind of hard to explain. It has a sepearate admissions process and is more prestigious.) and King's is the honors college (structured program...their entire day is mapped out, they eat together, round-table discuss together and take an general honors course every semester).

They're part of Columbia now, but I don't know the origins of Barnard (whether it was separate and became part of Columbia or was founded under the Columbia banner). King's is the original Columbia College (changed it's name after the revolution then changed it back to differentiate it from the rest of the undergraduate school founded later.)

They run more like special programs than independent schools now, but maintain limited autonomy over what fulfills their requirements and are headed by a dean who reports to the president of the school.

[amerikat]

13. I was under the impression that Universities offer post graduate degrees

and colleges don't.

[Chiyo-chichi]

14. some colleges definitely offer master's degrees.

[AllegroRondo]

16. Universities can charge more

thats the only real difference I've noticed

[Chan790]

17. Obviously not seen

what the seven sisters are charging lately.

[pdx_prog]

18. about $10,000 a semester...:)