The United States has a wide variety of institutions that provide higher education. There are so many options that it can be very overwhelming for international students to understand the different choices. One of the more common questions asked by international students is what is the difference between a public and private university?

What’s the Difference?

The most obvious difference is the price. Public universities are less expensive than private universities. Private universities can cost well over $100,000 for a four-year degree. While public universities might be less expensive. Private universities tend to be more geographically diverse as the tuition is the same price for students regardless of whether they live in the state that the university is in. Alternately, public universities are more demographically diverse due to the lower cost of tuition.

Public University

A public university, also commonly called a state university, is funded by the public through the government of that state. For example, UCLA is a public university and is funded by the state of California. Every state in the USA has a public university or college.

• University of West Georgia

• University of Florida ELI

• University of North Alabama

• Los Angeles City College

• South Dakota State University

• University of North Carolina at Pembroke

• Mission College

• Los Angeles Pierce College (CA)

• Santa Monica College

• University of California, Irvine

• Olympic College

• California State University at Dominguez Hills

Private University

A private university is not funded or operated by the government. For example, Loyola Marymount University is not funded by the state of California but is partially funded by endowments that are given by private donors. Every state in the USA has private universities or colleges.

• University of San Diego

• Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies

• Manhattan College

• Berkeley College

• Northwest School

• American University – International Accelerator

• Baylor University

• University of Tampa

• Lipscomb University

• Western New England University

In case you missed it, rewatch our informative live session to Understand the U.S. Education System.

How to Choose Between a Public vs Private University

So, how do you decide? Ask yourself what is important to you when considering a college or university:

• Size—if you like the idea of a big campus with many people, a public university may be a great choice. If you thrive in smaller environments, you might consider a private university or college.

• Cost—no matter where you live, public universities are likely going to cost less. However, if cost is not a major concern, considering private universities allows you to look at a wider variety of schools.

• Major—if you have a specific major, degree, or program in mind, make sure the private universities on your list offer it before applying. If they do not, consider that public universities will have more options and a greater number of faculty, as well as graduate programs.

Check out our other articles below:

• Scholarships for Every Type of Student Who Wants to Study in the USA
• How to Get Your U.S. Student Visa
• What is a GPA?
• Is an MBA Right for You?

There are many highly reputable private and public universities in America. Although, according to U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, the first 19 institutions are private universities. That is not to say there aren’t prestigious public universities in the USA. There are many highly ranked public universities; lower tuition does not equate to lower quality education

Brianna Burrows is a freelance marketing specialist and alumna of Northeastern University. She specializes in event management, social media management, and content branding. Follow her on Twitter here.