What's the Difference Between a College and a University?

Universities are typically larger than colleges because they are usually comprised of several colleges, ranging from single-digit conglomerations to those made up of more than a dozen different colleges. Harvard University, for example, has 12 degree-granting schools within the university, while Texas A&M University has 17 degree-granting colleges. Collectively, these colleges make up their respective universities.

But the differences don't end there. Some colleges grant only one type of degree, such as a two-year associate degree or a four-year bachelor's degree. Most colleges don't offer graduate degrees at all, though there are some that do. Universities, on the other hand, offer four-year bachelor's degrees at their various colleges, and have the distinction of also offering advanced degrees in their post-college graduate degree programs. In addition, both colleges and universities can offer professional programs that culminate with certificates. These programs are short-term and certify that students who complete them are fluent in a specialized skill, such as web development or business administration.

Often, selecting the right college versus selecting the right university means striking a balance between receiving personalized attention as a student and attending an institution that offers the desired major. "The biggest advantage of attending a college as an undergraduate is that professors are more focused on teaching you, rather than focusing on their graduate students and their research. The disadvantage is that a college may have fewer majors to choose from than a university," says Benjamin Caldarella, co-founder of Princeton College Consulting in an email interview. "If you want more majors, that is the biggest advantage to most universities."

In general, post-secondary educational institutions — whether colleges or a universities — fall into one of three categories: public nonprofit, private nonprofit or for-profit. A college or university is classified as a public nonprofit school if it receives funding from state taxes. Because tuition is subsidized by state taxpayer monies at state colleges or universities, tuition is often less costly at these public universities than at a private college. Private colleges or universities rely on donations, endowments and, to a greater extent than public institutions, donations. However, that doesn't mean the higher tuitions at private colleges or universities are necessarily out of reach; many will offer aid to students with demonstrated financial need.

Another big difference between colleges and universities is size. Private colleges tend to have a smaller number of students than public universities. While a private college may top out at 2,000 students, a university may have a student body that is 15,000 or 20,000 strong.

The college versus university question also involves the number of students that comprise a typical class size. "Universities often have massive freshman and sophomore classes, with 75 to 200 students in a class, and these classes are often led by graduate students. The classes at a college will usually have 35 students in a class, and have direct teaching and interaction with senior professors," says Christie Barnes, author of "The Paranoid Parents Guide: College Edition" in an email interview. "But remember, Biology 101 is pretty much the same whether or not the college is a flagship university or a community college."

The idea that it's more difficult to earn a degree at a large university is largely a myth. "[Is a university] better or harder? Not necessarily. Some of the best and most rigorous institutions of higher education are colleges," says Caldarella.

The truth is, most coursework is designed to be of similar difficulty, whether it is taught at a college or a at a university. And, there are a lot of other factors that come into play. "Any choice of college or university should be based how the individual fits the learning experience and environment, and not making the student fit the profile of the 'ideal student' at a college or university," says Barnes. "Find the best fit, and the most affordable. Any [college or university] will be good if the student has access to internships and great teachers who can mentor the student."