Differences between College and University

In the United States, the word "school" describes any place where people learn. You can call a
college a "school." You can even call a university a "school." You can use the word "school" for any
English language institute, undergraduate or graduate program, or secondary ("high") school.

U.S. university or college follows after high school, or secondary school. A college in the U.S.A. is
not a high school or secondary school. College and university programs begin in the thirteenth
year of school, when a student is 17 or 18 years old or older. A two-year college offers an
associate's degree, as well as certificates. A four-year college or university offers a bachelor's
degree. Programs that offer these degrees are called "undergraduate" schools.

A "university" is a group of schools for studies after secondary school. At least one of these schools
is a college where students receive a bachelor's degree. The other schools in a university are
"graduate" (also known as "postgraduate") schools where students receive advanced degrees.
Therefore, a university offers both the bachelor's degree and graduate degrees such as the
master's (M.A.) and doctorate (Ph.D.).

You can earn a bachelor's degree at either a college or a university. However, students in the
U.S.A. prefer to use the word "college" rather than the word "university" when they talk about
four-year undergraduate programs and the bachelor's degree. They use phrases like,"going to
college" and "a college degree," when they talk about undergraduate programs at either a college
or a university.

Most "colleges" are separate schools. They are not located in a university. Some colleges are part
of a university and are located on the university campus. (The "campus" is the school buildings and
surrounding area). A few colleges offer graduate programs in selected subjects. However, it is
usually universities that offer graduate programs. So, Americans use the word" university" and not
"college" when they talk about graduate study.