Universities, Colleges and Institutes

Colleges tend to be smaller and usually offer only undergraduate degrees.
University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.
The words "school," "college," and "university" will be used interchangeably throughout this article.
Institute is usually speciallizes on a specific degree program in a group of closely related subject area like institute of art and etc.

Within each college or university you will find schools, such as the school of arts and sciences or the school of business. Each school is responsible for the degree programs offered by the college or university in that area of study.

State Universities

These kind of universities are founded by U.S. state governments for example Texas or Michigan to provide low-cost education to American citizens. They also called public universities to make a difference between State Universities and private Universities, colleges and institutes. State universities are normally very large with 20.000 or more students and mostly enrol a wider range of students than private universities. International students, as well as those from other states, are considered out-of-state residents and therefore do not benefit from reduced tuition at state institutions. In addition, international students may have to fulfill higher admission requirements than in-state residents.

Private Universities

These kind of schools are paid for by a sponsorships, tuition fees, research grants, and gifts from their alumni. As usually  fees are higher at private schools than at state universities, but students from outside of the state don't pay anymore than those from the state. Colleges with a religious affiliation and single-sex colleges are private. In general, private universities have enrollments of fewer than 20,000 students, and private colleges may have 2,000 or fewer students on their campuses.

Community Colleges

Community colleges offer associate degree programs(courses) such as the associate of arts or associate of sience degrees with excellent technical and vocational programs.Community colleges are community-based institutions with close links to secondary schools, community groups, and employers, and many U.S. students live close to campus with their families. Community colleges can be public or private institutions and are sometimes called junior colleges or two-year colleges. A growing number of international students are choosing to study at community colleges. Tuition costs are often lower at two-year than at four-year institutions, and many have agreements to allow students on transfer programs to move easily into the third year of a bachelor's degree at the local state university.

Technical and Vocational Colleges

These institutions specialize in preparing students for entry into, or promotion within, the world of work. They offer certificate and other short-term programs that train students in the theory behind a specific vocation or technology, as well as in how to work with the technology. Programs usually last two years or less. There are several thousand technical and vocational colleges across the United States, and they may be private or public institutions. Further information is provided in 'Short-Term Study.'