Boston College, Alabama University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Oberlin Conservatory of Music. They’re all “colleges,” right? In a way, yes. They are all a part of the higher education experience, but there are differences amongst these higher education institutions. Higher ed. falls into categories that offer different benefits to students and can help, in different ways, to prepare them for their future. Here we will discuss six of the most common kinds.
Liberal arts colleges: These are usually smaller and often private colleges (Velasco, 2020).
They have professors that teach students a wide variety of courses in addition to courses focusing on a student's major (“The Different Types of Colleges,” n.d.). These institutions usually offer concentrations in the arts, sciences, math, and humanities (Velasco, 2020). Students graduate with a bachelor’s degree, but they may be on track to enter into a graduate program post-graduation (College Board, n.d.). While a liberal arts college can be a stand alone institution, it can also be part of a larger institution, most commonly a university (“The Different Types of Colleges,” n.d.)
Universities: Universities are larger institutions that may be public or private, and they are often comprised of subsections called colleges. These colleges might be a liberal arts college, which offers a variety of majors, or they may be more career specific such as a college of education or a college of business (“The Different Types of Colleges,” n.d.). In addition to being larger in terms of the number of courses and concentrations that they offer, universities also offer additional degrees when compared to a college, including bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees (College Board, n.d.).
Art Colleges: As the name suggests, these schools focus on the arts and give students an education tailored to the field of their choosing, whether it be music, digital arts, dance, theatre, or something else. Upon graduation, students earn a bachelors of fine arts degrees, which differs from a bachelor's of art or bachelor's of science degree (Velasco, 2020). While some of these schools may be labeled with "College of the Arts" or similar titles, others are called "conservatories."
Technical/Research Schools: These institutions go by a number of different names but have a similar goal of preparing students to work in the science and researching fields. Professors usually conduct research in addition to teaching courses, and there are some research opportunities for students to assist, but they tend to go to grad or doctoral students instead of undergrads (Velasco, 2020). Many people may confuse technical schools with vocational schools, but technical schools “teach theory and science behind the occupation” (Revermann, 2016, para. 1).
Vocational Schools: As mentioned above, people often confuse technical and research schools with vocational schools, but vocational schools focus on teaching the skills and hands on work behind a profession (Revermann, 2016). They offer certificates and, in some instances, associate degrees for specific fields such as firefighting, the culinary arts, or dental hygiene (College Board, n.d.).
Community Colleges: Also known as junior colleges, community colleges offer two-year programs that include the beginnings of a liberal arts curriculum (usually the general education requirements) in addition to some vocational training (“The Different Types of Colleges,” n.d.). Individuals graduate from a community college with an associate degree, and the courses are designed to make for an easy transfer to a four-year institution (Velasco, 2020). Some community colleges offer certificates as well as associate degrees (College Board, n.d.).
Each kind of higher education institution offers a different experience and different benefits for attendees. Figuring out which one is right for you may be overwhelming, but putting your research in to decide which type of program is best for obtaining your goals will make your post-high school experience more rewarding.
References
College Board. (n.d.). Types of Colleges: The Basics. Big Future. Retrieved September 13, 2021,
from https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/find-colleges/college-101/types-of-colleges-the-
basics.
Revermann, S. (2016, September 29). What is the Difference Between Vocational & Technical
Courses? Seattlepi. Retrieved September 13, 2021, from
https://education.seattlepi.com/difference-between-vocational-technical-courses-
3063.html
The Different Types of Colleges. Cappex. (n.d.). Retrieved September 13, 2021, from
https://www.cappex.com/articles/match-and-fit/the-different-types-of-colleges.
Velasco, J. (2020, June 12). Every Kind of College and University Defined. College Raptor.
Retrieved September 13, 2021, from
https://www.collegeraptor.com/find-colleges/articles/college-search/every-kind-of-
college-and-university-defined/.