Institutions of higher education in the United States usually fall into
one of two categories: public and private. Public colleges and
universities are tax-supported schools controlled by a local or state
governmental authority. Private colleges receive funding from a
nongovernmental agency, which also establishes and oversees the
operation of the schools. Public institutions usually offer lower
tuition rates than private colleges, which typically have a variety of
scholarships available to offset the cost of attending the school.
Students who are residents of the state in which they plan to attend a
public college pay lower tuition than students considered out-of-state
enrollees. Typically, international students who come to the United
States for college must pay the out-of-state tuition price. Private universities are sometimes religiously affiliated and may have a smaller, more closely knit student body. This is not always the case, however. For instance, not all public schools have large student bodies. Both public and private institutions feature attentive faculty and staff members and offer a high-quality curriculum.
To help you determine whether a public or private university is right for you, talk to some people who attended a U.S. college or university. If possible, visit the campus you're interested in attending to get a firsthand look at life inside and outside the classroom. Or the public and private schools you're interested in attending may be able to put you in contact with alumni. Ask them how attending that particular type of institution affected their college experience. And if financial matters are a concern, check out whether a private or public school will be able to offer you the financial aid package you'll need to make higher education a reality.
