A US university is better than a US college: Really?
What is the difference between a top US college and a top US university? Is there a difference? When a student decides to apply for study in USA, one of the first things they must do is to become familiar with lots of terms that are used in the US but may not be used in other parts of the world. These words or terms may not be used in the same way in other countries. Hence, it is important to understand these terms.
One important difference that international students must know before applying for study in USA is the difference between a college and a university. The good news is there is no difference! Many students think that a US university is better than a US college. But both top US universities and top US colleges are one and the same. A degree earned from a top US university has the same weight and prestige as one that you earn from a top US college. Remember that although in other countries a college is lower than a university, in the United States this is NOT the case.
Schools and Colleges inside Universities:
Many US universities are made up of “colleges” and even “schools”. For example, the University of Pittsburgh has a College of Business and a School of Engineering! While students want to know the difference between the two, there is really no difference. Top US colleges and US universities combine all similar programs (both graduate and undergraduate) into Schools and/or Colleges. So at the University of Pittsburgh, all business programs (finance, management, economics etc) were placed in a division called the College of Business while all engineering programs were placed in a Division called the School of Engineering.
Overseas Education Consultants:
Unfortunately, sometimes overseas education consultants give students the wrong information. They tell students that universities are better than colleges when a student wants to apply for study in the USA. Whether you apply to the best colleges in the US or the best universities in the US, your degree has the same prestige. In fact, many top US colleges are recognized throughout the world. So make sure that when you seek the advice of an overseas education consultant that they give you the best US colleges and best US universities and not just universities.
As an international student who wants to apply for study in the USA, the best thing you can do to ensure your success is to make sure you don’t let anyone misinform you. Remember, in the US, there is no difference between top US colleges and top US universities!
About Dr. Uma Gupta
Dr. Uma G. Gupta brings more than two decades of distinguished experience in higher education as President of the State University of New York at Alfred, New York and Senior Advisor to the SUNY Chancellor for Women in Science, Engineering, Technology, and Mathematics (STEM), Dean of the College of Technology at the University of Houston, Texas, and Endowed Chair of Information Technology at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. She earned her MBA and PhD from the University of Central Florida and is a sought after consultant and speaker. She has authored two text books and more than sixty refereed publications. She is the CEO of PlanetGPA.com and the executive director of STEM-SMART, a non-profit company to help students pursue careers in Science and Technology. She was awarded the top 10 most influential women in technology in Houston, Texas and was nominated for the same award in Rochester, New York.
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