The US Public vs. Private Universities, Which One to Choose?

The US Public vs. Private Universities, Which One to Choose?

After the fall of the Soviet Union in the year 1991, the United States became the sole superpower at the beginning of the 21^st century. Many are the superlatives that we attributed to the United States, such as, it’s the largest economy, it has the most powerful military, and it’s the third most populated country in the world, among other attributes. Regarding this paper’s study, the United States takes the second position in having the most extensive higher education system after being undertaken by China around 2001. These have made America be the top destination for globally mobile students (Roach, 2020)

As seen previously, the American education system offers a diverse and vibrant field of choices for its local and international students. Understanding their education system narrows pupils’ preferences and will help develop a good education plan. These are because it has an array of schools, programs, and location of an institution that their given options tend to overwhelm the students, that means it’s required to familiarize thoroughly with the education system in the United States.

The higher education system in the US differs from others, especially its European counterparts in specific ways. After completing secondary schools, a large number of students are required to at least acquire 2years of university education. These have made community and junior colleges to spring to provide two years of undergraduate learning. On the other hand, the higher institution of learning that offers four-year study courses is either city foundation meaning they depend on financial support from the government or are privately funded foundations (www.britannica, 2020). Each state government is responsible for the funding of the higher education system to ensure the provision of more top education services for the qualified and willing to receive high learning courses.

The study of this paper is mostly to showcase the differences that are there between the privately funded institutions of higher learning and those funded by the State governments. Besides, the paper will cut through characteristics of institutions of senior education in the United States and why they are the best to choose from. Also included is the institutional structure in the United States.

United States Educational Structure

Primary and Secondary Schools

Prior to tertiary education, American pupils attend a combined 12 years of both primary and secondary education, the twelfth grade as commonly known. Elementary schooling starts when one is at the age of six years before proceeding onto secondary school. The secondary school comprises two programs: junior high school and senior high school. Upon graduating secondary level, certificate or a diploma award is offered to give them a chance to qualify for higher learning, (Understanding the American Education System, 2020)

United States Grading System

• Application for universities or colleges demands certified academic transcripts as initial requirements for admission. The official copies of academic work are referred to as grade point average (GPA); this model measures a student’s academic excellence. Before choosing an institution for higher learning in the United States, its crucial to keep in mind that:
• It is important to pay attention to the admission requirements as well as the program that a student wants to join.
• Enquire from an educational adviser to meet the requirements
• Find out the equivalent level of education one has completed especially for international students

United States Academic Year

The academic calendar begins mostly in early September and runs to May or June. International students mostly start their programs in the autumn period.

Types of United States Education

1. State University or College

The local government runs a state school. An individual state runs every state college and university. You will find that these public schools go by the name of the state they are located in, e.g., the University of Michigan under Michigan State.

2. Private University or College

These institutions are privately run, as the term suggests. They have different tuition cover, which is higher compared to state schools. Also included in this category are religiously affiliated colleges and universities. They accommodate students from all religious backgrounds.

3. Community College

These institutions are two-year colleges and awards certifications as well as associate’s degrees. There occurs varying associate’s degree, the distinguishing factor, which is the most important, is whether such a degree is transferable or not. Two packages of degrees close the gap either  academic transfer requirement or diploma award that prepares graduates to the market workforce immediately (www.studyusa.com,2020)

Reasons why the United States is the Holy Grail for Higher Education

• It has the most valued international universities such as Columbia University, Michigan State University, Washington State University, among others. These internationally recognized institutions distinguish learners from peers having similar backgrounds and more so in career experiences. Another chance offered by some of these schools is eLearning for masters, especially to those who can’t afford to go to the US.
• You can choose a variety of subjects to study
• You can be part of their groundbreaking research teams. Students enjoy generous funding that supports many areas of engaged research.
• Easy to overcome culture shock due to their ability to accommodate multicultural environments.
• They have guaranteed achievable career goals after graduation since they provide competitive edge once graduate enters the job market
• Students learn to be self-relied since they get motivated and more independent, a common feature of international students (www.MastersPortal.com, 2020).

United States Public University vs. Private Universities. Which one should you choose?

Public or private, junior College or four-year College, for-profit or non-profit College? All this college jargon is enough to make anyone head spin while looking for an opportunity to join. I have provided a rundown of what to expect and learn:

Funding Sources

Funding is the defining difference between public and private institutions. As covered earlier, private institutions in the United States are primarily supported by their student fee and endowment funds. Public institutions are under the local government. Individual donors also play a role in supporting private universities; for instance, they may require a structure or program named after them. Public schools also receive donor funds.

Attendance Cost

State governments heavily subsidize public universities, enabling them to charge lower tuition rates to students. On the other hand, private universities rely on students fees, which they use to cover their operating expenses. Hence they are expensive.

Availability of Financial Aid

Even though private universities are expensive to attend, they provide a substantial tuition discount more frequently compared to public universities. There is the availability of federal financial aid that is offered to students to fund grants and scholarships, which we see those private universities having more money compared to public universities. The ability of a private university to provide financial aid packages primarily makes them more affordable to join than public universities.

Accreditation

Learning institutions in the United States are accredited either nationally or regionally. The gold standard of certification is regional, as it is associated with the best and highest educational levels. Nearly all private universities are accredited nationally, while public universities are regionally accredited. For-profit private colleges that have no single accreditation should be avoided.

Religious Affiliation

In the United States law, public colleges and universities are secular. There is no single religion that can be affiliated to them. On the other hand, private universities may be religiously affiliated since they are not bound by any legal principle of separation between state and church.

Size

Generally, public colleges are bigger than private universities. These are determined by campus size, student population, and classes. The environment provided in public schools is less intimate, meaning that lecturers are less likely to know their students at all. However, public colleges are more likely to meet the need of students more than privately owned colleges since they are well equipped, especially in entertainment, food, and transport amenities.

Degree Program Offering

Public colleges provide a wide array of classes and degree programs compared to private colleges. The latter offers a narrow range of academic majors for students to choose, especially those that offer liberal arts courses. Students with chosen major are likely to attend private colleges since they are well –regarded in their chosen major. First-year students who are yet to choose a major are better off being in a public university, which provides many available programs.

Extracurricular Activities

Public colleges are better for students whose sports are an essential part of their college experiences. Due to their large size,  public universities will offer a wider variety of extracurricular actives. Public schools produce the vast majority of Division 1 athletic teams in the United States.

Diversity of Student Body

Public and private institutions in the United States are diverse in different ways. Public colleges are more demographically diverse since they offer affordable tuition. On the other hand, private colleges attract learners from various locations as they charge the same tuition fees rate regardless of the state they are located in. The availability of a wide range of academic majors in public colleges enhances more diversity among students.

Prestige Factor

Last but not least, and of debatable interest, the public college ”prestige” differs from that of private universities as highly perceived. In the college ranking, a public university typically places lower than private colleges; they also have less selective admission criteria different from others. Private colleges invest much in employing highly distinguished faculty or sometimes even publish influential academic research. These do not mean that the quality of education offered in private institutions is superior compared to those obtained in public colleges. Still, the argument is that graduates of prestigious institutions are typically more sought after in the job market and career grounds (Garnett, 2020).

Availability of work

These apply to part-time working for students. Public institutions usually have more available jobs for students besides work-study programs that boost students financially and, in return, assist them in paying their tuition. More precisely, you will find that the surrounding community has plenty of opportunities that students can explore to assist them in earning good money. However, these are determined by the type of course you have; you might find more time working compared to a student in private College ( College Raptor Blog, 2020).

Public or Private: Which one to choose?

It’s a question that is debatable, no straight forward response to it. Looking at the cost perspective, private universities cost more, but that is not a guarantee to provide the best academic structure. Similarly, the low cost in public colleges is not translated to produce the best placement record. The critical thing to consider is going by other looked parameters, as discussed earlier, (MBA Crystal Ball, 2020).

The reputation of a public and private College varies from region to region. Most United States and European universities mostly can rank higher or lower base on global or national ranks. International students usually will shell more than local students. These are because students will have almost double expenses considering that they’re required to cover their basic needs such as food, accommodation, and transport, among others.

It is essential to do the math and figure out how much you can stretch yourself financially to meet the fee requirements either in a public or private institution of higher learning in the United States.

Bibliography

College Raptor Blog. 2020. What’s The Difference: Public Vs. Private College – College Raptor Blog. [online] Available at: <https://www.collegeraptor.com/find-colleges/articles/college-search/private-vs-public-colleges-whats-difference/> [Accessed 11 April 2020].

Encyclopedia Britannica. 2020. Higher Education – The System Of Higher Education In The United States. [online] Available at: <https://www.britannica.com/topic/higher-education/The-system-of-higher-education-in-the-United-States> [Accessed 11 April 2020].

Garnett, A., 2020. What’S The Difference Between A Public And Private University?. [online] Edmit.me. Available at: <https://www.edmit.me/blog/whats-the-difference-between-a-public-and-private-university> [Accessed 11 April 2020].

Mastersportal.com. 2020. 7 Reasons Why Students Think the USA Is The Holy Grail Of Higher Education – Mastersportal.Com. [online] Available at: <https://www.mastersportal.com/articles/1216/7-reasons-why-students-think-usa-is-the-holy-grail-of-higher-education.html> [Accessed 11 April 2020].

MBA Crystal Ball. 2020. Public (State) University Vs. Private College: Differences, Pros, And Cons | MBA Crystal Ball. [online] Available at: <https://www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2016/05/16/public-state-university-vs-private-college/> [Accessed 11 April 2020].

Patel, V., 2020. Should I Go To A Public University Or Private College?. [online] Niche. Available at: <https://www.niche.com/blog/should-i-go-to-a-public-university-or-private-college/> [Accessed 11 April 2020].

Roach, E., 2020. Education In The United States Of America. [online] WENR. Available at: <https://wenr.wes.org/2018/06/education-in-the-united-states-of-america> [Accessed 11 April 2020].

Studyusa.com. 2020. Understanding The American Education System. [online] Available at: <https://www.studyusa.com/en/a/58/understanding-the-american-education-system> [Accessed 11 April 2020].