Are “colleges” and “institutes” in the U.S. as good as “universities”?
Degree-granting institutions in the United States can be called by any of these terms, and colleges and institutes are in no way inferior to universities. As a general rule, colleges tend to be smaller than universities and usually offer only undergraduate degrees, while universities offer graduate degrees. Note: a Junior College/Community College or 2-Year College is not the same as a 4-year college. Community Colleges offer Associate degrees, not Bachelor’s degrees. Students may attend a Junior College or two-year college and then transfer to a 4-year college or university to complete their degree.
