What is the difference between private, state and community colleges?
Private colleges are funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees, research grants, etc. Tuition fees tend to be higher, and generally these institutions are smaller in terms of student population. Private colleges generally focus on undergraduate education and often have financial assistance available for students, though assistance for international students is very limited. State universities tend to be very large, founded and subsidized by U.S. state governments and taxes. Tuition costs are generally lower than at private ones. Community colleges are a less expensive higher education alternative for many. They are community-based institutions, providing two-year associate degree programs, as well as excellent technical and vocational programs. Work completed at community colleges is often transferable to 4-year institutions to count as the first 2 years of a 4 year degree. See your individual institution for details.
