By Kelly Tracy
Many students who are studying English as a second language speak of “going to university” in the United States. However, did you know that a university is only one of several options for higher education? There are several kinds of post-secondary (that means “after high school”) schools that you can study at as an international student. Below, we’ll describe these kinds of schools.
University – A university is a school of higher education that offers both four-year undergraduate (also called bachelor’s) and graduate (master’s, doctorate, etc.) degrees. They are often, but not always, large schools.
College – In general, an American college is a school that offers either 2-year associate’s or 4-year undergraduate degrees.
Colleges offering associate’s degrees are often called community colleges because students tend to be from the local community. After studying at one of these schools, a student can continue at another college or university for two more years to earn a bachelor’s degree or go straight into the workforce.
A bachelor’s degree from a college is equal to one from a university.
A college can also refer to an academic division of a university, such as the College of Education, College of Business, or College of Arts and Sciences. In addition, Americans casually use the word college to refer to any type of post-secondary education, just as people in other countries sometimes use university.
Vocation School – A vocational school, also called a trade school or technical school, focuses on teaching practical skills for a particular career field. Some vocational school focus on one field, such as cosmetology, computers, or auto mechanics, while others offer a variety of fields. Most offer certificates or diplomas for completing a program of study; a few may also offer associate’s or bachelor’s degree programs.
While universities and college require foreign students to have an F-1 visa, vocational schools require an M-1 visa.
A few things to know about all these schools:
- With the exception to vocational schools, all will require core classes in a broad range of general subjects, including math, history, science, English literature and composition, and more.
- Schools may be public or private. This distinction describes how the school is funded, not who may attend as a student. Some private schools are affiliated with a church; others are not.
- Public schools are generally a less expensive option for U.S. residents who choose a school in their home state.
- If you are not a U.S. Resident, you must pay the out-of-state tuition rate for any school.
- Some schools may offer financial aid for international students. Contact the school’s financial aid office to find out