Public Colleges are funded by local and state governments, usually offering lower tuition rates than private colleges, especially for students who are residents of the state where a college is located.

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Private Colleges rely mainly on tuition, fees, and private sources of funding.

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For-Profit Colleges are businesses that offer a variety of degree programs which typically prepare students for a specific career. They tend to have higher costs, which could mean graduating with more debt. Credits earned may not transfer to other colleges.

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Four-Year Colleges offer four-year programs that lead to a bachelor's degree. These include universities and liberal arts colleges.

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Two-Year Colleges offer programs that last up to two years and lead to a certificate or an associate degree. These include community colleges, vocational-technical colleges and career colleges.

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Universities often are larger and offer more majors and degree options—bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees—than colleges. Most universities contain several smaller colleges, such as colleges of liberal arts, engineering or health sciences. These colleges can prepare you for a variety of careers or for graduate study.

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Liberal Arts Colleges offer a broad base of courses in the liberal arts, which includes areas such as literature, history, languages, mathematics and life sciences. Most are private and offer four-year programs that lead to a bachelor's degree. These colleges can prepare you for a variety of careers or for graduate study.

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Community Colleges offer two-year associate degrees that prepare you to transfer to a four-year college to earn a bachelor's degree. They also offer other associate degrees and certificates that focus on preparing you for a certain career. Community colleges are often an affordable option with relatively low tuition.

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Vocational-Technical and Career Colleges, offer specialized training in a particular industry or career. Possible programs of study include the culinary arts, firefighting, dental hygiene and medical-records technology. These colleges usually offer certificates or associate degrees.

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Art Colleges and Conservatories focus on the arts. In addition to regular course work, these colleges provide training in areas such as photography, music, theater or fashion design. Most of these colleges offer associate or bachelor's degrees in the fine arts or a specialized field.

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Traditional Education is a platform offering face-to-face interaction and communication both with instructors and classmates. There is often flexibility as to scheduling with day and evening offerings of courses. These courses require a physical presence by the student in a classroom on a regular basis, so distance to campus is important.

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Online Education is a platform offering course delivery online with no face-to-face interaction.  Interactions will still happen, though online, with videos and discussion groups. Online learning allows more focus on independent learning. A benefit of online study is the flexibility for the student to complete course work at a time best, working around family and other commitments.  Online classes are able to mold into your life schedule. This platform works great for those that have the ability to self-motivate, can set deadlines and prioritize life and classwork.

 

Blended or Hybrid Education is a platform combining the intimacy and face-to-face interaction of a physical classroom with the flexibility and convenience of an online one.