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Public Universities vs Private Universities in the US

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Aug 02, 2017
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How likely is it that the way an institution is funded is taken into consideration when it comes to picking a university to attend? The factor of the institution being privately or publicly funded would not come up on top as opposed to a more common or obvious factor such as the university's reputation or its distance from home.

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To bring attention to this factor, here we have a list of things you should know when it comes to choosing between a public university and a private one in the US.

What does publicly funded and privately funded mean?

Publicly funded: Universities that are publicly funded obtain some funding from their respective state governments.

Privately funded: Universities that are privately funded rely heavily on tuition funds and private contributions.

 

What is affected when an institution is publicly or privately funded?

1. Cost of tuition fees

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image via Independent Voter Network

Public universities: The influx of funding from the state governments allow publicly funded universities to subsidise the cost of tuition.

Private universities: The tuition rates at privately funded universities are generally higher due to the fact that they do not receive funds from state legislatures.

 

2. Educational choices

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image via oupeltglobalblog.com

Public universities: There is typically a wider choice of majors offered at publicly funded universities. This may appeal to school leavers who are undecided of what to major in.

Private universities: Privately funded universities on the other hand offer a smaller range of majors which allows them to have a particular academic focus.

 

3. The size of classes

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image via jinchen.us

Public universities: Some classes at public universities may have up to 200 students enrolled in it.

Private universities: Classes at private universities are smaller. This ensures more one-on-one interaction between students and tutors.

 

4. Demographic

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image via Times Higher Education

Public universities: In-state students make up the majority at public universities due to the fact that they have a higher chance of admission as opposed to students who apply from out of state.

Private universities: There is a greater geographical diversity among students in private universities because they do not prioritise state residency.

 

See also: Top 10 Public US Universities

See also: Top 10 Private US Universities

For a more localised take on this issue, you may read it here.