StudentUniversity vs. College
University vs. College
As a general rule, colleges tend to be smaller and usually offer only undergraduate degrees, while a university also offers graduate degrees. However, degree-granting institutions in the United States can be called by either of these terms, and colleges and institutes are in no way considered inferior to universities.

Within each college or university you will find schools, such as the school of arts and sciences or the school of business. Each school is responsible for the degree programs offered by the college or university in that area of study.

The nomenclature ?Institute? usually indicates specialization in degree programs in a group of closely related subject areas, so you will also come across degree programs offered at institutes of technology, institutes of fashion, institutes of art and design, and so on.

In Canada, however, colleges and universities are different institutions. Here, universities focus on academic and professional programs. Colleges tend to be more directly career-oriented than universities and offer practical or hands-on training. They generally offer certificate programs, which may be 1 year or less, or a diploma program which is 2 or 3 years. However, some colleges of applied arts and technology may also offer Bachelor degrees in applied areas of study.

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