Public vs. Private Colleges

• Public colleges and universities are funded by local and state governments. These schools usually offer lower tuition rates than private colleges, especially for in-state students. ​

  • Examples: UNC - Chapel Hill, East Carolina University, North Carolina Central University, UNC - Greensboro​

• Private colleges rely mainly on tuition, fees, and private sources of funding. Private donations can sometimes provide generous financial aid packages for students. 

  • Examples: Duke University, Campbell University, University of Mount Olive, Davidson College ​

For-Profit Colleges

• For-Profit Colleges are businesses that offer a variety of degree programs which typically prepare students for a specific career. These schools tend to have higher costs, lower graduation rates, and their credits may not transfer to other colleges.​

  • Examples: Universal Technical Institute, Devry University​

Two-Year vs. Four-Year Colleges 

• Two-Year Colleges offer programs that last up to 2 years that lead to a certificate or associate's degree. Many also offer programs to transfer to a four-year institution after 2 years and receive a bachelor's degree. Two-year colleges are typically cheaper and can be great options for those interested in more technical careers or in saving money before completing a four-year degree. Two-year schools include community colleges, vocational-technical colleges, and career colleges. 

  • Examples: Durham Tech, Alamance Community College, Louisburg College ​

• Four-Year Colleges offer programs that typically take four years to complete and lead to a bachelor's degree. These include universities and liberal arts colleges. 

  • Examples: UNC-Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University, Shaw University, Guilford College ​

Liberal Arts Colleges

• These colleges offer a broad base of courses in the liberal arts, which includes ares such as literature, history, languages, math, and life sciences. Most are private and offer 4-year bachelor's degree programs. These colleges can prepare you for a variety of careers or graduate study. ​

  • Examples: Davidson College, Guildford College, UNC-Asheville ​

Universities

• Universities are often larger and offer more majors and degree options - bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees - than colleges. ​

  • Examples: UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, Wake Forest University, UNC-Greensboro​

Community Colleges 

• Community Colleges offer 2-year associate's degrees that prepare you to transfer to a four-year college to earn a bachelor's degree. They also offer other associate's degrees and certificate programs that focus on preparing you for a certain career. Community colleges are often an affordable option with relatively low tuition. 

  • Examples: Durham Tech Community College, Alamance Community College ​