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Technical Colleges (Private for Profit)
Private technical colleges are in business to 
make a profit (money) from teaching students 
skills in majors such as auto mechanic, nursing, 
electronics technician, computer graphics, 
accounting, secretary, and others.  Courses of 
study (majors) cost thousands of dollars and 
takes from 6 months to 2 years to complete.  
Graduating students receive Certificates in the 
majors.  Certificates qualify graduates for:  	a) job openings	, or 	b) state exams	 that a student must pass to 	
get the job license (such as nursing, auto technician, or radiologic technician).  Classes taken at a private 
technical college usually cannot be transferred to count for public community or four-year college majors.  
If students wish to continue their education after private technical college, they must enroll as freshmen 
(first-year students) at community colleges or four-year colleges.  If a private technical college advertises 
that its classes transfer, call the community or four-year college counselor and ask if the technical college 
classes can be transferred for credit to the community or four-year college.  Always verify (check out) any 
information given to you by a private technical college since this college is in business to make money .
 
Community Colleges (Public NonProfit) — 4 Advantages
Most community colleges are two-year 	public	 colleges which are supported by taxpayers in the state.  	
1) Community colleges are far 	less expensive than private technical colleges	.  2) Community colleges 	
are 	near your home 	so that you can drive to classes each day.  3) Community colleges allow 	part-time or 	
full-time attendance	; therefore, many students hold jobs and attend college in afternoons or evenings.  	
4) Community colleges have 	low (or easy) admission requirements	 so students can enroll even if their 	
high school grades are not the best — or even if students did not graduate from high school.  Community 
colleges give a students opportunity to:  a) Improve academic skills such as reading, writing, and math; 
b) Complete classes not completed in high school that are  needed to transfer to four-year colleges.
Community colleges offer three programs:  	1) One- to two-year job training 	Certificate majors	; and 	
2) One- to two-year	 Licensing programs	 for jobs that require that a worker to obtain a state license before 	
starting the job (such as pilot, electrician, and nurse).  Certificates and licensing programs lead directly 
to jobs such as electronics technician, dental hygienist, graphic designer, animal health technologist, auto 
mechanic, medical assistant, radiologic technician, and others.  Most classes taken at a community college 
for a Certificate or license may be transferred to four-year colleges.  	3) Associate of Arts (A.A.) or 	
Associate of Science (A.S.) degrees 	which are equivalent (equal) to the first two 	
years of a four-year college.  It takes two years, full time, at a community 
college to earn an Associate degree.  Students must complete:  a) one year of 
general education classes, and b) one year of a major.  The types of majors for an 
Associate degree are:  1) 	Job major	 (such as Drafting); 2) 	Subject major	 (such 	
as History); 3) 	Transfer major 	to prepare to transfer to 4-year colleges.
Types of Colleges  (page 1 of 2)	
Types of Colleges

Types of Colleges (page 2 of 2)	
1. a) Why are private technical college in 
 business?  b) How much do majors cost?  
 c) How long may the courses last?  
 d) What do graduates receive?  e) For what 2 	
things do Certificates qualify graduates  f) Do 
classes transfer to public colleges?  g) What do 
you always verify?	
2.    a) By whom are public community colleges 	
supported?  b) List 4 advantages of community 
college.  c) What 2 things do community 	
 colleges give students opportunity to do?  
3. List 3 programs community colleges offer. 
4. List 3 types of majors for the Associate degree.
5. a) For what words do initials AA stand?  AS? 
QUICK CHECK:
Four-Year Colleges & Universities
Both colleges and universities grant:  	Bachelor of Arts (BA) 	and	 Bachelor of Science (BS)	 to students 	
who complete four years — two years of General Education and two years of a major .  	Master of Arts 	
(MA) and Master of Science (MS) 	— for two more years of studies after Bachelor degree.  	
Doctorate degrees (PhD) 	for	 one to two more years of studies after Master degree.  Universities: 1) offer 	
more Master and Doctorate majors.  2) Offer "professional" degrees — chiropractic, 
dentistry, law, medicine, pharmacy, podiatry, theology, veterinary medicine.
Four-Year Colleges & Universities (Public)
Public colleges and universities are built by your state and funded by taxpayers in your 
state to:  1) Train students for jobs;  2) Serve state's students; therefore, charge higher 
tuition fees to out-of-state students; 3) Make education affordable for students in your 
state.  That is why public colleges are much less expensive than private colleges.	
Four-Year Colleges & Universities (Private)
Private colleges and universities  may be built by:  	1) religious groups	 (Baptist, Catholic, Jewish, 	
Seventh-day Adventist, other); 	2) Special purpose groups	 (Embry-Ribble Aeronautical University); or 	
3) Special population group	 (Spelman College for African-American women).  Private colleges are 	
supported by donations (gifts of money) and alumni (graduates).  
United States Service Academies: 	 U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York (Army); U.S. Naval 	
Academy at Annapolis, Maryland (Navy/Marine Corps); U.S. Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, 
Colorado; and U.S. Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut. 
Ivy League: 	 Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard 	
University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, Yale University.
Big Ten (Athletic Conference): 	 University of Illinois, Indiana University, University of Iowa, University 	
of Minnesota, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Maryland, Uni	-	
versity of Nebraska, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State 
University, Purdue University, Rutgers University, University of Wisconsin-Madison.	
6. a) List the initials of the 5 degrees 	
both colleges and universities grant.  
b) What 2 things do universities offer more of?	
7. List 3 "professional" degrees.
8. List 3 things public colleges are built to do.
9. List 3 groups who may build a private college.
10. What is the name of the college for the:  
 a) Army?  b) Air Force?  c) Coast Guard ?
11. What is the name of one Ivy League college?
12. What number of colleges are in the Big 10 
 Athletic Conference? (Tip - Answer is not 10)
13. a) Write down the type of college you may enjoy 
 attending.  b) Write down a few reasons why 	
you selected that type of college.  c) Write down 
three majors you may enjoy in that college.