The major difference between state and private colleges is that state colleges receive a portion of their funding through the government. That is, portions of each of the state’s citizen’s taxes are applied to maintaining the finances of the school.
Because state colleges are funded by the state’s tax payers, each citizen of the state is also allowed to attend their state’s college at a lower fee than that of a student whose home is in another state. This is why tuition from out of state students is always higher unless they have a scholarship.
Private colleges are privately funded through tuition as well as donations and profit through investments. Private colleges are without a doubt more expensive than state colleges. However, it is important to remember that the value of your college education is not necessarily determined by the cost.
Students are allowed to attend a state college in a state other than the one where they live at a fee that is a bit higher than that of a state resident. Tuition for a state college even outside of your home state will always be lower however than that of a private college.
Both private and state colleges offer scholarships based on merit. Financial aide is also available for both.
Many students will obtain an associate’s or bachelor’s degree from a state college, and then move on to a private college to obtain a master’s degree or a doctorate.
For most college bound students, the key determining factors in selecting a college are a combination of available funds, and scholastic achievement. In other words, the higher your grade point average is in high school, the better your chances are of receiving a scholarship to a private college. This is of course assuming that you meet all other criteria of the school.
The most important thing to remember when choosing a college is accreditation. As long as your college of choice is accredited, then your degree will be a valuable asset. Remember, the differences between state and private colleges are not as important as the education that you receive.
