It is a tough question to answer because, in the United States at least, the two terms are often used interchangeably.

“Colleges are smaller!” “Universities award graduate degrees.”

While those statements are often true, there are many exceptions to the rule. Dartmouth College has four graduate divisions and over 6,000 students. Soka University of America has a student body of just over 400 and one very small graduate degree offered.

Frequently, parents that have been educated outside of the US equate the term “college” with a less competitive institution or junior college program, as is the case in their home country. This is not the case. Some of the most selective and highly competitive institutions in the US are small liberal arts colleges.

Our advice? Forget the term and do some digging into the institution’s programs, philosophy, and culture. Otherwise, you’re likely to miss out on a perfect match for you!