What are the differences between private and public universities in the US?

Private universities in the US tend to be more expensive, and are either small liberal arts colleges of elite research institutions. Therefore public universities are more attractive to students with less financial means. Top public universities seem to be very large, whereas many top private schools are smaller, and may have only a few thousand students. The public ones can have as many as 42,000 undergraduates, so it’s less of a personal experience. Students who want a wide choice of majors can find them at public universities. In a single large public university, undergraduates will be enrolled in academic programs ranging from traditional liberal arts to highly specialized technical fields.  Private colleges offer a smaller range of majors, but often have a particular academic focus. Some private colleges may emphasize the liberal arts or the fine arts, for instance, while others focus on engineering and computer science.