The differences between Private and Public Universities in the US are cost, size, degree offering, and how they are funded.

Private Universities are small intimate learning environments with at most a few thousand students and a higher diversity ratio then Public Universities. The Private University size plays a role in the number and even type of degree offerings. Many Private Universities specialize in Engineering, Liberal Arts or Business. Additionally, Private Universities have more freedom in the curriculum they offer, campus culture, and religious affiliation.

Public Universities can have upward of 42,000 students enrolled a year, with class sizes averaging 200 students. Public Universities on average recruit students from within their State by offering lower tuition costs then out-of-state students, thus limiting the diversity ratio of students attending Public University. Public Universities with their larger campus and student size have a wider variety of degree offerings. How the University is funded correlates to the tuition cost. Private Universities rely solely on tuition and donations to fund them. Public Universities do receive donations however, they are primarily funded by State Legislation, as they were founded by the State they reside in.

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.