College and Universities come in Many Flavors

For transfer students and adult learners going back to college.
Considering the type of institution is as important as the programs and courses.

What are the general categories of colleges or universities?

Helping You Find Your Way

What Type of College and University Is a Good Fit for Me? Explore the differences between institutions and find the best College and Degree path that serves your circumstances and interest.

There are many types of higher educational institutions across the United States which is part of the reason why college transfer can be problematic switching colleges, changing majors and petitioning for course credit transfer. Generally, institutions within the education sector have trouble respecting the educational outcomes provided by other institutions, even though the course, content and level of instruction is near identical. What Type of College and University Is a Good Fit for Me?

Well, begin exploring the differences between institutions. Find the best College and Degree path that serves your circumstances and interests by understanding their environments - and what is driving institutional mission. Below is a list of institutions and suggestions tied to sample goals:

Community College	You are interested in a local school where you can commute. Programs of study are middle of the road focused on mainstream occupational demands.
Regional State University	You are interested in a good education that you can afford. Programs of study and faculty are varied. Strong departments and faculty. Looking for a credential that will have some weight in your job search.
Private Independent Small College	You are interested in a small learning environment with direct connections to other students like you. Student and faculty ratios are low, allowing more time for advising. The social network is just as important as the academic experience.
Private Independent Large College	You are interested in the academic and social environment. You are looking for diversity. Programs of study are spread across schools and departments. These schools have a very competitive student body. Given the size of the student body, advising is not as pronounced, but that is okay because you pretty much know what you have to do to complete the degree.
Online University You College or University	You are interested in self-paced programs of study and courses that give you flexibility. The programs of study are generally more limiting than traditional programs. Many employers have grown to respect OnlineUniversity, YouUniversity and You degrees. The social and environmental exposure to other students and faculty to challenge you is limited.
Large State or Land Grant University	You are interested in being in a large pool of students and a well known school. Schools are usually focused on residency requirements. Schools with 50,000 students makes going to a main campus like living in a small city. You want to find you niche and socialize with others like you. Given the size of the student body, it is likely you will find others akin to you.
For-Profit College or University	You are interested in attending an institution with a smaller enrollment or online. For-Profit colleges and universities are becoming known for their focus on customer service and accessibility. They provide a high degree of academic coaching and advising support, and they are one of the fasting growing segments in higher education. Generally, the diversity of academic programs is less and there is little, if any research led learning.
International College or University	You are interested in possible study abroad and studying other cultures and societies. Linked programs with US Based Colleges and Universities. Learning languages, the context of history and sociology is important.
Religious College or University	You are interested in a small college or university setting sharing your values and beliefs. Usually small class sizes. Student groups advocate for social events and fellowship.
Junior College	You are interested in a small private two-year college that usually focuses on special programs of study, offers very good faculty to student ratios and above average advising
Technical College	You are interested in a technical curriculum with hands on instruction, which is vocational and career oriented focus. All technical careers involve interactions with technology and the state of the art is continually changing. Having faculty who have the experience is important to help you gain insights into best practices.

SEARCH College and University TRANSFER PROFILES to find and compare transfer policies and information published by institutions. Over 1,200 colleges and universities have profiles published on CollegeTransfer.Net making it the largest repository of its kind. These special profiles are unique, since they are the only profiles focused on prior learning recognition policies in the US.

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This article was written by AcademyOne's CEO and Founder David K. Moldoff who has worked in higher education for over thirty five years. Mr. Moldoff has been developing student centered enrollment systems since the 70's spanning multiple institutions, policies and practices. Mr. Moldoff graduated from Drexel University through the cooperative education program and majored in economics with a minor in marketing.