Private and Public Universities Compare and Contrast Essay
Introduction
Various factors determine the choice of a university, including the location, program of study, costs involved, and the environment (Department of Homeland Security, 2013). These factors are therefore essential in choosing to join either a public university or a public university. The premise of the current essay is to explore the similarities and differences between a public university and a private university.
Similarities
One major similarity between private and public universities is that both are characterised by a diverse student body. In this case, students from ethnic minority races, those with learning difficulties, and/or intellectual abilities are likely to be admitted to either of these types of learning institutions. Both private and public universities also share similarities in terms of programs or courses offered (Bentley University, 2015), not to mention that they both offer diverse cutting-edge equipment and learning facilities to enable students realise their academic success. Another similarity between public and private universities is that in boost type of academic institutions, there is emphasis on student learning and self-improvement. This is because the purpose of education is to challenge the student intellectually, regardless of whether you attend a private university on a public one (Bentley University, 2015). However, some private universities are renowned for their rigorous academic programs which they take pride in, although many public universities also carry more prestige for their strong academic achievements.
Differences
Private universities and public universities differ in terms of funding. This often affects students as the source of funding is associated with tuition fees. For most public universities, the state governments act as the main sponsor. State and federal governments thus pay the tuition fees of students in public universities, in addition to also offsetting their operational costs. Consequently, public universities tend to have much lower tuition fees than private universities. This leads to a heavy subsidy on the cost of attending public universities. In contrast, private universities are largely dependent on tuition fees charged to their students for their operational needs, as well as the occasional funding from affiliated organisations, such as religious affiliates. This explains why private universities have to charge higher tuition in order to cater to their educational needs (Peterson's, 2017). However, the issue of cost is equally tricky, especially if there is out-of-state public tuition involved. In this case, some private universities may actually be cheaper than public universities (Bentley University, 2015).
Public and private universities also differ with regard to the size of the student population and the degree offered. Public universities are relatively larger with some public universities having a student population that runs into hundreds of thousands. For example, the University of London has a student population of over 170, 000 (The University of London, 2017). Conversely, private universities are relatively smaller, with some having only a few thousand students. Public universities also give students a wide range of majors to choose from. A large public university enrols undergraduate students in varied academic programs including liberal arts and highly specialised disciplines like engineering. Private universities, on the other hand, offer only a handful of majors, with most sticking to a specific academic focus. For example, some private universities may focus on computer science or fine arts (Peterson's, 2017). The average public universities in the United States have a student population of 43,186 (Friedman, 2016) whereas the average private university in the United States has a student population of 1,920.
Both private and public universities also differ in terms of class size and demographics. Private colleges retain small classes. The smaller, student-professor ratio in private universities encourages the development of a close-knit study environment where students can get one-on-one attention from their professors (Bentley University, 2017). This environment is absent in most public universities where 200 or more students could be enrolled in a single class, and more so in lower-division courses. However, classes in public universities mean that students have access to more facilities for their social and educational purposes, more networking opportunities, and increased diversity (Fortenbury, 2013). The demographic ratio of students enrolled in private universities is different from that of students in public universities. For instance, public universities are more likely to admit a higher number of in-state students who also pay lower tuition in comparison with the out-of-state students admitted to the same university (Peterson's, 2017). On the other hand, private universities are not overly concerned about the state residency of students seeking admission and for this reason, the student body in private universities is characterised by enhanced geographical diversity.
Conclusion
The debate of whether private universities are better than public universities and vice versa is an old one. However, various factors determine the choice of attendance, including cost, location, and environment. That said, private universities differ from public universities in terms of source of funding, size of student population and courses offered, and class size and demographics. All of these factors determine the academic performance and prestige of a university and by extension, the choice by student on which of the two to attend.
References
Bentley University (2015). Public vs. Private Universities: Which Is Better for Grad Students?
Department of Homeland Security. (2013). What is a Public University? What is a Private University?
Should you choose a public or private college?
Friedman, J. (2016). 10 Universities With the Most Undergraduate Students.
Petterson's (2017). Public University vs. Private College.
The University of London (2017). About us.
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