Compare and Contrast Public and Private Universities
Introduction
A university can best be described as a higher research and education institution which offers educational degrees in differentiated programs. In other words, a university is thus an organization that provides both post and undergraduate programs. In real context, universities exist in two sets those owned by private individuals and others by the state (Archibald & Feldman, 2011). Making choices in regard to either attending public or private universities is usually a challenging operation. Most individuals make their choices on the ground of the associated cost thus forgetting that the institutions are similar and different in other aspects. The need to pursue higher education presents a real social and economic dilemma on either selecting a private of the state owned institutions and the best option is to assess the benefits and drawbacks for both.
Both private and state owned universities are similar in that they require the students to owning academic qualification for pursuing higher education. Both institutions embrace diversity in regard to either academic or socio-economic level (Archibald & Feldman, 2011). However, public universities provide more easiness in access. State universities are financed by the public and students fees. A number of the tuition fees set is usually lower when equated to the private organizations but this does not affect the quality of education. On the other hand, private universities are founded by individuals or private organizations and therefore they have the authority of setting their individualized policies and fees without the approval from the state (Archibald & Feldman, 2011).
The public universities accommodate more individuals because they have more spaces and the structures are developed to accommodate larger populations. In addition, the populace is due to the fact that they are more economical and flexible to accommodating socio-economic diversity more than the private institutions (Teixeira, 2011). This implies that the population in every class is usually higher and thus personal attention is minimal when equated to the private institutions where classes tend to accommodate lesser people to increase academic interactions. Public schools own more resources despite the high population given that they have more funding sources.
Public schools being the bigger institutions offers more variety of programs and accommodate more social diversity. Based on their sizes state universities hold more academic options, particularly when selecting suitable programs (Teixeira, 2011). In addition, there are those state universities that are popular for their undeniable reputation in specific degrees. While the private institutions possess lesser course varieties, they own an exceptional image within the few programs that they provide given that they focus on just a few rather than diversity which is challenging to accommodate with lesser resources. Public school offers more social diversity based on the funding of more co-curricular activities and the large populace that ensures that such initiatives are effective (Teixeira, 2011).
Conclusion
It is apparent that both state and private universities are similar and at the same time different. These similarities and differences are grounded on the cost, size, structures, resources and their capability in accommodating economic, ethnic and social diversities. Public institutions are associated with a lesser cost which tends to attract the large population while the private ones mainly. On the other hand, private institutions are limited by funds and resources and therefore focuses mainly on offering a few programs but they have created an attractive image based on their excellent performance.
References
Archibald, R. B., & Feldman, D. H. (2011). Why does college cost so much? New York: Oxford University Press.
Teixeira, P. (2011). Public vices, private virtues? Assessing the effects of marketization in higher education. Rotterdam: Sense Publ.
