What's the Deal with College vs. University in the U.S.?

As I start thinking about where to apply, I keep coming across the terms college and university. Is there a real difference between college and university in the United States, or are they pretty much interchangeable? Does one hold more prestige than the other, or is it more about the size and types of programs offered? I'm worried about choosing based on the name when it might not even matter.

In the United States, the terms "college" and "university" are often used interchangeably, and both refer to higher education institutions. The distinction often comes down to size and the types of degrees offered.

Typically, a university is a larger institution that offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. Universities often have several "colleges" or "schools" within them. For example, a university might have a College of Engineering, College of Humanities, School of Business, and so on. Due to the larger size and scope, universities are also more likely to offer a wide variety of majors and classes, host more research opportunities, and have larger student bodies.

Colleges, on the other hand, tend to be smaller institutions and usually only offer undergraduate degree programs. Because of their smaller size, colleges often have a tight-knit community feel, smaller class sizes, and more personalized attention from professors.

It's important to note that the prestige of an institution does not necessarily depend on whether it is labeled a college or a university. Many prestigious institutions in the U.S are colleges (like Williams College or Amherst College), and many universities (like Stanford University or Princeton University) are also highly respected.

Remember, when choosing a college or university, focus less on the titles and more on factors that matter to you: class size, availability of your desired major, the culture of the campus, cost, location, and so on. The "fit" of the school to your personal and educational goals usually matters more than whether it's a college or a university.