Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in the United States

Colleges and universities in the U.S. are very diverse in their missions and goals. As a result, there is
considerable variation in the focus and emphasis, which in turn impacts the student body and curriculum
offerings, the expectation of faculty members duties and responsibilities, and how the institution is
administered and governed.
There are several commonly used methods to classify or describe colleges and universities in the U.S.
Four common designations are described here.
1) Public vs. Private
The most common way to categorize U.S. colleges/universities is public versus private.
Public
In the United States most public universities are founded and operated by state government entities and
partially supported by public means. Such universities are often referred to as "state universities. Many
U.S. public universities began as teacher training institutions and eventually were expanded into
comprehensive state universities. (Wikipedia: Public university, United States)
Land-grant University: One type of public (state) institution founded by the state through the Morrill Acts
of 1962 and 1890. Under the Morrill Acts of 1862 the purpose of these institutions was to promote the
liberal and practical education of working class. (Wikipedia: Morrill Land-grant colleges) These
universities have a tripartite mission: to educate/instruct, to discover (conduct and disseminate research),
and to engage in outreach.
Private
Private universities in the U.S. are operated as non-profit educational and research organizations and are
not operated/supported by the government. (Although as nonprofit organization they may receive tax
breaks and public student loans and grants.) Some are affiliated and operated by religious organizations.
(Wikipedia: private university, United States)
Proprietary institutions
Another more recent type of institution based on operation and funding are proprietary institutions, which
are for-profit colleges and universities that are operated by owners or investors. (Wikipedia: Proprietary
colleges)
2) 4 year Colleges vs. 2 year Colleges
Another common way to classify U.S. college/universities is to describe them as either 4 year colleges or
2 year colleges.
4-year colleges
Four-year colleges and universities are public and private institutions where baccalaureate degrees
represent at least half of all degrees granted. (These institutions may also offer masters and doctoral
degrees.)
Note: Some studies reported in the Chronicle of higher education restrict the classification of a 4-year
institution to public institutions with total enrollment of at least 10,000 that are classified by the 2005
Carnegie Foundation as Research Universities and private institutions classified by the Carnegie
Foundation as Research Universities, Masters Colleges and Universities, and Baccalaureate
Colleges.
2-year colleges
Two-year colleges are institutions which provide lower-level tertiary education, granting certificates,
diplomas, and associate's degrees. These include community colleges, junior colleges, technical
colleges, and city colleges. (Wikipedia: Community College, United States) These colleges are generally
public institutions.

Highest degree granted

Another way universities are sometime classified is by highest degree granted: doctoral, maters,
baccalaureate, associate.
3) Liberal arts college vs. University
Some reports classify institutions by designating them as either liberal arts colleges or universities.
Liberal arts colleges
A liberal arts college is a four year (baccalaureate) institution known for a curriculum that is aimed at
imparting general knowledge and developing general intellectual capacities. These colleges are also
known for being student-focused, residential (with nearly all students living on campus) and for having
smaller enrollment, class size, and teacher-student ratios than universities. Most liberal arts colleges are
private. (Wikipedia liberal arts colleges, United States)
University
When compared to liberal arts colleges, the term "university" is used to designate institutions with a more
comprehensive mission that, in addition to undergraduate education, includes graduate education and
research. Sometimes this term is reserved for institutions which grant doctoral degrees.
4) 2005 Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Classification of US Colleges and
Universities
Among academic professionals, the most commonly applied system to classify colleges and universities
in the United States is the system developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of
Teaching. Periodically the Carnegie Foundation updates its classification system, and the most current
version is the 2005 classification. The new classification is organized around three fundamental
questions: what is taught (undergraduate and graduate instructional program classifications), who are the
students (enrollment profile and undergraduate profile), and what is the setting (size & setting).
DEFINITIONS OF 2005 CARNEGIE CLASSIFICATIONS
Research Universities
Included among these institutions are those that award at least 20 doctoral degrees per year (excluding
doctoral-level degrees that allow recipients to enter professional practice, such as the J.D. or M.D.).
Research institutions, which are differentiated based on an explicit measure of their amount of research
activity, are divided into three categories: Research universities (very high research activity); Research
universities (high research activity); and Doctoral/Research universities.
Master's colleges and universities
These institutions award at least 50 master's degrees per year, but fewer than 20 doctoral degrees, or
none at all.
Baccalaureate colleges-Arts & Sciences
Among institutions where bachelor's degrees represent at least half of all undergraduate degrees, those
with at least half of bachelor's-degree majors in arts and sciences are included in the "Arts & Sciences"
group.
Special-focus institutions
These institutions award at least 75 percent of their undergraduate or graduate degrees in a single field or
set of related fields. Example special-focus categories: schools of art, music, and design; schools of
business and management; schools of engineering; schools of law; medical schools and medical centers;
and teachers colleges.
Schools of Art, Music and Design: These institutions award most of their bachelor's or
graduate degrees in art, music, design, architecture, or some combination of such fields.
Schools of Business and Management: These institutions award most of their

bachelor's or graduate degrees in business or business-related programs.

Schools of Engineering and Technology: These institutions award most of their
bachelor's or graduate degrees in technical fields of study.
Schools of Law: These institutions award most of their degrees in law.
Medical Schools and Medical Centers: These institutions award most of their
professional degrees in medicine. In some instances, they include other health
professions programs, such as dentistry, pharmacy, or nursing.
Teachers Colleges: These institutions award most of their bachelor's or graduate
degrees in education or education-related fields.

For other resources on types of higher education institutions in the United States, please see:
U.S. Department of State, Education USA, Types of Institutions:
http://www.educationusa.info/pages/students/research-undergrad-types.php
Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Classification of US Colleges and
Universities, Classification system: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/

Assignment #3:
As you begin to consider your own career path in higher education, it is important to be knowledgeable of
how institutions vary in the mission, focus and scope. The aim is to have a best fit/match between your
interests and passions and the goals of the institution where you are employed.
1. Considering the classification systems previously noted, select three different types of higher
education institutions in the U.S. In an effort to maximize the variation in the types of institutions
please use the following designations and select three from this list:
1) Private 4-year liberal arts colleges; or
2) Public or private Research Universities (includes land-grant universities, non-land-grant state
universities, and private universities which meet the Carnegie Foundation definition of Research
University); or
3) Public institutions with either Masters Colleges and Universities or Baccalaureate Colleges
Carnegie Foundation designation; or
4) Public or private special Special-focus institutions (as defined by the Carnegie Foundation)
5) Proprietary institutions
6) Two-year colleges
2. For each type of institution you have selected from the list above, locate the mission statements for at
least three institutions in the U.S.
3. Prepare a 3-4 page (single spaced) synthesis paper which compares the mission statements within
and between institution type.
In the paper, be sure to state which three types of institutions you have selected from the list in #1 above.
Also, provide the names of the institutions which were included in your mission statement analysis. There
is no need to include the verbatim mission statements. The content of your paper should focus on your
synthesis and summarize your findings.
4. If your career plans involve higher education outside of the U.S. please feel free to compare and
contrast these mission statements with similar institutions in your home country.
Resources: A good resource for purusing classification is the Chronicle of Higher Education web site
Under Facts and Figures: http://chronicle.com/section/Facts-Figures/58/.
Another helpful resource is this site which lists public and private Research Universities (Carnegie
Foundation definition) by state: http://www.washington.edu/tools/universities.html
~~~~
Describing the 6 types for Assignment #3 in an outline with color-coded designations:
Private 4-year institutions
Liberal arts colleges (Type 1)
Public/Private 4-year institutions
Research Universities (Carnegie Foundation definition) (Type 2)
Land-grant universities
Non-land-grant state universities
Masters colleges and universities (Carnegie Foundation definition) (Type 3)
Baccalaureate colleges (Carnegie Foundation definition) (Type 3)
Special-focus institutions (Type 4)
Proprietary institutions (Type 5)
2 year colleges (Type 6)
Community colleges
Junior colleges
Technical college/schools