by Megan Worley

Created on: August 25, 2009

Private versus Public Universities

Although I attended a small private college and loved it I do not think that private school is necessarily better than a public one. After all each college has its own unique merits and values and what is right for one student is not always what's right for another one.

Cost

Private schools often cost much more than public schools and while in some cases it might be that the student is getting more for their money at the private school that is not always the case. If the student values small class sizes and individual time with their professors then a small private school may be worth the money that has to be paid out. However larger public schools often cost much less and offer other amenities such as great sports programs and a wider array of activities. The value of the public school or private school depends largely on what the student is looking for in the school.

Programs Available

Many private schools do not offer as wide a range of class and major options as public schools do. If you are looking for a specific major it will often be harder to find a private school that offers that option and once you do find that school it may be out of state and therefore out of budget. Large public schools on the other hand often are able to offer a wider range of subjects for you to study as well as more teachers to cover them.

Social Activities

Private and public schools both offer social activities but public schools tend to offer more options for students than private ones. This may not be important to every student but for many social activities are large parts of living away from home at college. On the other hand students at private colleges tend to be more serious about school and if that is what you are looking then private school might be right for you.

Good Education

Although public schools may not have the prestige of the private Ivy League schools they still have great teachers and it is very possible to get a great education. The education you get at school is mostly what you choose to make of it. Regardless of what school you are attending the education you receive will be the one that you got yourself. School is what you make of it, more than the name of the school you attended.

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