After high school, students can choose to study a four-year Bachelor’s Degree at a college or university. Students choose a focus for their academic studies called a major and also take core curriculum or general education classes.

Students typically earn credits for courses they take and these credits count towards the completion of a program. Courses are often divided into “core” subject areas to provide the foundation of the degree program and “major” courses to provide specialization in a subject area. Students can also take “elective” courses to explore other topics of interest for a well-rounded educational experience.

State colleges and universities, also called “public universities,” were founded and subsidized by the U.S. state governments to provide a low-cost education to residents of that state. Public universities generally offer access to research opportunities and classes in a wide variety of fields of study. These universities tend to be very large and generally admit a wider range of students than private universities. Each student’s interests will guide his/her choice among the many possibilities.