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Starting Your College Search
Universities
These are often very large institutions, which award bachelor’s,  
graduate, and professional degrees. They are generally made  
up of smaller colleges, including colleges of business, arts and  
sciences, nursing, education, and engineering. They also are  
centers for research. Universities offer students the widest choice 
of majors.
Private universities cost more than public ones, but they can have 
more funding available for financial aid.
Options to Explore: Arcadia University • Bentley University • 
Gwynedd Mercy University • Neumann University • Penn State  
University • Saint Joseph’s University • Temple University • University 
of Pennsylvania • Villanova University • West Chester University
Liberal Arts Colleges
Relatively small, liberal arts colleges are private schools  
that offer majors in areas such as literature, history,  
languages, economics, science, and math. They are focused  
on undergraduate education, characterized by small class size,  
and can provide greater access to professors.
Liberal arts colleges can be more expensive than public 
universities, but often can provide more financial aid.
Options to Explore: Albright College • Bryn Mawr College •  
Chestnut Hill College • Dickinson College • Franklin & Marshall 
College • Gettysburg College • Haverford College •  
Lafayette College • Swarthmore College • Ursinus College
University vs. Liberal Arts College
West Chester University

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