The public university education system in the United States is supported by public funds. These universities play a very important role in American society, as thousands of students enroll each year.
One of the characteristics of these universities is that they maintain close ties to their community and are part of a regional identity. Some may receive donations for research programs.
Students may also receive scholarships and financial support for their education. Well, while these universities receive state benefits, they are not completely free, and some basic fees must be paid.
California State University. This is the largest and most popular program, consisting of 23 public universities, so it is distributed in different states across the country. Among the most popular academic disciplines are business, communications, public administration, and health care. The most recognized universities participating in the program are the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), UC Berkeley and the University of Southern California.
University of North Carolina. Founded in 1789, it is one of the oldest public universities in the United States. The campus is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and has more than 29,000 undergraduate and graduate students, many of whom have undergraduate scholarships. This university is known as the “university of sports.”
University of Michigan. Its main campus is in Ann Arbor, but there are smaller campuses in Flint and Dearborn. It was founded in 1817 and is known for having one of the most important medical centers in the United States, the University of Michigan Health System. It has 28 departments, but the oldest is the Department of Literature, Science, and the Arts.
University of Georgia. It is located 112 kilometers from the capital city of Atlanta and has more than 32,000 students. It was founded in 1785 and offers undergraduate and graduate programs. Its history is important because it was the first university recognized as a public university in the United States.
College of William and Mary. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, it is considered the second oldest university in the United States. It is named for the Kings of England, William and Mary, who founded the institution when Virginia was still a British colony, so its prestige is unquestioned.
Some public universities in the United States are considered under the term “Public Ivy,” which refers to those public institutions that have a high academic reputation and that compete on a par with the “Ivy League,” which is a conference of eight of the oldest universities in the United States, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and others. The Public Ivy is therefore considered highly competitive schools of historical and intellectual value.
Programs at U.S. public and community universities have become a great attraction for international students, as many of these institutions have formed alliances with programs in different countries, allowing them to receive scholarships and financial support to study on their campuses.