Types of Education - 4-year Colleges

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Key Points

• The 4-year bachelor's degree is the "bread and butter" of most 4-year colleges and universities (see the Education Glossary page for the distinction - universities commonly offer post-graduate master's degrees and PhD's).
• They can be either 1) public non-profit, 2) private non-profit, or 3) for-profit institutions.
• Public non-profit institutions, which by definition receive taxpayer funding, usually offer significant tuition discounts if you live in the same state as the institution.
• The number of for-profit 4-year colleges is growing. In particular, some of the larger for-profit 4-year schools now have campuses in multiple states.
• Most are not open admission; you must apply to the school, and they will use your test scores (SAT/ACT/etc), high school GPA, and other factors to determine your eligibility.

Students who want to pursue a general academic program usually choose a 4-year college or university. The basic degree offered by these institutions is the 4-year bachelor's degree, although 2-year associate's degrees are also offered. The bachelor's degree lays the foundation for more advanced studies in the form of master's degrees, PhD's, and professional degrees.

Bachelor's degrees generally come in two varieties: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.). In addition, bachelor's degrees are available in an incredibly wide range of majors including English literature, business management, economics, political science, foreign languages, education, history, biology, physics, chemistry, sociology, and psychology - to name just a few!

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Once you are on the Education page of a specific occupation, you will be able to search for educational programs, certifications, and apprenticeship sponsors related to that occupation.

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