Public or Private: Pros & Cons You Need to Know

Q: Will your child get a better education at a public college or university or a private school?

A: It depends! Public colleges and universities are supported by state funds. Private institutions are run on tuition, donations and endowments. That's the simple difference, but both types of schools have pros and cons you and your child should know.

Public

Pros

• Cost: Because public colleges are subsidized by their states, most cost less than private colleges (at least for state residents).
• Ease of Admission: If your child's grades are average or below, he or she will have an easier time getting into most public institutions than most private ones.
• Diversity: At a public school, your son or daughter may have more of a chance to mingle with students from lots of ethnic, racial, religious and economic backgrounds.
• Program Offerings: Public institutions can often afford to offer a wider variety of courses than a private school. Some courses are one-of-a-kind, linked to a state's location and cultural and natural history.

Cons

• Perceived Lack of Prestige: Although there are many, many outstanding public institutions, in some minds a public school lacks the prestige of a private college.
• Size: Many public institutions are large, which means large classes and less interaction with professors.
• Less One-on-One Attention: Student support services such as mentoring and tutoring may be less accessible at a public institution than a private one.

Private

Pros

• Small Classes: Small class sizes will give your student more chance to be heard in class and get to know his or her professors.
• Sense of Community: Every student can participate in extracurricular activities and events, leading to a strong sense of community.
• Prestige: In some minds, a private college has more prestige than a public one.

Cons

• Difficulty of Admission: Private colleges tend to be more selective, with the most competitive schools choosing only a tiny percentage of applicants.
• Cost: Private colleges and universities can cost up to 10 times as much as a public institutions. However, many offer generous financial aid packages and are willing to work with your family to find a way you can pay.

Bottom line: Your family should not rule out any school purely on the basis of whether it's public or private. There are excellent public schools and mediocre private schools. Investigate each school thoroughly and keep an open mind. And don't forget that the biggest factor in a quality educational experience is the initiative and effort your son or daughter puts into it.

Sources:
http://www.gocollege.com/options/private-universities/
http://www.brainchild.org/publicORprivateU.html
http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/000294.htm