b'16UNDERSTAND YOUR OPTIONS :TYPES OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIESThere are over 5,000 colleges and universities in the United States. More than 100 of them are in the Philadelphia region. Schools can be broken down into several categories, including public and private schools, four-year and two-year schools, and colleges and universities. Schools may fit into more than one category.To determine your college fit, it is important to understand the differences between types of schools and the merits of each as they relate to your circumstances. Public vs. PrivatePublic Institutions Private InstitutionsPublic institutions are supported primarily by state and Private institutions are supported primarily by tuition local funds and usually offer lower tuition rates thanand private contributions. Private colleges and universities private universities, especially for in-state residents. cost more than public institutions, but may offer more Options to Explore: Thaddeus Stevens College of Technologyscholarships or grant aid.Pennsylvanias 14 state universities, including: Commonwealth Options to Explore: Arcadia UniversityDickinson College University of PennsylvaniaWest Chester Universityand fourDrexel UniversityGwynedd Mercy University state-related universities: Lincoln UniversityPenn State Holy Family UniversityLafayette CollegeLehigh University UniversityTemple UniversityUniversity of Pittsburgh Saint Josephs UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania To learn more about Pennsylvanias state universities, visit Villanova Universitywww.passhe.edu.Temple University Saint Josephs University'