<p>what exactly is the difference between research universities (like UC's) and others (like CSU's)?</p>
<p>I think in CSU's, you're learning a specific trade such as architecture, while in the UC's, you're taking a broad-based education that involves math, the sciences, and the humanities.</p>
<p>UC's grant PhDs. Most CSU's don't.</p>
<p>RaNe is incorrect. The UCs and CSUs have similar curricula in requiring some sort of breadth beyond your major. You learn a specific trade (i.e. vocational education) in CCs or vocational schools.</p>
<p>Plenty of good universities are not research universities (Claremont, Pomona, Williams, Amhearst, Middlebury, Cal Poly, etc.)</p>