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<p>I’ll address my description of these differences to public and private schools in the USNWR top 50 or so. The following are generalizations, but I believe they apply fairly consistently to the so-called “national” universities and LACs in USNWR’s lists.</p>
<p>History and Mission
Public universities answer to the needs of state taxpayers. They originated after the Civil War to meet the country’s growing need for technical knowledge. The historic focus was on how to do a better job of tilling soil, laying rails, and other practical applications. Many private schools are older (pre Civil War) and have religious origins. They originally existed to train lawyers and ministers. </p>
<p>Curriculum
Public universities offer a broad range of pre-professional training in agriculture, business, engineering, journalism/communications, etc., as well as the liberal arts & sciences. Top 50 private schools usually emphasize the liberal arts and sciences exclusively (sometimes with relatively limited offerings in engineering, architecture, or business). There are major exceptions (MIT of course has diverse engineering programs; Georgetown has nursing). </p>
<p>The leading public universities tend to have more course offerings and majors, but larger average class sizes, than the most selective private schools.</p>
<p>Demographics
75-90% of state university students will be residents of that state, compared to maybe 25% at private national universities and liberal arts colleges (which usually draw students from all over the country.)</p>
<p>Costs
The full cost to attend a public flagships as a residential in-state student typically is about half the cost (or less) to attend a selective private school. However, private schools often have better aid, especially for OOS students. The top private schools are usually “need blind” in admission and claim to meet 100% of “demonstrated need”. </p>
<p>Admissions
State universities tend to have numbers-driven admission policies. If you meet the class rank and SAT standards, you’re in. If you don’t, you’re out. Admission standards for out-of-state students usually are higher than for in-state students.</p>
<p>Most private national universities and LACs have “holistic” admission policies. The top 20 universities and top 20 LACs, by USNWR “rank” and by selectivity, are all private. These schools all have higher average SATs, and in some cases higher average GPAs, than the top public universities. However, they also seek students with strong extracurriculars, evidence of leadership ability, and “passion”. Academic admission standards for students from distant states, or with other non-academic “hooks”, may be slightly relaxed.</p>