<p>Hey, my friend asked me about the differences between a LAC and a "regular" university and I wasn't sure how to answer him. More specifically, why are LACs and other universities ranked seperately in publications such as US News? What are the fundemental differences among th schools? Thanks.</p>
<p>A LAC or liberal arts college is a school that teaches undergraduate students only with an emphasis on teaching core liberal arts subjects (sciences, social sciences, humanities, fine arts). Faculty are generally there to teach in the classroom. There are no TA's (grad students teaching) and the emphasis is on faculty teaching not doing their own research.</p>
<p>A comprehensive university has a range of subjects and offers graduate degrees -- masters and doctoral degrees. Universities are generally divided into smaller schools and colleges, that may be named "The school of engineering" or "The college of arts and sciences" or "The college of nursing", etc. Faculty are often there to do research as much as to teach and the school's purpose is to teach undergraduates and graduates and to do important groundbreaking research that benefits society. If there is a medical school, there may be a university-associated hospital. Otherwise, med students train at other private hospitals in the area.</p>
<p>Pros and cons? We can debate and people have their biases. LACs may give students a more personal education with smaller classes and the opportunity to learn directly from top faculty from freshman year, instead of from TAs. Universities give students the chance to study in a range of subjects, including things like engineering of finance not usually found in LACs and to be exposed to the top research in the country and maybe to participate in that research at the undergrad level. </p>
<p>They are ranked separately because they are very different and can't really be compared on the same scale.</p>