Public university facts for kids

Front view of Jahangirnagar University in Dhaka, Bangladesh

A public university is a special kind of university that is owned by the government or gets most of its money from the government. This is different from a private university, which gets its money from other places, like student fees or donations.

Public universities are often supported by the country's main government or a smaller local government. What makes a "national university" public can be different from one country to another. It depends a lot on how education is set up in that place.

What is a Public University?

A public university is a place where students can go to learn after high school. These universities are usually supported by the government. This means the government helps pay for things like buildings, teachers' salaries, and research. Because of this, public universities often have lower tuition fees than private universities. This can make them more affordable for many students.

How Public Universities Get Money

Public universities get most of their money from the government. This money often comes from taxes. The government decides how much money to give to these universities each year. This funding helps the university run smoothly. It also helps keep the cost of education lower for students.

Sometimes, public universities also get money from other places. They might receive donations from people or companies. They can also earn money from research projects or by charging fees for certain services. However, the main source of their funding is usually the government.

Public vs. Private Universities

The biggest difference between public and private universities is who owns and funds them.

• Public universities are owned by the government. They get most of their money from public funds.
• Private universities are not owned by the government. They get their money from student tuition, donations, and other private sources.

Because of their funding, public universities often have a mission to serve the public. They might focus on educating a large number of students. They also often do research that benefits the whole country or region.

Public Universities Around the World

Many countries around the world have public universities. The way they are set up can be quite different.

Public Universities in Different Countries

In some countries, almost all universities are public. For example, in many parts of Europe, higher education is mainly provided by public universities. These universities are often free or have very low tuition fees for students.

In other countries, like the United States, there is a mix of both public and private universities. Public universities in the U.S. are often run by state governments. They are usually more affordable for students from that state.

Examples of Famous Public Universities

There are many well-known public universities globally.

• The University of California, Berkeley in the United States is famous for its research and academic programs.
• Peking University in China is one of the oldest and most respected universities in Asia.
• The University of Toronto in Canada is a leading research university.
• The University of Buenos Aires in Argentina is a large and important public university in South America.

These universities play a big role in educating students and advancing knowledge in their countries.

Images for kids

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  The University of Virginia, a public university in the United States

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  Cairo University, the prime indigenous model for Egyptian state universities

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  Barishal University in Barishal, a public university in Bangladesh.

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  West Gate of Peking University

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  University of Mumbai, a public university in India.

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  Sebelas Maret University, one of Indonesia's prominent public universities.

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  Tokyo Metropolitan University, a public university in Japan.

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  University of Peshawar, Pakistan

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  The University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City

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  The main auditorium at Chulalongkorn University

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  Ghent University in Ghent

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  The University of Coimbra in Coimbra

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  The University of Barcelona in Barcelona

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  Birkbeck, University of London in London

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  Old College of the University of Edinburgh

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  The University of Sydney in Sydney

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  The University of Otago in Dunedin

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  The University of Buenos Aires is a public university in Argentina.

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  Federal University of Paraná, in Curitiba, Brazil

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  The University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada

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  The Universidad de Chile in Santiago, Chile

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  UNAM main campus in Mexico City

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  The National University of San Marcos is the oldest continuously operating university in the Americas.

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  The College of William & Mary is one of the claimants to be the oldest public university in the United States

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  Long Beach City College, a public community college in the United States

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  The University of California, Berkeley, the flagship public university of California

See also

In Spanish: Universidad pública para niños