













































0B“Private and Prestigious” Do Not Necessarily Equal “Perfect Fit”


Volume 1, Issue 1 
2017 

Allies for Education 2017, 1, 1 
https://journals.library.csuci.edu/ojs/index.php/afe 

 
“Private and Prestigious” Do Not Necessarily Equal 
“Perfect Fit” 

 
Jaimie Hoffman 
Associate Lecturer, University of Wisconsin La Crosse 
Student Experience Specialist, Noodle Partners 
 
Julissa Garcia  
Graduate Admission Coordinator  
University of Southern California 
 

Selecting the right university can be a very nerve-wracking experience for students, parents, and 
families. Let’s face it - without even adding in any other variables, this is a significant financial and time 
commitment, and for us, as first-generation college students, the confusion and weight are 
compounded because no one paved the way for us. On top of this, society infiltrates us with the 
message that the absolute best universities are the “private, elite.” We attempt to demystify the 
difference between public and private universities, share the general characteristics of each, and then 
discuss the most important factor in selecting the right university: fit. While we will reference some 
research, we also share this information from our own experiences attending and working at both public 
and private universities. 

Defining public and private 
The main difference between private and public universities is how they are funded; public universities 
are created and funded by state governments whereas private universities are established and funded 
by people not in government. An example of a public university is CSU Channel Islands, and University of 
Southern California (USC) is an example of a private university. Some private universities are non-profit 
and some are for-profit; non-profit universities answer to a board of trustees who are not financially 
vested in the university and are focused on the goal of educating students and helping them earn a 
degree. For-profit universities have the primary goal of making profit and they answer to owners and 
shareholders. While high quality, for-profit universities might exist, there are many for-profit universities 
that have poor reputations for supporting student success and graduation. Therefore, we highly 
recommend that prospective students and their parents carefully review for-profit universities before 
applying; and feel free to reach out to a trusted higher education leader to get help guiding you in this 



“Private and Prestigious” Do Not Necessarily Equal “Perfect Fit” 
Jaimie Hoffman and Julissa Garcia 

Allies for Education 2017, 1, 1 
https://journals.library.csuci.edu/ojs/index.php/afe 
 

process. For the rest of this article when we discuss private universities, we are referring to non-profit 
only because we believe for-profit institutions should be considered separately. 

Differences between public and private universities 
Public and private universities not only differ based on the source of funding, there are other general 
differences that are worth considering. Know, however, that these are generalizations. The differences 
do not apply to all universities. In fact, later, we will talk about some of our own experiences at these 
universities and how the generalizations may or may not fit. 

Funding 
Tuition at public universities is usually lower (if students attend college in the state they reside) because 
the government covers part of the cost to educate students. Since the cost of attendance is increasing 
overall in higher education, funding and available financial aid are an important consideration for 
individuals entering college. 

Research suggests that with increased cost of attendance, students and their families are becoming 
savvier in making their decisions. They are not just selecting the “elite, private” university. A 2013 survey 
conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA found that students often choose to 
enroll in their second or third choice because they received more substantial financial aid awards at 
these universities.  

Our experience. 
When we were students ourselves, we experienced the high cost associated with attending private 
universities and the vast differences between the financial aid offered at both types of institutions. 
Julissa attended a public university with lower tuition for her undergraduate studies; her financial aid 
award covered most of her costs and allowed her to focus on her education instead of working endless 
hours to pay tuition. She attended a private university for her graduate degree and, even with a 
substantial scholarship, she had to take out large student loans and work a considerable number of 
hours to cover the cost of tuition.  

Class Size and Demographics 
Many public colleges have larger class sizes than private colleges. On the one hand, the larger class sizes 
can make it difficult to connect with peers and faculty. On the other, there is often more diversity at 
public universities so students may have more chances to connect with peers who can ease their 
transition and support their success. Checking out the general class size and student to teacher ratio is 
fairly easy to do. 

The number of non-traditional students entering universities is higher than ever before; more students 
who identify as first generation, low income, transfers, part time, veterans, or other minoritized 
identities are attending college. This is crucial not only to the diversity of the campus, but also an 
indicator of how welcome a student will feel as they enter and navigate the university. Students tend to 
enroll on campuses where they are more likely to see others like themselves. The amount of support 
from trusted others that students receive during these years leads to increased personal development 
and allows students to thrive and persist to graduation.  

http://www.chronicle.com/article/CostFinancial-Aid/145143
https://www.heri.ucla.edu/monographs/TheAmericanFreshman2015.pdf
https://www.heri.ucla.edu/monographs/TheAmericanFreshman2015.pdf


“Private and Prestigious” Do Not Necessarily Equal “Perfect Fit” 
Jaimie Hoffman and Julissa Garcia 

Allies for Education 2017, 1, 1 
https://journals.library.csuci.edu/ojs/index.php/afe 
 

Our experience. 
Various aspects of class size and demographics impacted our experiences. For instance, Jaimie is a first-
generation college student, attended a private undergraduate university, and was not surrounded by 
many others with a similar background. This made it difficult for her to navigate the university 
environment because there were many things she did not know and was afraid to ask in fear she would 
be viewed as an outsider. 

Options for Degrees & Involvement 
Since public universities are usually bigger, they often have many more majors for students to choose 
from which means students are likely able to pursue the major they want. Also, public universities, due 
to their larger size, often provide a larger quantity and greater variety of involvement opportunities in 
campus life. Through engaging in campus life, students often join sub-communities within the university 
where they feel like they belong which helps them complete their degree. Private colleges have fewer 
majors and often have strong communities and campus activities; they are just not as significant. 

Our experience. 
One of us attended a small, private university to study music as an undergraduate student to be a 
middle school music teacher. Julissa selected this institution because it was close to home and relocating 
further away from her family was not an option. Unfortunately, since the university did not offer a 
degree specifically in music education, she did not end up feeling adequately prepared for a career in 
teaching. When she attended graduate school to gain additional preparation, she chose a very large 
public institution that had a robust education program for music teachers. 

About The “P” Word 
Many of the universities that are considered “prestigious” are private universities but there are state 
universities known as leaders in various disciplines, or as “flagship” universities in the state. Having said 
that, it is important to consider what prestige really means. The US News and World Report puts 
together rankings of the “best” universities but the process they use to calculate the rankings does not 
consider elements of institutional fit that we feel (and research shows us) are very important, especially 
for people from marginalized backgrounds. For instance, the rankings do not include consideration of 
things like the feeling of community and inclusiveness on the campus, how many programs are offered, 
tuition costs and financial aid availability, location (or distance from home), and involvement 
opportunities. Both of us have attended or worked at what some would call “prestigious” institutions 
and struggled to feel like we belong. So, take it from us, prestige does not necessarily equate to a good 
fit in university choice.  

Our Recommendation: Focus on Institutional Fit - Not “Public or Private” 
As we attempted to point out above, public and private universities have different characteristics and 
some of those may be more important depending on the student's priorities, values, goals, and 
personality. The key in selecting the right university is selecting the right fit. Research around college 
choice shows that students whose values and beliefs fit with that of a university were satisfied with their 
choice of college and ultimately succeeded. Consider using the following strategies to find the right 
institutional fit: 



“Private and Prestigious” Do Not Necessarily Equal “Perfect Fit” 
Jaimie Hoffman and Julissa Garcia 

Allies for Education 2017, 1, 1 
https://journals.library.csuci.edu/ojs/index.php/afe 
 

1. Reflect on and Prioritize Educational Goals 
Take some time to sit down, talk about, and list the student’s values, goals, and priorities. Think about 
such things as major choice, cost, campus culture, diversity, co-curricular activities, intercollegiate 
athletics, location, campus size, distance from home. Students should try to envision themselves on the 
college campus and consider what would make them happy, feel included, and successful. 

2. Research and Collect Facts  
Utilize the Internet to collect important information about potential university choices, particularly 
pertaining to the student’s values, goals, and priorities. The National Center for Education Statistics 
offers a search engine called the College Navigator that allows individuals to search a variety of variables 
to find and compare universities to find the right fit. Once top university choices have been identified, it 
is also useful to consider reaching out to alumni and/or current students to ask about their experiences. 
Sometimes looking through university-related social media pages or groups can also paint a clearer 
picture about the experience. 

3. Visit the Campus 
If resources allow, we highly recommend visiting the campus -- if not before applying, then at least 
before making a final decision. Much like dating, there is a synergy or connection that individuals should 
feel when they visit a campus that is a right fit for them. This campus is somewhere they will devote a 
significant amount of time, and a place many will call home. Seeing it in person is optimal.  

In conclusion, make an educated decision, don’t just follow the allure of “prestige.” 

 

About the Authors 

Julissa Garcia has served as a student affairs professional for the last six years. She is committed to 
serving the local community and empowering students to achieve their educational goals. Her expertise 
is in early academic outreach, program development, financial aid, and the college application process. 
Julissa’s career interest is in providing resources and educational opportunities to non-traditional 
student including first-generation, transfer student, and student veterans. She is excited to spend her 
career effecting change in education after graduating from the Educational Counseling program at the 
University of Southern California (USC). 

Dr. Jaimie Hoffman has worked across the higher education landscape for over twenty years. Her 
expertise includes assessment in higher education, student affairs administration, development of 
college student leaders, inclusion and equity, and use of technology inside and outside of the classroom 
for advancing student learning and engagement. Dr. Hoffman’s research interests engage a lens toward 
inclusive excellence and international perspectives. Her research interests include equity and inclusion 
in higher education, assessment in higher education, and leveraging technology to advance student 
learning and meet student needs. 



“Private and Prestigious” Do Not Necessarily Equal “Perfect Fit” 
Jaimie Hoffman and Julissa Garcia 

Allies for Education 2017, 1, 1 
https://journals.library.csuci.edu/ojs/index.php/afe 
 

References 
Cho, S., Hudley, C., Lee, S., Barry, L., & Kelly, M. (2008). Roles of gender, race, and SES in the college 
choice process among first-generation and nonfirst-generation students. Journal of Diversity in Higher 
Education, 1(2), 95-107. Retrieved from: 
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/2d2f/46bba4b4887106a2c3c511ef396e943f5988.pdf  

Nora, A. (2004). The Role of Habitus and Cultural Capital in Choosing a College, Transitioning from High 
School to Higher Education, and Persisting in College Among Minority and Nonminority Students. 
Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 3, 2, 180-208. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1538192704263189  

Taylor, H. (2014). Cost and financial aid increasingly influence students' choice of college. The Chronicle 
of Higher Education, Retrieved from http://www.chronicle.com/article/CostFinancial-Aid/145143 


	“Private and Prestigious” Do Not Necessarily Equal “Perfect Fit”
	Funding
	Our experience.

	Class Size and Demographics
	Our experience.

	Options for Degrees & Involvement
	Our experience.

	1. Reflect on and Prioritize Educational Goals
	2. Research and Collect Facts 
	3. Visit the Campus


