I know the similarities of these two: both are state funded, I believe.
But, what are the differences between the two?
Not all Universities of State are state funded, some are private schools just named after the state.
Anyway, each state’s public college system is completely different. Some call their schools University of State, and some call them State University. New York has the oddly named State University of New York system, and California has both the University of California and California State systems, which I asked about a while ago.
Generally speaking (we’ll get to exceptions in a minute, and I’m sure my fellow posters will be along with some soon) the rule of thumb is that “University of X” is the more “prestigious” school with liberal arts programs and professional schools, while the “X State University” tends to focus on more “practical” programs, such as agriculture.
This rule of thumb is less true in the Northeast. The University of Pennsylvania for example is a private school (and an Ivy League School at that).
As the country expanded westward in the 19th century and new states came into the picture, there was a perceived need for (1) colleges to train farmers in modern methods of agriculture, and (2) colleges to teach students going on to professional careers. I don’t know where the tradition came from, but in almost every case, the state named the institution designed to meet need #1 “X State University” and named the institution designed to meet #2 “University of X.”
I guess University of X sounds more prestigious.
In California it goes like so:
University of California at X: These are public schools that are research oriented. The highest degree offered is PhD.
California State University at X: Also public schools but more practically oriented. The highest degree offered is a Masters.
Haj
In Britain almost all universities, particularly the older ones, are called University of Oxford, of Cambridge, of Edinburgh, of Leeds, of Glasgow, of St. Andrews, of Durham, etc. Might the more prestigious US establishments be copying that styling?
Usually, X State University indicates a land-grant college, one where the Federal Government donated public lands so the state could create a college. (See http://www.ans.iastate.edu/archives/morrill1862.html for the enabling legislation).
University of X indicates any kind of university, public or private, in that state.
Thus, University of Michigan vs. Michigan State – the latter is a land-grant college.
Difference between the Virginia State University and the University of Virginia? The same difference between chicken shit and chicken salad.
But why is it named “Indiana University” instead of “University of Indiana”?
Probably no good reason.
Really, there are no rules here, except that X State University is very unlikely to be a private institution. No, there is no guideline as to how “prestigious schools” are named. There is no rule regarding whether a school will be named X University or University of X. In Ohio and Indiana, there are no University of X institutions. Miami University (founded 1809) is a public institution in Oxford, Ohio. The University of Miami (founded 1925) is a private institution in Coral Gables, Fla. There is no pattern.
There is no “Virginia State University.” There is a Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, in Blacksburg, Va., whose name is commonly abbreviated to “Virginia Tech.”
No.
Boy won’t they be surprised to hear that!
www.vsu.edu
Virginia State is an HBCU in Petersburg.
“Virginia State University”–that gets me wondering. Why is there a Virginia State University when Virginia isn’t a state, but a commonwealth? (And, yes, I know there is a Virginia Commonwealth University.)
For that matter, why isn’t my alma mater Penn State known as Penn Commonwealth? Or Kentucky State as KY Commonwealth?
Thanks, Pantell, I truly didn’t know that one.
Pennsylvania and Virginia (as well as Massachusetts and Kentucky) are “commonwealths” in name only. The term “commonwealth” has no meaning in American constitutional law. Constitutionally they are states, just like all the others. So it’s never wrong to refer to any official institution in those states with the word “state.”
Puerto Rico is also a commonwealth in name only. Legally, it is a territory.
Well…yeah. But all four states refer to themselves as commonwealths, and the universities in question were set up by fiat of the individual states–I mean, commonwealths. So, did they call Penn State “Penn State” just to fall in line with the other land-grant institutions?
Virgina Tech, like Auburn, is often called “That Cow College at the Other End of the State,” by some of us here in Virginia. Hats off to Bear Bryant.
Both Tech and VSU are land grant universities, with large enrollments in agricultural engineering and related disciplines.
Duke: All fifty of the states in the United States of America are states. It doesn’t matter how they title themselves, they’re still states.
Monty: I know that! But Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Massachusetts call themselves commonwealths, regardless of what other states call them. And PA, KY, VA, and MA are free to name their publicly-funded universities whatever they want. So, why “Penn State” etc.? I mean, the founding document of the land grant which led to Penn State’s foundation refers solely to “the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
You’re parsing it wrong. The word “state” describes what kind of university it is. It’s not (Pennsylvania State) (University). It’s (Pennsylvania) (State University). It doesn’t matter that the formal name of the state is the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. “State University” describes what kind of institution it is.
Similarly, Virginia has an agency called the “Virginia State Corporation Commission.”
Then there’s the wacky case of Iowa, where you have the University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa, and Iowa State University. All 3 are public schools.
Duke: I guess they’re going with the status as an entrant into the Union under the Constitution. They could just as well have called themselves the University of the Republic since not only are all 50 of the states states, they are also all republics as required by the Constitution.
Except for:
University of Akron (OH) – State school
University of Cincinnati (OH) – State school
University of Dayton (OH) – Catholic institution
University of Evansville (IN) – United Methodist-affiliated
University of Findlay (OH) – Church of God-affiliated
University of Indianapolis (IN) – United Methodist-affiliated
University of Notre Dame (IN) – Catholic institution
University of Rio* Grande (OH) – affiliated with the Baptists of Ohio until the early 1950’s, still private
University of St. Francis (IN) – Catholic institution
University of Southern Indiana (IN) – State school
University of Toledo (OH) – State school
- pronounced RYE-oh