# State University vs. University of State **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 11, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055 "2003-09-11T21:56:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Themis00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/13edae/32.png) [@Themis00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Themis00)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/1 "2003-09-11T21:56:07Z")
I know the similarities of these two: both are state funded, I believe. But, what are the differences between the two? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/2 "2003-09-11T22:09:44Z")
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](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=129035). ---
**Author:** ![constantine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@constantine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constantine)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/3 "2003-09-12T06:26:02Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/4 "2003-09-12T08:03:26Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![refusal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ac91a4/32.png) [@refusal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/refusal)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/5 "2003-09-12T11:55:54Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/6 "2003-09-12T13:06:13Z")
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](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. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/7 "2003-09-12T13:07:27Z")
Difference between the Virginia State University and the University of Virginia? The same difference between chicken shit and chicken salad. ---
**Author:** ![Petey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f1d935/32.png) [@Petey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petey)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/8 "2003-09-12T13:56:52Z")
But why is it named “Indiana University” instead of “University of Indiana”? Probably no good reason. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/9 "2003-09-12T14:12:07Z")
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.” > [@](#): > > Might the more prestigious US establishments be copying that styling? No. ---
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/10 "2003-09-12T14:40:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by acsenray \* > \*\* > 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.” > \*\* Boy won’t they be surprised to hear that! www.vsu.edu Virginia State is an HBCU in Petersburg. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/11 "2003-09-12T16:38:46Z")
“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? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/12 "2003-09-12T16:49:54Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/13 "2003-09-12T17:27:25Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/14 "2003-09-12T17:34:50Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/15 "2003-09-12T17:40:08Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/16 "2003-09-12T19:09:26Z")
**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.” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/17 "2003-09-12T19:24:16Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/18 "2003-09-13T01:14:03Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/19 "2003-09-13T01:24:57Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055/20 "2003-09-13T02:14:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by acsenray \* > \*\*In Ohio and Indiana, there are no University of X institutions. \*\* 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 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/state-university-vs-university-of-state/201055.md?page=2)