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Many states have multiple tiers of public universities with each type of school having a different aim and focus.
Generally the universities not bearing the word "State" are the flagship research universities in the particular state. These are the "University of..." schools. These are public schools.
The next tier are the "State" schools with "State" in the name. These are still "universities" in that they are they are aimed at a high level of academia and usually have a graduate school, like a law or medical school or some kind of Masters or Doctoral degree program. These offer university education but are not as competetive from an admission standpoint.
Below that are usually the vocational or technical schools and the smaller "colleges" (as opposed to Universities). Many of these are private. These have more focus curriculums.
Below those are the Community Colleges and JCs. Many of these are private. These are for people who for whatever reason, cant get into the more competitive schools or for other life reasons need more flexible educational situations--a working person who wants more night classes, someone who decided to get serious about school later in life, maybe they want a few specialized classes, etc.
Any of them may be state funded.
For example, in California there are:
1. the best public universities: the "UC" schools: University of California at Los Angeles, UC Berkeley, etc.
2. the State school universities: "California State Fulerton" or Cal State Long Beach.
3. The colleges.
4. The community collegs and JCs.
That is the public university and college system.
It is no reflection on the level of athletics. For example, University of California at Irvine is an excellent University, but their athletics blow.
Clark
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