Public/Private Universities :
Universities may be public or private. Institutions of high quality are found equally among public and private universities; the principal difference is one of funding. Public institutions are funded partially by the government of the state in which the institution is located (for example, Texas or Florida), and partially by student tuition payments and private donations.
  
Since public institutions are supported by the state government, they give preference in enrollment and tuition charges to students from that state. The total cost, however, is usually lower at most state institutions than at a private institution, even for those who are not residents of the state. State universities fall into two general categories: Research Universities & Land Grant and Sea Grant Universities 
  
Research Universities: 
Most states have at least one public university designed to provide the traditional variety of educational opportunities in academic fields. These universities, in addition to offering under-graduate education, stress research as well as teaching. As a general rule, they are less likely at the graduate level to place emphasis on applied study and research and more likely to place emphasis on theoretical, or 'pure' research. 

Land Grant and Sea Grant Universities:
In 1862, Congress passed the Moral Act that provided a grant of land to many of the states to establish a 'land grant' university. These universities, in addition to providing a board of general education in many fields, emphasise the application of knowledge in such fields as agriculture and engineering. The name of a land grant university often reflects this emphasis. Look for 'Agricultural and Mechanical University' or 'Technological University' to designate a university that stresses applied knowledge. 

Other states call this type of university a 'state' university. More recently some state universities have been designated 'sea grant' universities, to emphasise the importance of marine applications.