<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> Higher education in the United States is an optional final stage of formal learning following secondary education . Higher education, also referred to as post-secondary education, third stage, third level, or tertiary education occurs most commonly at one of the 4,627 Title IV degree - granting institutions, either colleges or universities in the country . These may be public universities, private universities, liberal arts colleges, community colleges, or for - profit colleges . Higher education in the United States is loosely regulated by a number of third - party organizations that vary in quality . </P> <P> High visibility issues include rising tuition and increasing student loan debt, greater use of the Internet, competency - based education, sexual assault, cutbacks in state and local spending, the adjunctification of academic labor, and student poverty and hunger . </P>

How many universities and colleges in the us