Because they are operated partially with state or local funds, public institutions are closely supervised by one or more governing boards. In Texas, tuition rates at public universities are determined by the Legislature, and locally elected boards set tuition and fee costs for public community colleges. In Texas, all public universities charge the same basic tuition, although fees vary greatly from institution to institution. Although tuition and other costs at state colleges are considered low, financial aid and scholarships are available for qualified applicants. Private colleges are not publicly funded, so tuition and fees are generally higher than for public colleges.
Many private colleges are church related and receive funding from their religious denomination.
Some private colleges have prestigious names that are known locally, nationally or internationally. Financial aid and scholarships are often awarded to a large number of students at private colleges. UNT is a public university, governed by a nine-member Board of Regents. Because of the constitutional separation of church and state, public institutions are not church-related, but private colleges may or may not have religious affiliations. The affiliation may be part of the institution's name or it may be less obvious.