College? university? whats the difference?

In the U.S., a college offers only undergraduate degrees -- a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree at a four-year school. A liberal arts college only offers degrees in certain subjects, which include history, economics, philosophy, religion, psychology, communications/speech, languages (including English), mathematics, art, art history, biology, chemistry, physics, geology and sometimes music, education and computer science (I've probably forgotten a few subjects there). A university offers both graduate and undergraduate degrees. It offers an expanded list of undergraduate majors beyond the liberal arts subjects. So you can study subjects such as anthropology, architecture, accounting, computer programming, information technology, zoology, engineering, business, marketing, nursing, physiology, and a variety of other health-, business- and science-related subjects. A university also offers graduate-level courses in subjects like law, medicine, business, physical therapy, science, engineering, and the liberal arts. So you can earn a four-year undergraduate degree at either a liberal arts college or at a university, depending on the subject you want to study and the environment you prefer. Some people like the atmosphere of a large campus with big-time sports, sororities and fraternities, and the greater anonymity that comes with a large campus. Others prefer the more intimate learning environment of a smaller school where you don't just get lost in the crowd.

Frankly, in the U.S. they are really interchangable terms - as both are institutions of higher learning, and some choose to use the word university and some choose to use the word college. Either way, they're both still upper level institutions you attend after highschool to further your educational career.

A university is a place of higher learning which is comprised of several colleges. For example, a university usually hosts a College of Arts and Sciences. It will also frequently host a College of Business Administration, and a College of Education. However, other colleges may be present, especially if the university hosts specialty fields, such as engineering. Each college has its own head, who is called a Dean, who oversees the operation of the college, and who reports to the president of the university. Also, colleges only offer undergraduate level degrees: Bachelor of Science, or Bachelor of Arts. Universities offer graduate level degrees, such as Master of Science (M. S); Master of Arts (M. A); Doctor of Science; or Doctor of Arts (Ph D's).

a university has several colleges

College is usually smaller, private, and residential (meaning students are required to live on campus. It usually focuses on one area of study, such as liberal arts. University is usually larger, public, and you often have the choice of living on campus or not. It usually contains several different colleges, such as arts, sciences, engineering, health professions, etc.

I didn't know either