Higher education in the U.S. is also called postsecondary education. It is not divided into different sectors (university, non-university, etc.) as are some other national systems and it is a diverse and autonomous community of publicly and privately supported institutions.

Current data indicate that there are some 2,819 institutions offering a Bachelor's or higher degree; 2,657 institutions offering at least an associate's degree but less than a bachelor's degree; and 4,927 institutions offering shorter non-degree programmes of less than two years duration.

Institutions are classified in the following categories:

1. Research Universities: Comprehensive doctorate-granting institutions that operate extensive theoretical and applied research programmes in a wide variety of disciplines;
2. Doctorate-Granting Universities: Institutions offering comprehensive studies in a wide variety of disciplines but which do not award the Doctorate in as many fields as do research universities;
3.  Master’s (Comprehensive) Universities and Colleges: Institutions offering academic and professional programmes at the Bachelor's and Master's degree levels, and first-professional degrees, but which do not award the research Doctorate;
4.  Baccalaureate (Liberal Arts) Colleges: Institutions offering academic and professional programmes at the Bachelor's degree level, but not higher degrees;
5.  Associate  Of Arts Colleges: Institutions offering academic and professional or occupational studies at the Associate Degree level, including public community colleges and public and private junior colleges;
6. Professional Schools and Other Specialized Institutions: Institutions that offer instruction in only one or a few related subjects, either professional or academic, and thus are not comprehensive enough to fit into other classifications. The degree level ranges from the associate degree through the research Doctorate (eg., Independent schools of medicine, engineering, dentistry, and law; schools for the visual and performing arts; theological seminaries, etc.)
7. Post -Secondary Vocational and Technical Schools: Institutions offering short, non-degree training programmes of less than two years duration, leading to Certificates or Diplomas in occupational specialities.

The higher education system is characterized by accessibility, diversity, and autonomy and is known for both its size and quality. The federal government has no jurisdiction or authority over the recognition of educational institutions, members of the academic professions, programmes or curricula, or degrees or other qualifications. Nearly all U.S. postsecondary institutions are licensed, or chartered, by a state or municipal government to operate under the ownership of either a government (if public) or a private corporation (if independent), and may be for-profit or not-for-profit enterprises. Religious institutions are considered independent, or private.

Quality assurance is achieved via state requirements, voluntary accreditation, and the reputation of institutions and among their academic peers and employers of graduates. Accreditation is a self-regulating process of quality control engaged in by the U.S. postsecondary education community to ensure minimum standards of academic capability, administrative competence, and to promote mutual recognition of qualifications within the system.

Six (6) regional accreditation associations set minimum standards for institutions chartered in the states of their respective jurisdictions. In addition, other recognized accrediting associations set and regulate minimum standards for individual subjects or related subjects, particularly in professional fields, and for specialized institutions.