The US has different levels of degrees. Most of the colleges and universities that you hear about offer bachelors degrees as the first degree (generally a four

The US has different levels of degrees. Most of the colleges and universities that you hear about offer bachelors degrees as the first degree (generally a four year degree). Other colleges, especially so-called community and junior colleges will offer 2 year associates degrees in more vocational subjects such as nursing. And then there are other purely vocational schools that offer training that lasts less than a year (usually for-profit schools). One of the biggest differences between the US and German system is that almost all American students attend the same type of high school, which theoretically should prepare you to go to a university and the curricula are usually general. Also it's important to know that the US system is mostly controlled on the local level, rather than the federal level for public schools, so a school in one city can be very different than a school in another city or state.