Private and public 2-year technical colleges survive side-by-side within the same communities. However, little is known about their characteristics, similarities and differences. The question is whether the 2-year technical institutions are duplicating each other, or are they significantly different in their missions, admission requirements, academic programs, faculty, students, transfer ability, and cost of tuition? The knowledge of what sets them apart is important to prospective students and parents as they decide. This study compared and contrasted two 2-year postsecondary public and proprietary technical institutions in Terre Haute, Indiana on selected characteristics. The results indicate some similarities and major differences between the 2 types of colleges. Recommendations for choosing a 2-year postsecondary technical institution are provided.