Many states have a university system and a state university system. For example, University of California and California State University. University of North Carolina and NC State. OU and OSU. I understand that they are two different systems. But what distinguishes the two? Is there a distinguishing factor other than that they are simply administered under separate jurisdictions? Even though the University of [State] system is usually larger, that is not always the case. Do all of the University of [State] systems have something in common, and do all the State University systems have something in common?