An
urban university (which in some cases may be referred to as a
metropolitan university) is a U.S. term for an institution of
higher learning that is socially involved and serves as a resource for educating the citizens and improving the health of the city or region in which it is located. That is, the urban university must be “of” the city as well as “in” the city. A metropolitan university includes a similar mission; however, its research has national and international implications and its student body includes a significant number of
international students. Many institutions have further defined what urban and metropolitan universities encompass.