What is the difference between a private and a public scholarship? A private scholarship does not need to be paid back, but a public scholarship requires payment back. Private, scholarships or award organizations or schools so public scholarships are government awarded. Private scholarships are just another name for private bank loan. Private scholarships are private universities.

The difference between a private and a public scholarship lies in the source of funding and the requirements for repayment:

1. Private Scholarship: This type of scholarship is funded by private individuals, organizations, businesses, foundations, or educational institutions. Private scholarships do not typically require repayment unless there are specific conditions attached to the scholarship. They are awarded based on various criteria such as academic achievements, community involvement, extracurricular activities, or other specific qualifications.

2. Public Scholarship: Public scholarships, also known as government scholarships, are funded by the government or government agencies at different levels such as federal, state, or local. These scholarships are generally awarded based on financial need, academic merit, or certain demographic criteria. Unlike private scholarships, public scholarships usually do not require repayment. They are essentially grants or awards provided by the government to support education and encourage specific groups of students.

To clarify misconceptions from your response:

- Private scholarships are not the same as private bank loans. Private bank loans are financial loans that need to be repaid with interest, whereas private scholarships are monetary awards granted to students without the expectation of repayment.
- Private scholarships are also not limited to private universities. They can be awarded by private entities to students attending any type of educational institution, including public universities, community colleges, or vocational schools. The university's status plays no role in determining whether a scholarship is private or public.

Overall, the main distinction is that private scholarships come from private sources and do not need to be paid back, while public scholarships are provided by government entities and also generally do not require repayment.