In America there are colleges, and there are universities. We usually refer to community colleges and state colleges as, well college. Then the Ivy League and prestigious universities, are, well referred to as universities. But they are pretty much used interchangeably. Don't stress the difference.
Yes, but "college" is still the generic form, as in, "Did you go to college?". In America, one would never answer that question, "No, I went to university."
