College Search Guide
If you’re just embarking on your college search journey, we can help with information, advice, and tips on finding the best college for you.
Are you considering going to an online college or attending college on campus? Are you looking for a community college or a four-year bachelor’s degree program? Public or private school? A large research university or a small liberal arts college?
And once you figure all that out, what are the next steps in the college admissions process? Read our College Search Guide for tips on how to select the colleges where you’ll ultimately be submitting your application.
Your College Search Guide
The college planning process can be pretty intense. By junior year, millions of high school students start searching for colleges, attending college fairs, meeting with college representatives, and more. On top of that, there are literally thousands of schools to choose from. So how can you choose the right college for you?
It depends what you’re looking for. Lucky for you, we’ve got countless different ways for you to explore colleges. From private colleges to public universities; from your first college visit to the moment you accept your offer, we’ve got search tools and rankings to help.
Think of us as your virtual school counselor—a student search service complete with comprehensive tips on building your college list, researching colleges, and finding a school with bright college students just like you.
College Selection Factors
Of course, the first step is knowing what you’re looking for. There are numerous factors to consider as you narrow down a list of 10 to 20 potential colleges. Factors that you should consider in the selection process include:
- Cost
- Geography
- Accreditation
- Reputation
- Faculty
- Academic Accessibility
- Relevant Degree Programs
- Campus Size
- Campus Culture
- Availability of Online Courses/Degrees
Identifying the Selection Factors That Matter to You
Check out some of our top resources for identifying the most important selection factors for you:
- The Top 11 College Websites for High School Students
Get additional help identifying the factors that matter most to you.
- The 10 Best College Websites for Parents
For those who have a child searching for colleges.
- Research vs Teaching University: Which is Right for You?
More on the differences between research and liberal arts schools
- College & University Accreditation Guide
Understand the higher education accreditation system, no matter where you apply to college.
College Search Tools
Once you know what qualities you’re looking for in a college, you can get started on your college search with a look at our College Search Tools. We offer several different ways to customize your search so you can find the best college for you:
- Custom College Rankings Build your own rankings based on the factors that matter most to you.
- College Strategist Create a list of target, reach, and safety schools.
For a look at some of our other favorite college search resources, check out our ranking of The Best College Search Tools.
Search for the Best Schools
If you plan to begin your college search at the very top, jump in with a look at The Best Universities in the World.
You can also check out the very best schools in other major categories including private schools, public colleges, HBCUs, and more.
Tips For Finding the Best Schools
Search for the Best Online Schools
More students than ever before are choosing to attend college online. And a growing number of academic programs are now available online.
Check out some of our most popular online college rankings:
Popular Online College Rankings
You can start with our Guide to Online Degrees.
Flexible Online Degree Options
There are also all kinds of specialized online degree options that you could consider including:
Helpful Tips For Choosing Online Schools
Not sure how to start your online college search? Check out our helpful tips.
Search for Colleges By State
More students than ever before are applying to colleges close to home. Whether you’re an online student who wishes to visit colleges before applying or a high school student looking to save money by attending a public university in-state, it makes sense to begin your college search within your state. Fortunately, we have numerous ways to break down your local college search.
Search for Colleges By Cost
Cost is a major factor for most students. Fortunately, many colleges take steps to provide a quality education for a reasonable tuition cost. That’s why we offer numerous ways to find schools that match your budget:
For more on the cost of college, including comprehensive information on college scholarships and financial aid, jump to our Guide to Paying for College.
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Search for Colleges By Discipline
One great way to find colleges is to search for schools that excel in your chosen area of study. If you already have a college major in mind, you may want to begin your search by looking for schools according to discipline. You can get started by browsing our index of college majors.
See the best schools in every college major to learn more.
- Accounting Major
- Anthropology Major
- Biology Major
- Business Major
- Communications Major
- Computer Science Major
- Chemistry Major
- Criminal Justice Major
- Education Major
- Economics Major
- Earth Science Major
- Engineering Major
- English / Literature Major
- Finance Major
- Game Design Major
- Healthcare Administration Major
- History Major
- Law Major
- Marketing Major
- Medicine Major
- Nursing Major
- Philosophy Major
- Physics Major
- Political Science Major
- Psychology Major
- Religious Studies Major
- Social Work Major
- Sociology Major
Now sure how to identify your area of study? Get Help Choosing a Major.
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Search for Specialized College Experiences
The Best Community Colleges
If you’re at the beginning of your college search, now is a great time to think about options like community college. Community college may be more affordable and accessible. Moreover, many community colleges have an extremely wide range of online associate degree options. Find out more about community college options with a look at the following tips and resources:
- 50 Best Community Colleges
- Find Community Colleges By State
- Best Online Associate Degrees
- Best 1-year Accelerated Associate Degrees
Additional Community College Tips
The Best Christian Colleges
Students seeking a faith-based education or a higher education from within a community of faith have a number of excellent options to choose from.
Jump to our rankings of:
Check out our Guide to the Best Christian Colleges and Universities.
College Ranking Insights
If you’re considering the top universities, we’re guessing you’ve consulted some of the major college rankings. Before you make your ultimate decision, make sure you know what these rankings really mean:
Learn more with a look at our Guide to the College Admissions Process.
Or get tips on studying, student life, and much more with a look at our Student Resources.
