Finding the Right College

Your College Search

How do you find the college that's right for you? Learn where to start, what criteria to use and how to get the most of college search tools.

• How to Start Your College Search
• 3 Helpful College Search Resources
• How Do I Find The Information I Need On These Huge College Websites?
• How To Really Learn About A College
• 3 New Criteria for Your College List
• 8 Resources for LGBT College Students
• 8 College Resources for Minority Students
• The Pros and Cons of Using College Rankings
• Is an Ivy League College for You?
• Is a Career Training or Community College for You?
• Is an Online College Right For You?
• Are Online Colleges As Good As Campus Colleges?
• Bachelor's or Associate's: What is Right For Me?
• How to Choose a College Major
• What are Safety and Reach Schools?
• 4 Most Popular Colleges for Accounting Majors
  
• 5 Top Colleges for Advertising Majors
  
• 4 Best Colleges for Agriculture Majors
  
• 4 Best Colleges for Architecture Majors
  
• 5 Most Popular Colleges for Biology Majors
  
• 5 Best Colleges for Business Majors
  
• 4 Best Colleges for Chemistry Majors
  
• 5 Most Popular Colleges for Computer and Information Technology Majors
  
• 6 Most Popular Colleges for Economics Majors
  
• 10 Best Colleges for Education Majors
  
• 7 Best Colleges for Engineering Majors
  
• 8 Top Colleges for English Majors
  
• 5 Most Popular Colleges for Environmental Science Majors
  
• 5 Best Colleges for Fashion Design Majors
  
• 6 Most Popular Colleges for Prospective Film Majors
  
• 6 Most Popular Colleges for Foreign Language Majors
  
• 4 Most Popular Colleges for Geography Majors
  
• 5 Most Popular Colleges for Geology Majors
  
• 6 Top Colleges for History Majors
  
• 5 Most Popular Colleges for Hospitality and Hotel Management Majors
  
• 5 Top Colleges for International Relations Majors
  
• 6 Most Popular Colleges for Journalism Majors
  
• 4 Top Colleges for Library Science Majors
  
• 5 Most Popular Colleges for Marketing Majors
  
• 6 Most Popular Colleges for Math Majors
  
• 6 Best Colleges for Nutrition Majors
  
• 5 Most Popular Colleges for Philosophy Majors
  
• 5 Most Popular Colleges for Physics Majors
  
• 6 Most Popular Colleges for Political Science Majors
  
• 6 Most Popular Colleges for Pre-Law Majors
  
• 6 Best Colleges for Psychology Majors
  
• 7 Most Popular Colleges for Religion Majors
  
• 5 Most Popular Colleges for Social Work Majors
  
• 5 Most Popular Colleges for Sociology Majors
  
• Why You Should Consider "Best Value" Colleges
  
• The Impact of Diversity on Campus
  
• How Location Affects the Cost of College
  
• Small, Medium or Large? Finding the Right Student-to-Faculty Ratio
  
• In-State vs. Out-of-State Tuition
  
• Colleges With Low Student-to-Faculty Ratios
  
• 11 College Majors You’ve Never Heard Of
  

Types of Colleges

From small liberal arts colleges in the mountains to major research institutions in big cities...what kind of college are you looking for? Learn more about what's out there and how to make your big college decisions.

• Explore All Higher Education Options: Types of Colleges
  
• Is An Urban Campus Right For You?
  
• Should You Attend a Single-Sex College?
  
• Small Schools vs. Large Schools: Which is Right For Me?
  
• Private vs. Public College: Which is Best For Me?
  
• How Does A College Get Its Reputation?
  
• Political Colleges
  
• Smartest Colleges
  
• The Most Spirited Colleges
  
• Should You Attend a Historically Black College?
  
• What Are the Greenest College Campuses?
  
• Weird College Majors and Courses
  
• 10 Community Colleges With the Highest Graduation Rates
  
• 10 Biggest Community Colleges
  
• Community College Degree Costs and What You’ll Earn
  
• 6 Pet-Friendly Colleges for Animal-Lovers
  
• Colleges With Catholic Affiliations
  
• Colleges With Jewish Affiliations
  
• Colleges With Christian Affiliations
  
• Colleges With the Coolest Work-Study Programs
  
• 5 Art Colleges Under $5K a Year
  
• Colleges With the Best Return on Investment (ROI)
  
• 11 Colleges With the Cheapest On-Campus Housing
  
• 10 Colleges Under $10K a Year
  
• Student-to-Faculty Ratio: What Does it Mean?
  
• 5 Colleges With Quirky Student-Taught Classes
  
• Colleges With the Lowest Average Tuition Per Year
  
• 8 Colleges With the Highest-Earning Graduates
  
• Most Affordable Private Colleges
  
• Most Affordable Public Colleges
  
• 8 Colleges With Inexpensive Out-of-State Tuition
  
• 8 Colleges With Low-Debt Grads
  
• Mistakes to Avoid When Finding a College Match
  
• 8 Colleges With the Best Graduation Rates
  
• Best Colleges by the Beach
  
• 8 Colleges With Little-to-No Tuition
  
• 7 Top Study Abroad Programs in the U.S.
  
• Most Scenic College Towns
  
• 14 Colleges With Weird Live Animal Mascots
  
• 11 Colleges With the Coolest Lab Programs
  
• 4 Colleges That Look Like Hogwarts
  
• Colleges With the Nicest Gyms
  
• Colleges With the Best Pools
  
• 5 Colleges With the Best Freshman Orientations
  
• Colorful in Fall: 7 Beautiful Campuses
  
• 7 Colleges With the Most Spooky Dorms
  
• 9 Most Haunted Colleges
  
• 10 Scariest College Mascots
  
• 8 Colleges With Creepy Classes
  
• 13 Colleges With Halloween Spirit
  
• 8 Colleges Where You’ll Actually Get Laid
  
• Where Hipsters Go to College
  
• 7 Colleges Where You Can Build a Snowman
  
• 11 Colleges With the Coolest Lab Programs
  
• How to Find a Gap Year Program
  
• 5 Campus Tour Activities Every Student Should Do
  
• 5 Campus Tour Activities Every Student Should Do
  
• Colleges Near Sweet Vacation Spots
  
• Where Disney Heroes Should Have Gone to College
  
• Where Disney Villains Should Have Gone to College
  
• Colleges With the Strongest Alumni Networks
  
• Most Economically Diverse Colleges
  
• Colleges With No Tuition
  
• How to Choose Between Two Colleges
  
• Where Comic Book Heroes Would Go to College
  
• 11 Colleges Where You Can Get a Fresh Start
  
• 7 Awesome Alumni Discounts and Programs
  
• Colleges with Baptist Affiliations
  
• Colleges with Mormon Affiliations
  
• Where Hogwarts Students Should Go to College
  
• 7 College Courses Similar to Hogwarts Classes
  
• Religion in College: Programs and Affiliations
  
• Where the Simpsons Should Go to College
  
• Colleges with Quaker Affiliations
  
• 5 Best Colleges for Surviving a Zombie Apocalypse
  
• Best Colleges for “Star Wars” Characters
  
• Where the Griffins Should Go to College
  
• Best Colleges for Characters in “The Simpsons”
  
• Colleges Where You’d Survive an Alien Invasion
  
• 5 Colleges Where You Can Meet Prince Charming
  
• Where Famous Writers Went to College
  
• Colleges That Made American History
  
• Colleges That Made American History
  
• Where Tennis Pros Went to College
  
• Where Track and Field Legends Went to College
  
• Where Softball Pros Went to College
  
• Where Baseball Pros Went to College
  
• College Majors of Black History Month Leaders
  
• Where Civil Rights Leaders Went to College
  
• College Towns With Anti-Valentine’s Day Events
  
• 5 Colleges With Sweet Valentine’s Day Traditions
  
• True Stories: How Transfer Students Succeeded
  
• College Transfers: Should You Stay or Should You Go?
  
• 4 Signs You Should Transfer
  
• Cost Breakdown of Transfers
  
• Where the 2014 Super Bowl Stars Went to College
  
• 6 Top Sustainable Agriculture Programs
  
• 10 Must-See Celebrity Prom Pics
  
• UCs by Major: Top Fields of Study at Each School
  
• UCs by Sports: Top Athletic Programs at Each School
  
• 5 UC Schools With the Lowest Cost of Living
  
• A Complete Guide to Campus Housing in California
  
• A Complete Guide to Navigating the UC Application Process
  
• 5 California Colleges for Computer Science Careers
  
• 5 California Colleges for Business Majors
  
• 6 California Colleges for Careers in Education
  
• 4 California Colleges for Careers in Environmental Engineering
  
• CSU or UC: What’s Right for You?
  
• Cal State vs. Cal Poly: What’s the Difference?
  
• Community College Students: How to Transfer to the UC System
  
• How to Transfer From One UC to Another
  
• 5 California Colleges for Biology Majors
  
• 6 California Colleges for English Majors
  
• 5 California Colleges for History Majors
  
• 5 California Colleges for Marketing Majors
  
• 6 California Colleges for Chemistry Majors
  
• 6 California Colleges for Math Majors
  
• 6 California Colleges for Economics Majors
  
• How to Prepare for AP Classes and Exams
  
• 4 California Colleges for Foreign Language Majors
  
• How to Choose the Right AP Classes
  
• How to Prepare for the ACT
  
• How to Prepare for the PSAT
  
• ACT vs SAT: What’s the Difference?
  
• Agricultural Studies Scholarships
  
• How to Choose Stand-Out Extracurricular Activities
  
• How to Apply for a Work-Study Program
  
• Leverage Your PSAT Score: What to Do Next
  
• Leveraging Your ACT Score: What to Do Next
  
• Liberal Arts and Humanities Scholarships
  
• Liberal Arts and Humanities Scholarships
  
• Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Scholarships
  
• Be Different: Maximize Uniqueness in Your Application
  
• How to Identify Academic Strengths Early
  
• Research Colleges: Questions to Ask College Students
  
• What to Do if You Don't Get Into the College of Your Choice
  
• 5 Scholarships for Environmentalists
  
• 4 Scholarships for Student Activists
  
• A Step-by-Step Guide to Filling Out the FAFSA
  
• 7 Small Liberal Arts Schools in California
  
• 5 California Schools for Education Majors
  
• 7 California Colleges That Offer a Great ROI
  
• 7 California Colleges That Offer a Great ROI
  
• How to Collect Your Financial Aid
  
• 4 Top Research Universities in California
  
• What to Do After Filing Your FAFSA
  
• How to Decide Which Financial Aid to Accept
  
• Summer Research Opportunities for Freshmen and Sophomores
  
• Top 5 Transfer Colleges in California
  
• 5 Top Vocational Schools in California
  
• Make the Most of Your College Experience When You Live Off Campus
  
• 7 Very Generous Scholarships
  
• 8 Easy-to-Apply-For Scholarships
  
• 8 Unusual Scholarships
  
• College Loan Breakdown: Federal, State and Private
  
• How to Have a Last Hurrah With Friends Before College
  
• Party Schools: Myth vs. Reality
  
• How to Stay Focused at a Party School
  
• Preparing for Day-to-Day Life in College
  
• How to Avoid Senioritis
  
• How to Find a Job on Campus
  
• How to Score a Paid Internship
  
• Practical Advice From College Seniors
  
• Summer Reading List: Best Books About College
  
• What To Do If You Can’t Afford Your Dream School
  
• How Special Circumstances Can Affect Your Financial Aid Package
  
• When to Start Thinking About Financial Aid
  
• 10 Frequently Asked Questions About Financial Aid
  
• How to Apply for Financial Aid as an Independent
  
• How to Use Scholarship Funds Responsibly
  
• What is the “Redesigned SAT”?
  
• Why You Should Also Apply for Small Scholarships
  
• How to Change Your Major
  
• What’s the Difference Between a Major, a Minor and a Concentration?
  
• 5 Smart Double-Major Combos
  
• 6 Tips for Dealing With Tough Professors
  
• How to Get the Most Out of Your TA
  
• 5 Ways to Stand Out in a Large Class
  
• Get to Know Your Undergraduate Advisor
  
• How to Decide if You Should Change Your Major
  
• How to Narrow Down Your Major Options
  
• Is a Double Major Right for You?
  
• Liberal Arts vs. Career Majors: What’s Right for You?
  
• 6 Colleges With Excellent Computer Labs
  
• 7 California Colleges With the Best Nursing Programs
  
• 10 Colleges With Great Nursing Programs
  
• 6 High-Paying Nursing Careers
  
• Big City vs. Small Town Colleges: What's Right for You?
  
• How to Use Technology for Better Note-Taking
  
• How to Avoid Common College Application Mistakes
  

College Visits and Making a Decision

Visiting college campuses is one of the key factors in making your decision where to apply - and where to attend. Learn what questions to ask on campus visits...and how to finally narrow it down to one school.

• Why Campus Visits are Essential for Students
• 10 Things to Do on Your Campus Visit
• 20 Top Questions to Ask a College
• 10 Things You Should Find Out Before Committing to a College
• After Acceptance: How to Finally Decide on One School
• Choosing a College: Should I Stay Close to Home?
• 10 Most Popular Colleges in Alabama
• 8 Largest Colleges in Alaska
• 9 Most Popular Colleges in Arizona
• 8 Largest Colleges in Arkansas
• 12 Most Popular Colleges in California
• 10 Biggest Colleges in Colorado
• 8 Most Popular Colleges in Connecticut
• 8 Largest Colleges in Delaware
• 10 Largest Colleges in Florida
• 10 Most Popular Colleges in Georgia
• 6 Most Popular Colleges in Hawaii
• 6 Largest Colleges in Idaho
• 10 Most Popular Colleges in Illinois
• 8 Most Popular Colleges in Indiana
• 5 Largest Colleges in Iowa
• 8 Most Popular Colleges in Kansas
• 9 Largest Colleges in Kentucky
• 7 Most Popular Colleges in Louisiana
• 6 Most Popular Colleges in Maine
• 9 Largest Colleges in Maryland
• 10 Most Popular Colleges in Massachusetts
• 10 Largest Colleges in Michigan
• 7 Most Popular Colleges in Minnesota
• 8 Largest Colleges in Mississippi
• 7 Most Popular Colleges in Missouri
• 5 Biggest Colleges in Montana
• 8 Most Popular Colleges in Nebraska
• 6 Most Popular Colleges in Nevada
• 5 Largest Colleges in New Hampshire
• 7 Most Popular Colleges in New Jersey
• 5 Biggest Colleges in New Mexico
• 10 Most Popular Colleges in New York
• 8 Most Popular Colleges in North Carolina
• 5 Largest Colleges in North Dakota
• 10 Most Popular Colleges in Ohio
• 6 Biggest Colleges in Oklahoma
• 8 Most Popular Colleges in Oregon
• 10 Most Popular Colleges in Pennsylvania
• 5 Biggest Colleges in Rhode Island
• 6 Most Popular Colleges in South Carolina
• 5 Biggest Colleges in South Dakota
• 7 Most Popular Colleges in Tennessee
• 10 Most Popular Colleges in Texas
• 6 Largest Colleges in Utah
• 6 Biggest Colleges in Vermont
• 8 Most Popular Colleges in Virginia
• 7 Largest Colleges in Washington
• 4 Most Popular Colleges in West Virginia
• 7 Most Popular Colleges in Wisconsin
• 5 Biggest Colleges in Wyoming
• Washington D.C.'s 4 Most Popular Colleges
• Is a College’s Prestige Important?
• College Matching vs. College Rankings: Which Matters More?

Alternatives to a Four-Year College

Everyone's idea of college is different. We want to help you discover all your education options. Maybe you'd like to take a year off before going to college? What about transfers and other routes to a four-year college? And what about online education? Learn about some of the alternatives to a "traditional" college experience.

• Transfer Basics
• College Transfer Articulation Agreements
• California: Community College to 4-Year College Transfer Agreements (IGETC)
• The Transfer Process: What to Expect
• College Transfer Timeline
• New College Trend: 3-Year College Degrees
• Study Abroad: How to Survive College in a Different Country
• Online Colleges: When You Need Flexibility
• Certificate Programs: Get A Jump Start on Your Career
• The Gap-Year Options
• 10 Reasons to Take a Gap Year
• Cheapest Transfer Programs
• Should Community Colleges Offer Four-Year Degrees?
• Two-Year Schools That Produce the Most Transfer Students

See All College Planning in High School Articles