9 Steps to Choosing a College:
Step 2 - Evaluating Colleges

This is Step 2 of the 9 Steps to Choosing a College. Go back to the main page, or return to Step 1 or move on to Step 3.

Step 2: Develop a list of criteria you want to use to evaluate and weed out colleges.

Do you want to live close to home, or far away? Do you want a large university or a small college? What about costs?

Here's a list of common criteria for evaluating the many college choices you'll face:

• degrees offered
• majors/minors
• location (rural or urban setting)/distance from home
• size of the student population (from small at 1,000 to large at 35,000+)
• public vs. private
• costs (tuition, room and board, etc.)
• financial assistance packages
• campus resources (labs, libraries, computer access, etc.)
• graduation rate/time
• placement success/internship and co-op programs
• accreditation
• class size
• faculty contact/classes taught by full-time doctorally qualified faculty
• quality/reputation/ranking
• degree of pressure to excel
• safety (campus, community)
• student body (diversity, gender, etc.)
• social life (Greek organizations, sports, school spirit, etc.)
• religious affiliation/independent
• housing options (dorms, apartments, living at home)
• realistic entry expectations (based on typical student admitted)

Move on to the next step!

Step 3: Compile a list of possible colleges and universities. (We'll give you resources to help develop your list of prospective schools.)

Have questions about some of the terms used here? Find some answers in the High School College-Bound and College Planning Glossary -- the definitive source for learning about high school, college-bound, and college planning terms -- from the team at Quintessential Careers.