| Choosing a college is one of the most significant decisions a student will make in their life. With countless options and factors to consider, the process can feel overwhelming. Whether it’s focusing on rankings and reputation or exploring campus life, majors, and activities, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to selecting a list of perfect schools.
At the heart of it, as the advisors from International College Counselors put it: “A perfect college is a place where a student feels like they belong.”
Here are some of the top websites for researching colleges, offering a variety of tools, insights, and data to help students find the right fit:
1. College Board (BigFuture)
Why it’s great: College Board’s BigFuture platform provides comprehensive tools for exploring colleges, including information on admission, tuition, financial aid, and campus life. It also offers college-matching features based on your preferences.
Best for: Students seeking a user-friendly platform to start their college search and explore options based on personal interests.
2. Naviance
Why it’s great: For students looking for an all-in-one tool to manage their college search and application process, Naviance is a top choice. Used primarily through schools or by private college advisors including International College Counselors, Naviance allows users to track applications, request recommendations, and send electronic transcripts. More than just a college search engine, Naviance also offers assessments that help students identify their strengths and interests. All ICC families have access to Naviance!
Best for: Students seeking a game-changer in keeping their college search organized and efficient.
3. Niche
Why it’s great: Niche ranks colleges and universities based on data from student reviews, academic performance, and other important factors like campus life and safety. Its filtering options make it easy to compare schools by various criteria.
Best for: Students looking for real-life reviews and detailed rankings on multiple aspects of campus life and academics.
4. U.S. News & World Report
Why it’s great: U.S. News is well-known for its annual college rankings. It provides detailed profiles on thousands of colleges, including acceptance rates, tuition costs, student demographics, and academic strengths.
Best for: Students who are interested in ranking-based comparisons and want detailed data on the reputation and academic quality of schools. Please note, however, that for quite some time, the USNWR rankings have been considered flawed, and some institutions have stated they will no longer participate.
5. College Navigator
Why it’s great: This government-run website offers in-depth data on U.S. colleges and universities. College Navigator allows users to filter schools by location, programs, cost, and more, making it ideal for data-driven research.
Best for: Students looking for reliable, no-frills data to compare schools based on cost, graduation rates, and academic offerings.
6. College Insight
Why it’s great: College Insight provides detailed information on nearly 5,000 U.S. colleges, with a focus on diversity, affordability, and student outcomes. It allows for detailed comparison of various metrics across institutions.
Best for: Students who want to research diversity, affordability, and graduation outcomes.
7. Common App
Why it’s great: While primarily used by students, the Common App offers features that parents can assist with, such as being aware of deadlines, reviewing applications, providing financial aid information, and understanding application fee waivers. It also offers helpful tools for tracking multiple college applications.
Best for: Parents helping students navigate multiple applications and financial considerations.
8. Khan Academy and ACT.org
Khan Academy is the official test preparation partner of the College Board, which administers standardized tests including, SAT, PSAT, and AP exams, while ACT.org offers official ACT resources. Both sites offer free test preparation materials, including practice questions, full-length practice exams, study tips, and more.
Best for: Students preparing for standardized exams and looking for free, high-quality test preparation materials.
9. College Scorecard
Why it’s great: Created by the U.S. Department of Education, this site offers detailed information on tuition, graduation rates, and post-graduation earnings, helping parents make data-driven decisions about where to apply.
Best for: Parents who want to compare colleges based on financial outcomes and graduation statistics.
10. CampusTours, Appily, The College Tour and YouVisit.
Why they’re great: Students can explore college campuses through virtual tours, interactive maps, and videos. These sites provide a user-friendly interface for prospective students and families to get a comprehensive look at universities without physically visiting. Through 360-degree panoramas, walking tours, and informative content, these sites give a detailed insight into campus life, academic facilities, and student resources. Many colleges also have virtual tours of their own on their websites, including Harvard, Williams, Colgate, and the University of Virginia. Some schools even offer virtual LIVE virtual tours, like Carnegie Mellon and New York University. Tours of Florida schools can be found on FloridaShines.
Best for: Students and parents who want to compare multiple schools and get a feel for the atmosphere and environment of each institution without needing to travel. For freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, a virtual tour is a way to begin to check out the world of college admissions. Keep in mind, viewing and/or attending a virtual college tour counts as demonstrated interest.
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUSNELORS
While the college admissions process may seem daunting, you don’t have to go through it alone. The expert counselors at International College Counselors team of expert advisors includes former college admission officers, high school directors and counselors, and writing professionals with a combined 250+ years of experience helping students and families successfully navigate the college application journey. For personalized guidance, contact International College Counselors at 954-414-9986 or email us. |
