Preparing for College: Choosing a School (Part 1)
Not sure what college or career school might be right for you? Learn about the steps you can take to research possible colleges or career schools.
How do I find the right college or career school for me?
While getting the right education and training will help you get a better-paying job, going to college or career school is a big investment in time, money, and effort. Make sure to take your time and research your options.
Types of Schools
There is a wide array of schools available for higher education. Options include two- and four-year colleges and universities; vocational, trade, and career schools; online schools; and graduate schools. Different schools serve different purposes. Make sure you choose the type of school that helps you achieve your goals.
Remember that financial assistance programs and requirements can vary from school to school. Plus, not all colleges and career schools participate in the federal student aid programs. Always check with a school to find out what financial aid is available there.
Assess yourself.
Understanding your career goals and options (and their earning potential) will help you find a college or career school that meets your needs. The Career Search will help you match your skills and interests with potential careers: Link opens in a new windowhttps://studentaid.gov/resources/prepare-for-college/students/career-search.
Use the college search tool.
The U.S. Department of Education's (ED's) college search tool, College Navigator, is a way to find colleges and career schools that may fit your needs: Link opens in a new windowhttps://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator. You can search for schools by location, degrees offered, programs and majors, tuition and fees, setting, size, and much more. College Navigator allows you to compare schools, save your session, and export your results into a spreadsheet.
Check out schools (in person or remotely).
To help you narrow down your college or career school options, try the following:
- Check out the school's website. Lots of colleges and career schools offer virtual tours, so you can still "see" the campus, even if you can't visit in person.
- Attend college fairs. College fairs give you the chance to talk to representatives from multiple colleges and career schools. For instance, you can visit the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) college fairs (Link opens in a new windowhttps://www.nacacfairs.org).
- A great way to get a feel for a school is to contact the school and schedule a visit, preferably while classes are in session. Be sure to bring a list of questions to ask.
- If you're in high school, ask your school counselor what information he or she has about the schools that interest you.
- Visit your state higher education agency's website to learn more about colleges and universities in your state: Link opens in a new windowhttps://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html.
Your education is a major investment, so find out as much information as you can—before you enroll. And because each school may offer different financial aid packages, you should consider applying to more than one school. For more information about what you should be doing to get ready for college, use the checklists on this page for help: Link opens in a new windowhttps://studentaid.gov/resources/prepare-for-college/checklists.
U.S. Department of Education (ED), Office for Federal Student Aid (FSA). (n.d.). Preparing for college: Choosing a school. Retrieved January 21, 2021, from https://studentaid.ed.gov