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As you begin building your college application list, use University comparison tools it is important to narrow down your options.
Should you attend school in or out of state?
Does the school you have wanted to attend since elementary school offer the course you would like to study?
Is there a graduate school there that you would like to attend?
Can you afford it? Are there scholarships? Will your SAT or ACT scores get you into your chosen school?
If you're applying to college, you're probably thinking about all of these questions.
Use college comparison sites. Which ones give you the answers you're looking for in a straightforward way?
In this post, we'll cover the best college comparison tools available at the time of writing. All of the tools on this list will help you research your options for two- and four-year colleges, as well as graduate and professional schools.
You should also check out our comprehensive guide: How to finance college >>
Our Favorite College Comparison Tools
CollegeSimply
At CollegeSimply, you can enter your GPA, SAT, and ACT scores and receive recommendations for schools that may accept you when you apply.
They also categorize schools by state, application deadlines, and the most and least selective schools so you can make the selection that's right for you.
College Scorecard
College Scorecard is a website run by the U.S. Department of Education. It has a very simple interface where you can enter your zip code or the state you want to go to school in.
You can then enter your desired major and select a tuition range using a sliding scale. Once you've entered these parameters, the scorecard will show you the results of the schools you should apply to, including how much you can expect to earn with the type of degree you choose.
BigFuture from the College Board
The College Board has long been the first port of call for college information and comparisons.
They now have a tool called BigFuture that helps you compare colleges, determine how much you'll have to pay for a college degree, find the best college for your desired major, get predictions of what you can earn with your major, and learn how to get financial aid and scholarships for college.
It is by far one of the most comprehensive college comparison tools on this list.
To use BigFuture, you must create a free account on the College Board website.
University Navigator
College Navigator is a higher education research tool from the National Center for Education Statistics.
It's a simple tool that allows you to research schools by state, whether they're two- or four-year, public or private. Based on your input, you'll get a list of results that can help you make your decision.
Chegg
Chegg is a popular website for renting and purchasing textbooks at discounted prices.
But did you know that they also have a tool that allows you to research over 25,000 scholarships?
You will receive deadlines, scholarship amounts and information about your required grade point average to apply for the scholarship.
You can also use Chegg to research over 6,000 colleges and universities.
niche
Niche's college rankings give you rankings based on state, major, and campus life, so if you want to attend a college based on party life or Greek culture, you can find that on Niche.
And understand this: The rankings that have to do with campus life are created by the students who attend the school, so if you want to gain insight from real students like you, this is the right tool to use in your research.
Niche can also give you information on the best community colleges to attend.
College confidential
College Confidential not only uses this tool to compare colleges, but also offers student forums and student reviews of schools.
If you want to chat with people at specific schools, you can join the forums on College Confidential and find out everything you need to know.
Unigo
Unigo is another college comparison tool that follows the example of many of the tools already on this list.
However, a unique feature of Unigo is that there are 14 scholarships that you can apply for directly on the website, and you can win up to $10,000 in scholarship money for school.
For this reason alone, it is worth stopping by.
Peterson's
Peterson's College Comparison Tool is another great tool to consider in your college search.
If you plan on doing an internship or co-op while you're in college, Peterson's can help you find one as well. Although Peterson's is best known for its test prep, the company also has a great college search engine that highlights various statistics about colleges as well as available scholarships.
The Princeton Review
The Princeton Review is known for helping millions of students study for standardized tests of all kinds.
It also has a powerful college comparison and research tool to help you find the school that fits your needs. There is a search engine, reviews and rankings of different schools, and even plenty of resources to help you prepare for college admissions.
Since they are one of the largest and most well-known college entrance exam prep companies, it makes sense that they can also help you compare colleges.
US News College Compass
College Compass is a tool from the popular ranking website US News & World Report. To use College Compass, you must create an account.
You can then filter over 1,900 institutions based on your test scores, clubs and organizations, college size, and more.
And all this comes from US News, one of the original college ranking organizations.
Best College Reviews
The Best College Reviews website states: “We focus our rankings on online college programs, recognizing that not all students succeed at a traditional institution and that some learn better in an electronic classroom. We firmly believe that online programs offer a previously unexplored path to success.”
So, if you prefer to enroll in an online college program, this tool is for you.
Did you find this post helpful? Are you currently using any of these tools for your research? Let us know in the comments below.
Create your very own Auto Publish News/Blog Site and Earn Passive Income in Just 4 Easy Steps
