There is a lot to consider when choosing which college to apply to. Tuition costs, financial aid options, and student loans are important factors to think about, as well as campus culture and free speech policies. We have developed a range of tools with new data that can help answer your questions and assist you in researching life at thousands of colleges and universities across the country.
The Tuition Tracker tool shows the difference between a college’s advertised tuition price and the actual cost of attendance. By providing some information about the college(s) you are interested in, the tool can show you what students with similar household incomes have paid for tuition in the past. You can also compare colleges based on graduation rates, which indicate the likelihood of a student completing their degree on time – an important aspect of affordability.
The College Welcome Guide consists of interactive charts and maps that help you evaluate campus culture. These resources provide information on faculty and student demographics, services for veterans or students with disabilities, and state-level laws that may be relevant to incoming students. Additionally, the guide allows you to compare graduation rates of up to five schools simultaneously.
The Offer Letter Decoder assists college applicants in understanding the financial aid offer letters they receive. The tool scans the letter and identifies grants or scholarships that do not require repayment, as well as student loans that must be paid back. It can also differentiate between subsidized and unsubsidized loans and highlight work-study programs that involve on-campus employment.
The College Closure Tracker, created by The Hechinger Report, documents over 800 colleges and universities that have closed since 2008. This data is sourced from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association and is periodically updated. Additionally, an interview with Jon Marcus, the senior higher education reporter, provides insights on how applicants can assess the financial stability of schools they are considering.
A Game of College is an interactive website that educates students on successfully transitioning from high school to college. Players assume the role of a student with various income levels and demographics, navigating their way through college while minimizing debt. This game was developed in collaboration with CalMatters.
If you have any questions about these tools, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].
This article on college preparation was created by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to reporting on education inequality and innovation. Stay informed about higher education issues by subscribing to our newsletter.
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