Key Takeaways
- Some of the factors to consider when choosing a college include academic programs and support, cost, and location.
- Earning a degree remains the best way for you to secure a steady, well-paying job and achieve your goals.
- No matter which university you decide to attend, you must notify it of your acceptance or rejection of admission by May 1.
The major you pick starts the journey to your career.
But what matters most when choosing a college to help you get there?
For most high school students, determining where to continue their education marks one of the first major decisions they’ll make — and that can be intimidating.
Do you pick an institution an hour away from home? Or one across the country?
You may prefer a university with a large student body, but will you get the support you need to succeed?
Do you even want us to mention tuition?
However, you don’t need to navigate these questions alone — and thinking about this now puts you ahead of most other learners who wait until decision day.
Why Should You Go to College?
Although the cost of college creates debate about its worth, earning a degree remains the best way for you to secure a steady, well-paying job and achieve your goals.
According to the Education Pays 2026 report, four-year college graduates:
- Earn about 60% more than those with just a high school diploma
- Experience lower unemployment rates
- Encounter lower levels of poverty
- Work in jobs more likely to offer health insurance and retirement benefits
Other reasons to attend a university include:
- The experience: Living on your own teaches you responsibility and immerses you in activities that help you grow as a person.
- Networking: Joining student organizations or participating in career fairs introduces you to a multitude of resources and people who can advance your career.
- Transferable skills: Learning how to think critically, solve problems, and communicate clearly in your courses develops the traits employers value.
What Matters Most When Choosing a College?
The factors that matter most when choosing a college include:
- Academic programs and support
- Cost
- Alumni network
- Size and location
- Campus life and resources
Their level of importance to you will vary — and that’s OK. The qualities that make an institution your perfect school may be the reasons why another student doesn’t want to go there.
Here’s why each factor matters for your college search.
Academic programs and support
You want to attend a university that offers the academic major that aligns with your career goals — otherwise you risk spending time and money on a degree you won’t use.
The institution should also be accredited. Accreditation represents the gold standard in U.S. higher education and means a college meets acceptable levels of quality related to its coursework, faculty, and more.
Success services help you both inside and outside the classroom — and long after graduation. Examples of the support a college may provide include:
- Free tutoring and writing centers
- Internship and job placement boards
- Lifetime access to career coaching
- Campus health clinics
- One-on-one counseling appointments
- Budgeting workshops
Cost
No matter where you go, college will be expensive — but the return on your investment should be considered.
The average bachelor’s degree holder owes $29,550 in federal student loans, and that can make it difficult to achieve other personal financial goals such as:
- Buying a house
- Going on a vacation
- Retiring at age 65
Talk to your parents or guardians to determine what you can afford, taking the price of food, housing, transportation, and books into account too.
Tuition at private universities tends to cost more than the rate at public schools, and in-state institutions usually come with a lower price tag than out-of-state colleges.
However, you may receive financial aid, which can make your degree more affordable.
Alumni network
What happens to an institution’s graduates after they leave campus can tell you a lot about the value of your education.
Do they find jobs quickly and in fields directly related to their major? How much do alumni earn, on average, at their first job? What about 10 years into their career?
Research suggests up to 80 percent of jobs get filled because of networking — and events that connect you with graduates of a university can introduce you to the people you need to know to secure those opportunities.
Size and location
The size of a college can affect your:
- Course variety
- Mentorship opportunities
- Professor access
- Sense of community
- And more
Some people thrive at schools with more than 50,000 students. Others may prefer fewer classmates.
Additionally, college may make you homesick. Will you be within driving distance or a plane ride away from your family?
An institution’s location can change your future. Many people work in the same area where they went to school thanks to internships and established connections, so think about whether you’d like to be there for longer than four years.
Campus life and resources
You want to enjoy your time on (and off) campus.
Picture your ideal college experience: do the dining halls, dorms, student groups, and athletic teams match that vision? Does the surrounding area offer activities that interest you?
How to Choose a College
Here’s how to pick the university that fits you best.
- Determine your wants and needs
In order of importance, rank the factors that matter most when choosing a school. Identifying what you care about while earning your degree keeps you focused during your search. - Tour colleges
Sometimes an institution can look great on paper but feel different in person. Universities conduct official tours throughout the year. You can also go with family or meet a friend who attends the school to see for yourself what the campus offers. - Go to college fairs
You can also connect with an institution in person by attending college fairs, which give you the chance to ask questions of representatives from schools in your area and from all over the country. - Compare financial aid offers
Once accepted, colleges will send you a financial aid package.
It details the amount in loans, scholarships, and grants you qualify for and gives an idea of how much you’ll actually pay each year rather than the sticker price listed on a university’s website, which tends to be much higher.
You might be eligible for work-study too, which offers you a part-time job with flexible hours to help you further cover the cost of tuition and living expenses. - Make a pros and cons list
Write down what you like and dislike about each school that accepts you.
How does it compare to the factors you ranked as most important to you? Did you get more assistance from one institution over another?
Comparing everything will help determine if you need to apply to more colleges or if you can make a decision.
And as one last note, trust your gut during this process.
It can be easy to let the perceived reputation of a university or pressure from your parents cloud your judgment. However, the right college will be the one in which you:
- See yourself there
- Feel safe and welcome
- Will be challenged and supported
How Many Colleges Should I Apply To?
Admission experts recommend high school seniors apply to five to eight institutions.
That number should be made up of a combination of safety, target, and reach schools, all of which you’d be happy to attend, if admitted.
- Safety colleges: Universities where your grades and test scores exceed what most students need to get in. You should be reasonably certain you’ll be accepted. Most people only apply to one safety.
- Target colleges: Schools where your academic credentials fall in the same range as most recently admitted students. You’ll likely get in and should apply to two to four target institutions.
- Reach colleges: Universities where your grades and test scores fall on the lower end, or even below, their standard admission requirements and with limited spots for first-year applicants. However, don’t let that competition scare you and apply to one or two reach institutions.
How to Stand Out on Your College Application
As mentioned, it can be a competitive process to get into college. Make your application stand out by:
- Getting it in early: Applying well ahead of a university’s deadline shows admissions officers you work hard and don’t procrastinate.
- Participating in extracurriculars: Get involved in a few activities that align with your interests, such as sports, a part-time job, or volunteer work to highlight how you excel outside the classroom.
- Maintaining a good GPA and test scores: Institutions want you to complete challenging courses and to perform well on the SAT or ACT to ensure you can handle the academic demands of college work.
- Writing a strong essay: Your application essay adds context and explains why you want to earn a degree in a way no transcript ever could.
- Demonstrating interest: Schools want students to be excited about them and actively track your interactions with them — campus visits, emails, and so forth.
- Obtaining letters of recommendation: A letter of recommendation from a teacher or another adult who can speak positively about you provides admissions teams with an outside perspective on your strengths.
How Much Does College Cost — and How Can You Save on Tuition?
It costs students, on average, $39,406 per year to attend a four-year institution. That figure includes tuition, books, supplies, and daily living expenses.
However, you can earn a degree more affordably by implementing at least a few of the following money-saving strategies:
- Attend a community college: Fulfill many general education requirements at a lower cost while living at home for your first two years then transfer them to your college of intent to finish your degree.
- Earn credits early: Advanced Placement (AP) classes expose you to college-level content in high school. At the end of the year, you take an exam on the material learned, and if you receive at least a three or higher, you earn credit.
- Take online courses: Accredited institutions, such as Portage Learning, offer online, self-directed college courses, which give high school and currently enrolled students an opportunity to obtain transferable credit on their schedule — and price point. At $230 per credit, tuition remains low and includes all text and video materials needed.
College Decision Deadlines
No matter which university you choose to attend, you must notify it of your acceptance or rejection of admission by May 1.
Some students apply as early decision candidates. You submit an application between October and November to your first-choice college and hear whether you’ll be admitted by December. However, if accepted, you must attend that institution so be sure you absolutely want to go there.
Choosing the Right College for You
More than one million college students changed schools in fall 2024, according to a recent report — and picking the wrong higher education institution from the start carries real, quantifiable impacts.
Unexpected transfers cost students about one semester of lost progress and up to $26,000 in additional expenses.
Those who leave a program that didn’t fit, without finishing their degree, earn 35% less than bachelor’s graduates and face a higher risk of unemployment.
It may feel intimidating to ask questions such as how much you can afford in tuition or what size classroom you prefer.
But that due diligence for your first big decision becomes the first step toward everything you want to achieve.
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