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How should I look up specific information about a college or university that I am curious about?
I was previously given some suggestions on possible colleges and universities that might fit with what I want to do for my career. I was wondering how I should look up information on those specific recommendations or look up information on colleges and universities outside the recommendations I got.
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10 answers
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Dr’s Answer
Heyo Chris!
Alright, if you're trying to dig up the right info about a college or university, you’re already ahead of the game! Research is key, but knowing where to look makes all the difference.
Doc Frick pointed out some excellent search tools like BigFuture, Niche, and College Scorecard, which help you compare schools, check rankings, and even estimate costs.
Bright Komor emphasized looking beyond just prestige—consider program specifics, faculty expertise, and career outcomes.
Lakshmi Akavaram & Steven Young suggested using high school counseling services and checking niche sites like College Raptor for personalized searches.
Now here is a little additional advice to Level Up Your Search🤔
Basically go Beyond Google: Don’t just rely on rankings—join student forums (like Reddit’s r/ApplyingToCollege) to get raw, unfiltered opinions.
Reach Out to Alumni: Find graduates on LinkedIn and ask about their experiences. They’ll give you insights you won’t find on a school’s website.
Check Career Outcomes: See if the university has strong industry connections. Do they host networking events? What’s their job placement rate?
Visit if Possible: Nothing beats stepping on campus and feeling the vibe. Virtual tours help, but if you can visit, do it!
Consider the "Hidden Gems": Some smaller schools offer top-tier programs but aren’t as famous. Don’t overlook them!
At the end of the day, the best college for you is the one that fits your goals, values, and learning style—not just the one with the fanciest name. So take your time, do your research, and trust your instincts!✨😎
Instead of diving straight into rankings and reviews, first, define what matters most to you. Many students get lost in endless lists of schools without a clear direction. So, grab a notebook (or a Google Doc) and list: ✔ Your Must-Haves (e.g., strong program in your field, internship opportunities, small/large campus) ✔ Your Deal-Breakers (e.g., too expensive, far from home, no campus housing) ✔ Your Nice-to-Haves (e.g., great food, study abroad programs, strong alumni network) Once you have this, use it as a filter while researching colleges. This will save you tons of time and help you focus on schools that genuinely fit you.
nothing beats real talk from students actually living the college experience. Many schools have student ambassadors who answer questions, and some even have student-run forums or social media pages where you can ask about: Workload & Professors – Are classes engaging or just endless PowerPoints? Campus Life – Is it lively, or does it feel like a ghost town on weekends? Career Support – Are students actually getting internships and jobs? If possible, reach out to students in your intended major—they’ll give the most relevant insights!
Alright, if you're trying to dig up the right info about a college or university, you’re already ahead of the game! Research is key, but knowing where to look makes all the difference.
Doc Frick pointed out some excellent search tools like BigFuture, Niche, and College Scorecard, which help you compare schools, check rankings, and even estimate costs.
Bright Komor emphasized looking beyond just prestige—consider program specifics, faculty expertise, and career outcomes.
Lakshmi Akavaram & Steven Young suggested using high school counseling services and checking niche sites like College Raptor for personalized searches.
Now here is a little additional advice to Level Up Your Search🤔
Basically go Beyond Google: Don’t just rely on rankings—join student forums (like Reddit’s r/ApplyingToCollege) to get raw, unfiltered opinions.
Reach Out to Alumni: Find graduates on LinkedIn and ask about their experiences. They’ll give you insights you won’t find on a school’s website.
Check Career Outcomes: See if the university has strong industry connections. Do they host networking events? What’s their job placement rate?
Visit if Possible: Nothing beats stepping on campus and feeling the vibe. Virtual tours help, but if you can visit, do it!
Consider the "Hidden Gems": Some smaller schools offer top-tier programs but aren’t as famous. Don’t overlook them!
At the end of the day, the best college for you is the one that fits your goals, values, and learning style—not just the one with the fanciest name. So take your time, do your research, and trust your instincts!✨😎
Dr recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Chris to help you get started on creating a shortlist of favorite schools, here's three of the best college search engines, based on their useability and information.
1️⃣ COLLEGE BOARD'S BIGFUTURE
College Board is a well-known and reputable nonprofit organization that provides students with information about college admissions and financial aid. As part of its focus on helping students prepare for college, the organization created the BigFuture tool. It’s an incredibly robust database that allows you to develop a targeted list of potential colleges based on your interests and career goals. Using information you provide about your grades, test scores and interests, BigFuture will help you create a list of “safety” and “reach” schools, as well as track important application deadlines. Besides its college search function, The College Board’s BigFuture also has a scholarship search tool. When you create an account, BigFuture will automatically match you with potential scholarship and grant opportunities. Great feature: The BigFuture dashboard gives you one central place to create a shortlist of potential colleges, manage school applications and apply for financial aid.
2️⃣ NICHE
Niche is a company that provides detailed information about colleges and universities nationwide, is complemented by rankings of colleges in different categories. For example, you can view the best colleges for student athletes, the colleges with the best academics or the schools with the best college food. You can filter the rankings area of study, location, size, selectivity, religious affiliation and even average starting salary after graduation. Unlike most other search tools, Niche also allows you to filter by online friendliness, so you can find top schools that offer virtual learning options.
3️⃣ COLLEGE SCORECARD
Chris check out College Scorecard it's a free tool designed by the U.S. Department of Education. It’s been updated and is easier to use than before, allowing you to search for schools by name, location, field of study or selectivity. The College Scorecard can be an invaluable tool since it gives in-depth information about each college or university, so you can make an informed decision. You’ll find details about the school’s graduation rate, average annual cost and the median earnings of graduates — information that most other platforms don’t offer.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THROUGH
✅ GO TO COLLEGE FAIRS — You can get a lot of information about different colleges in one place at a college fair. You'll meet college representatives who can talk to you and answer questions about their colleges, and you can sign up for college mailing lists.
✅ VISIT THE CAMPUS — Get a taste of college life by visiting a nearby college. Explore the campus, talk to college students, and get a better sense of what you do and don't want in a college. You'll also start to see how college is different from high school. Learn more about campus visits.
1️⃣ COLLEGE BOARD'S BIGFUTURE
College Board is a well-known and reputable nonprofit organization that provides students with information about college admissions and financial aid. As part of its focus on helping students prepare for college, the organization created the BigFuture tool. It’s an incredibly robust database that allows you to develop a targeted list of potential colleges based on your interests and career goals. Using information you provide about your grades, test scores and interests, BigFuture will help you create a list of “safety” and “reach” schools, as well as track important application deadlines. Besides its college search function, The College Board’s BigFuture also has a scholarship search tool. When you create an account, BigFuture will automatically match you with potential scholarship and grant opportunities. Great feature: The BigFuture dashboard gives you one central place to create a shortlist of potential colleges, manage school applications and apply for financial aid.
2️⃣ NICHE
Niche is a company that provides detailed information about colleges and universities nationwide, is complemented by rankings of colleges in different categories. For example, you can view the best colleges for student athletes, the colleges with the best academics or the schools with the best college food. You can filter the rankings area of study, location, size, selectivity, religious affiliation and even average starting salary after graduation. Unlike most other search tools, Niche also allows you to filter by online friendliness, so you can find top schools that offer virtual learning options.
3️⃣ COLLEGE SCORECARD
Chris check out College Scorecard it's a free tool designed by the U.S. Department of Education. It’s been updated and is easier to use than before, allowing you to search for schools by name, location, field of study or selectivity. The College Scorecard can be an invaluable tool since it gives in-depth information about each college or university, so you can make an informed decision. You’ll find details about the school’s graduation rate, average annual cost and the median earnings of graduates — information that most other platforms don’t offer.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THROUGH
✅ GO TO COLLEGE FAIRS — You can get a lot of information about different colleges in one place at a college fair. You'll meet college representatives who can talk to you and answer questions about their colleges, and you can sign up for college mailing lists.
✅ VISIT THE CAMPUS — Get a taste of college life by visiting a nearby college. Explore the campus, talk to college students, and get a better sense of what you do and don't want in a college. You'll also start to see how college is different from high school. Learn more about campus visits.
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Advisor | Freelance Writer | TRIO Program Director
1060
Answers
Updated
Paul’s Answer
I would type in the name of the college or university in a google search, and proceed tobthe actual college website.
Most colleges have excellent search engines posted on their information pages, where you can type in any word like... Athletics...Student Life...Admissions...Student Housing..etc and obtain specific campus information on that subject. So, the campus information page is usually the best.
Most colleges have excellent search engines posted on their information pages, where you can type in any word like... Athletics...Student Life...Admissions...Student Housing..etc and obtain specific campus information on that subject. So, the campus information page is usually the best.
Your advice was so helpful!
Mina
Updated
Steven’s Answer
There are many websites out there to help with this. Niche was mentioned but there is also collegeraptor.com and nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/. These websites allow you to put in various criteria and will return lists of colleges that match that criteria. You can also look at individual college information. You can also go to each school's website as your list gets small enough for that to make sense.
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Advisor | Freelance Writer | TRIO Program Director
1060
Answers
Updated
Paul’s Answer
Many colleges and universities have "Information Request" section located on their websites, where you can ask for specific information about the college and its various programs, activities, and student life.
I would go online, locate these information college and university request sections, register your name and address and start the process of receiving information from them.
I would go online, locate these information college and university request sections, register your name and address and start the process of receiving information from them.
Thank you for sharing your perspective.
Mina
Updated
Uran’s Answer
Dr. H and Doc Frick gave two of the most well-rounded responses.
Dr. H’s advice stands out because it emphasizes **going beyond just rankings**—looking at student experiences on Reddit, networking with alumni on LinkedIn, and checking career outcomes. This approach ensures you get **real** insights beyond what’s advertised.
Doc Frick’s answer is excellent for **practical tools** like BigFuture, Niche, and College Scorecard. These platforms help compare schools based on academics, costs, and career prospects, making research much easier.
**Final Suggestion:** Combine both approaches. First, use **college search tools** to narrow your list. Then, **dig deeper** by engaging with current students and alumni to see if the school truly fits your goals. This balance of data and real-life insight will help you make the most informed choice.
Dr. H’s advice stands out because it emphasizes **going beyond just rankings**—looking at student experiences on Reddit, networking with alumni on LinkedIn, and checking career outcomes. This approach ensures you get **real** insights beyond what’s advertised.
Doc Frick’s answer is excellent for **practical tools** like BigFuture, Niche, and College Scorecard. These platforms help compare schools based on academics, costs, and career prospects, making research much easier.
**Final Suggestion:** Combine both approaches. First, use **college search tools** to narrow your list. Then, **dig deeper** by engaging with current students and alumni to see if the school truly fits your goals. This balance of data and real-life insight will help you make the most informed choice.
Updated
Kristina’s Answer
You’re taking the right step by researching colleges thoroughly! The best way to find specific information about a college or university is to start with their official website, where you can explore details about majors, tuition, scholarships, student life, and admissions requirements. You can also use trusted sites like College Board’s BigFuture, Niche, and U.S. News & World Report to compare schools, read student reviews, and check rankings. If you want a deeper look, try watching virtual tours on YouTube, following their social media pages, or even reaching out to current students or alumni through LinkedIn or college forums. Lastly, attending college fairs, campus tours, or online info sessions can give you direct insight and help you decide if a school is the right fit for you!
Loved reading this, thanks!
Mina
Updated
Lakshmi’s Answer
In addition to the above excellent resources shared by Doc Frick, if you have high school student counselling that you can take advantage of; that would also give you some insight.
Thank you, Lakshmi!
M.
Updated
Bright’s Answer
The college research process involves prioritizing your career goals, creating a checklist of "must-haves" and "nice-to-haves," and conducting thorough research on recommended colleges. This includes examining program specifics, faculty expertise, course curriculum, and student outcomes. It is important to use college search engines effectively, consider smaller or less prestigious colleges, and look for industry connections.
Connect with the college by reaching out to admissions officers, current students, attending virtual or in-person events, and attending college fairs, information sessions, and campus tours. Financial considerations should not be a concern, as many colleges offer financial aid and scholarships. Net price calculators can help estimate out-of-pocket costs, and scholarship opportunities can be found through high school, community organizations, and online databases.
Be proactive in your college search, taking ownership of the process and balancing research between academics, campus life, and financial considerations. Trust your gut feeling and be proactive in your search. Remember to use college search engines effectively, consider smaller or less prestigious colleges, and use net price calculators to estimate out-of-pocket costs.
Connect with the college by reaching out to admissions officers, current students, attending virtual or in-person events, and attending college fairs, information sessions, and campus tours. Financial considerations should not be a concern, as many colleges offer financial aid and scholarships. Net price calculators can help estimate out-of-pocket costs, and scholarship opportunities can be found through high school, community organizations, and online databases.
Be proactive in your college search, taking ownership of the process and balancing research between academics, campus life, and financial considerations. Trust your gut feeling and be proactive in your search. Remember to use college search engines effectively, consider smaller or less prestigious colleges, and use net price calculators to estimate out-of-pocket costs.
Updated
Disraeli’s Answer
Hello Chris,
If you Google the universities and colleges that you are interested, Google will produce a quick reference card with information about that school from the US Dept of Education. This can be good for comparing the basics (acceptance rate, graduation rate, and average cost). Once this information narrows down your list a bit, go to the next step and visit the schools. Many universities have open houses or events to welcome prospective students and may have current student employees give tours and answer your questions. Good luck with your research!
If you Google the universities and colleges that you are interested, Google will produce a quick reference card with information about that school from the US Dept of Education. This can be good for comparing the basics (acceptance rate, graduation rate, and average cost). Once this information narrows down your list a bit, go to the next step and visit the schools. Many universities have open houses or events to welcome prospective students and may have current student employees give tours and answer your questions. Good luck with your research!