The six tabs to the right will guide you through the school selection process. Start your search by selecting the options that are most important to you. The more details you select, the more refined your results will be.
At the bottom of each screen, there is a "reset this tab" button that will clear your selections from the tab you are currently on. There is also an "update search" button at the bottom of each tab. Click this when you've filled out all the options you wish to select. You'll get a list of schools that met your criteria.
If you want to see more information about the schools you've found, click "expand results." This will show you a link to U.S. News' detailed school information, plus links to electronic applications, school websites, and admissions emails. You can also print your results or start a new search ("reset search").
Premium users can select schools to save to their Application Organizer, and can compare the attributes of selected schools.
You may select one or more regions, individual states, or metro areas to restrict your search. Metro areas include the specified cities and their suburbs. In some cases, metro areas cross state boundaries.
Search for colleges by entering your 5-digit ZIP code and a maximum distance in miles.
U.S. News classifies schools into three groups: public, private, or for-profit. Public institutions' programs and activities are run by publicly elected or appointed school officials, and are supported primarily through public funding. Private institutions are not-for-profit instituitions run by a private party or a nongovernmental agency. They are usually supported by funds other than public funds, and are operated by privately appointed officials. At for-profit institutions, the individual(s) or agency in control receives compensation—other than wages, rent, or other expenses—for the assumption of risk.
Select your preferred campus type. Schools classify themselves for this question, so there are no rigorous definitions. Keep in mind that an urban campus can look bucolic, while a rural campus can have an urban look.
Find schools based on the total number of undergraduates. Keep in mind that class size may vary between departments at both large and small schools.
Some single-sex schools admit members of the opposite sex for special programs or other unique circumstances. Contact a school directly if you have questions about its admission policies.
Overall diversity will help you find schools where you are most likely to encounter undergraduates from racial or ethnic groups different from your own. Checking the defined groups will help you find schools with a specific racial or ethnic mix. These percentages do not include international students.
Be aware that the religious affiliation of a given school may have more to do with the way the school was chartered than with a religion's presence on campus. The extent to which a religious affiliation is reflected in campus life varies from school to school.
How demanding do you want your learning environment to be? Selective schools have lower acceptance rates, more students from the top 10 to 25 percent of their high school class, and more stringent requirements for SAT or ACT scores. Selective schools also pay close attention to your grade-point average and the content of your courses.
Student-faculty ratio measures the number of students to professors. This ratio can vary from department to department.
Choose academic programs that you are interested in pursuing, such as study abroad, distance learning, or independent study.
Choose the majors you are interested in pursuing.
Total cost includes tuition, fees, and room/board. Choose a maximum cost per year to find schools in your price range. Remember that many expensive schools offer need-based and merit-based financial aid.
Choose the type(s) of need-based aid institutions must offer to their undergraduates
Institutions offer two types of aid: need-based and non-need-based. Different criteria exist for awarding this aid. Choose the criteria schools must use when awarding each one.
Choose campus clubs or organizations that meet your interests
Colleges often add and drop sports programs, so it's a good idea to check whether your prospective schools will offer your selected sports when you plan to attend.
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