LibGuides: College Exploration: Searching for a College/Trade School

"Shopping" for Colleges

Once you've decided on a major or field of interest, then it's time to take a look at your options.

This is a big decision! Consider whether your major or career field requires two years of higher education, four years of higher education, a degree from a technical school, or a certification program you can complete from home.

Below are a few resources to help you in your search:

Big Future - Finding Colleges
This website allows you to select features about schools and they will provide a list. Great for quick facts about a particular school. The academic profile of a college's freshman class, financial aid and merit aid stats, available majors, and much more can be easily retrieved. BigFuture is the College Board's college planning website for students and parents.
Cappex
Students can create a profile that goes well beyond test scores and grade-point averages that they share with schools. The site has search options that let students discover intriguing schools that they didn't know existed.
Chegg
This is a college matchmaking site where you can create a profile and see which schools might be right for you. This site can be very helpful in your college search because it lets you keep a running list of schools that you’re interested in once you create a profile. Explore Chegg's listings of colleges and universities, organized by categories like 'most beautiful campus', 'campus with the best food', 'most school spirit', 'best merit aid', 'best quality of life', and 'fun college majors'.
College InSight
Created by the Institute for College Access and Success, this site has gathered detailed information on thousands of colleges. Students can find statistics for any school on such topics as college affordability, graduation rates, and college diversity, including the racial and ethnic breakdown of students and professors.
College Navigator
This federal website contains more data on the nation's colleges and universities than any place else on the Internet. Using the College Navigator's school search engine, students can scour the country for schools based on different criteria.
A Guide to Studying Abroad
A guide to American students considering enrolling in a college or university abroad and studying for a bachelor's degree. Covers colleges and programs in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Europe, Australia, Singapore, and China.
Princeton Review College Search
For more than 35 years, students and their families have trusted The Princeton Review to help them get into their dream schools. Their college content—based on feedback from real students—will help you make a list of schools that fit you academically, socially, and financially.

Trade Schools and Community Colleges

Find the Right Trade School for You
Trade schools, vocational schools, and technical schools are places that can help you train for jobs that require a particular educational experience or where you can learn specific technical skills. Campus-based or online certificate, associate degree, or other training programs can usually be completed in a relatively short amount of time — under the four (or more) years it can take for a bachelor’s degree.
Career OneStop
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Career OneStop's Community College Search helps you find community colleges in your area.
Vocational Trade Schools in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania offers career and technical programs at a number of public high schools and community colleges, including 87 that are dedicated solely to delivering vocational education. This page explores vocational education in Pennsylvania, and includes information on where students can find these programs and what jobs they qualify for after graduation.

Online Distance Learning

Before you enroll in any online or "distance learning" courses, do your research to determine what you are trying to achieve by attending online-only courses.

If you are looking for a degree or certificate, you need to make sure that the classes you're attending are provided by an accredited college or university and reward college credits. You also want to ensure online learning is a format you can be successful with. Some students thrive in an online-only environment, while some students perform better when meeting with classmates and professors in person.

Also, if you are more interested in learning a subject or skill than earning a degree, you will find many MOOCs (Massively Open Online Courses) available on the internet for free.

Affordable Colleges Online
These free, in-depth resources include comprehensive guidebooks, student interviews, user-friendly search tools, federal datasets, college rankings and other materials created and vetted by experts in education.
25 Best Online Colleges and Universities
The right online program can help you advance your career, or even help you enter a new industry. For those interested in furthering their education, there are thousands of online colleges to choose from. While there are several excellent online colleges to choose from, it can be overwhelming to find the right school for your needs. To help you in your search, here is a list of the top online colleges to help narrow it down.
Online Colleges and Universities
If you’re considering online college, you have many school options available to you. Browse this list of fully accredited, U.S.-based colleges offering quality education in a broad variety of subject areas that can lead you to your next rewarding career. Learn more about the basics of online education, including how to find a match among the different types of college and learning styles offered by degree programs.

Books for Your College Search

Choosing a College
Call Number: 378.1 CHO
ISBN: 0737756918
This title introduces some of the factors young people consider as they evaluate their college options. Through articles from a variety of sources, the book provides an overview of practical considerations such as hiring an admissions adviser.
The Kids' College Almanac
Call Number: CR 378 GRE
ISBN: 1593571046
This guide is a fun and interesting way for students to get their first real look at college. It answers many questions and helps take the guesswork out of preparing for college. Students will learn how it is possible for anyone to attend college and that this is a worthwhile goal for them to pursue.
Complete Book of Colleges, 2007 Edition
ISBN: 0375765573
Publication Date: CR 378.1 FRA
Target the schools that best match your interests and goals! The Complete Book of Colleges profiles all of the four-year colleges in the U.S. (more than 1,600!) and is the key to a successful college search. The Complete Book of Colleges is packed with all of the information that prospective applicants need to know, including the details on: ·Academics ·Admissions requirements ·Application procedures ·Tuition and fees ·Transferring options ·Housing ·Financial Aid ·Athletics, and much more!
The Best 361 Colleges
Call Number: CR 378.1 PRI
ISBN: 0375765581
College students reveal what life is really like at the nation's top schools. This must-have guide gives you college rankings like no other and covers all the essentials -- from academics to social life to financial aid, and everything in between. Best 361 Colleges uniquely ranks the nation's top schools in more than 60 categories, including: ·Professors Get High Marks ·Best Party School ·Dorms Like Palaces ·Great Campus Food ·Most Politically Active ·Diverse Student Population ·Class Discussions Encouraged ·Great College Newspaper and many more!