College Compass GuideTrue north for every college search.

Every accredited U.S. college

Colleges

Every accredited four-year college, rated on Academic Excellence and Value (what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and student debt), all from federal data.

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Compass Score sorts by outcomes, students and cost together. The other sorts order every college by a different measure.
Ratings1
Compass ScoreCompass Score: a letter grade set by rank among rated colleges from federal data: outcomes (40%), entering students (40%), cost (15%) and teaching (5%). Choose the lowest grade to show.
ValueValue: what families pay after aid, graduation rate, earnings and debt, from federal data.
Academic ExcellenceAcademic Excellence: a letter grade set by rank among rated colleges, from federal data on graduation, retention, test scores, faculty ratio, and spending. It never uses rankings or surveys.
Only Compass Recommended colleges: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score.
Only Honor Roll colleges: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score.
Only the eight Ivy League universities.
Location1
Distance (miles)
A broad region of the country, as the guide groups the states. Territories are listed separately.
School
Type of college, as college guides group them (from the federal Carnegie Classification): national universities offer a full range of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs and do research; liberal arts colleges focus on undergraduates in the arts and sciences; regional universities mostly offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees; regional colleges mostly offer bachelor’s degrees in many fields; specialized schools focus on one field, such as health, art or business.
Public or privatePublic: run by a state or local government. Private: nonprofit or for-profit.
Total enrollment: small is under 2,000 students, medium 2,000 to 9,999, large 10,000 to 24,999, and very large 25,000 or more.
Net price: what a typical student pays per year after grants and scholarships, from the federal College Scorecard.
Coed: men and women together. Single-sex: all-male or all-female.
Campus life
College sports level from federal data: NCAA Division I (the biggest programs), Division II, Division III, or NAIA.
Where the campus is, from federal data: in a city, a suburb, a town, or a rural area.
The college offers Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC, on campus or with a nearby college (federal data).
The college offers study abroad (federal data).
Admissions and outcomes
How many applicants are admitted (federal data). Most: 65% or more. Selective: 25% to 64%. Highly selective: under 25%.
Your SAT or ACT, to sort colleges Target, Likely and Reach. Signed in, it is kept on your account (private to you); otherwise only in this browser.
Reach, Target or LikelyA rough guide from admitted students' scores and admission rates, not a prediction. Target: your score is in the college's middle range. Likely: above it, or the college admits most applicants. Reach: below it, or the college admits fewer than 1 in 5.
Small classes: 12 or fewer students per faculty member (federal data).
Strong outcomes: 75% or more of students graduate (federal data).
Major
Colleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.
Clear all
RecommendedOnly Compass Recommended colleges: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score.Honor RollOnly Honor Roll colleges: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score.ValueOnly colleges with a Value score of 85 or higher (grade A), from federal data.AcademicsOnly schools with an Academic Excellence grade of A or better (the top 10% of rated colleges), from federal data.Ivy LeagueOnly the eight Ivy League universities.Clear
Division I sportsCollege sports level from federal data: NCAA Division I (the biggest programs), Division II, Division III, or NAIA.ROTCThe college offers Army, Navy or Air Force ROTC, on campus or with a nearby college (federal data).Study abroadThe college offers study abroad (federal data).NursingColleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.EngineeringColleges that offer a bachelor's degree in this major or field, from the federal College Scorecard.Under $20kNet price under $20,000 a year: what a typical student pays after grants and scholarships (federal data).Small classesSmall classes: 12 or fewer students per faculty member (federal data).
State: New YorkAcademics AClear all

28 schools · Sorted by Compass Score

Grade filters include only schools with that grade; “Not enough information” is excluded.

  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 1%

    United States Military Academy

    #1 in New York
    West Point, NY · Public · 4-year · 4,508 students

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Value not rated yetAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 2%

    Cornell University

    #2 in New York
    Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 26,264 students

    $28,690 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Ivy LeagueOne of the eight Ivy League universities. Ivy League membership doesn't change any grade.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 2%

    Columbia University in the City of New York

    Top 2% for graduation
    New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 35,279 students

    $21,590 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.Ivy LeagueOne of the eight Ivy League universities. Ivy League membership doesn't change any grade.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 3%

    Colgate University

    Exceptional: Compass grade A+
    Hamilton, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,146 students

    $28,786 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 3%

    Hamilton College

    Exceptional: Compass grade A+
    Clinton, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,048 students

    $28,985 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 3%

    Webb Institute

    Exceptional: Compass grade A+
    Glen Cove, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 105 students

    $73,043 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.Value not rated yetAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 3%

    Barnard College

    Exceptional: Compass grade A+
    New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,353 students

    $28,800 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.All-femaleAll-female: the school enrolls women only.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 4%

    New York University

    Exceptional: Compass grade A
    New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 57,335 students

    $37,050 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 4%

    Vassar College

    Exceptional: Compass grade A
    Poughkeepsie, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,456 students

    $39,343 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 5%

    The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art

    Exceptional: Compass grade A
    New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 983 students

    $13,269 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 5%

    The Juilliard School

    Top 3% for graduation
    New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,028 students

    $43,571 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 5%

    Skidmore College

    Exceptional: Compass grade A
    Saratoga Springs, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,776 students

    $32,297 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 6%

    University of Rochester

    Exceptional: Compass grade A
    Rochester, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 12,160 students

    $29,278 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 8%

    Yeshiva University

    Exceptional: Compass grade A
    New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,826 students

    $49,965 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 8%

    Union College

    Top 5% for earnings
    Schenectady, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,082 students

    $34,561 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 9%

    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

    Top 2% for earnings
    Troy, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 7,024 students

    $36,228 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 10%

    Syracuse University

    Top 8% for earnings
    Syracuse, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 22,948 students

    $38,793 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 10%

    Fordham University

    Top 6% for earnings
    Bronx, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 16,153 students

    $44,338 a year after aid, on average

    Honor RollCollege Compass Guide Honor Roll: the top 10% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ and A), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 11%

    St. Lawrence University

    Excellent: Compass grade A-
    Canton, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,089 students

    $28,651 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 11%

    American Musical and Dramatic Academy

    Excellent: Compass grade A-
    New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,511 students

    $41,416 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 13%

    University at Buffalo

    Excellent: Compass grade A-
    Buffalo, NY · Public · 4-year · 31,889 students

    $20,995 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueExcellentAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 14%

    Hobart William Smith Colleges

    Top 12% for graduation
    Geneva, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,669 students

    $31,563 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 14%

    Manhattan School of Music

    Top 12% for graduation
    New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,097 students

    $51,754 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 14%

    Bard College

    Excellent: Compass grade A-
    Annandale-On-Hudson, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,922 students

    $34,649 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 16%

    Sarah Lawrence College

    Excellent: Compass grade A-
    Bronxville, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,743 students

    $41,437 a year after aid, on average

    RecommendedCompass Recommended: the top 35% of rated colleges by Compass Score (grades A+ to B+), from academics and value.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent

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