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.
Ratings
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.
School1
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).
Major1
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).
collegesState: CaliforniaMajor: Teacher educationClear all

38 schools · Sorted by Compass Score

  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 6%

    California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

    Top 4% for earnings
    San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · 4-year · 22,485 students

    About $17,000 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.Value ExcellentAcademics Excellent
  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 10%

    San Diego State University

    Exceptional: Compass grade A
    San Diego, CA · Public · 4-year · 39,241 students

    About $15,000 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.Value ExcellentAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 11%

    University of San Diego

    Top 6% for earnings
    San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 9,110 students

    About $30,000 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 StrongAcademics Excellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 14%

    University of the Pacific

    Top 9% for earnings
    Stockton, CA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,755 students

    About $25,000 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 StrongAcademics Excellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 15%

    Humphreys University-Stockton and Modesto Campuses

    Top 5% for low net price
    Stockton, CA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 575 students

    About $6,000 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 FairAcademics Excellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 17%

    Point Loma Nazarene University

    Top 12% for graduation
    San Diego, CA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,494 students

    About $39,000 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 FairAcademics Excellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 24%

    San Jose State University

    Top 8% for earnings
    San Jose, CA · Public · 4-year · 36,062 students

    About $14,000 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 ExcellentAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 25%

    California State University-Fullerton

    Top 7% for low net price
    Fullerton, CA · Public · 4-year · 41,962 students

    About $7,000 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 ExcellentAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 26%

    Biola University

    Top 24% for graduation
    La Mirada, CA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,296 students

    About $31,000 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 FairAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 27%

    Saint Mary's College of California

    Top 8% for earnings
    Moraga, CA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,775 students

    About $30,000 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 StrongAcademics Excellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 32%

    Pacific Union College

    Top 14% for earnings
    Angwin, CA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 938 students

    About $41,000 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 FairAcademics Excellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 32%

    San Diego Christian College

    Top 1% for low net price
    Santee, CA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 102 students

    About $1,000 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 Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 37%

    California State University-Chico

    Top 20% for earnings
    Chico, CA · Public · 4-year · 14,523 students

    About $14,000 a year after aid, on average

    Value ExcellentAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 41%

    California State University-Fresno

    Top 8% for low net price
    Fresno, CA · Public · 4-year · 23,986 students

    About $7,000 a year after aid, on average

    Value ExcellentAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 41%

    California State University-Stanislaus

    Top 6% for low net price
    Turlock, CA · Public · 4-year · 9,841 students

    About $6,000 a year after aid, on average

    Value ExcellentAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 43%

    California State University-Sacramento

    Top 14% for low net price
    Sacramento, CA · Public · 4-year · 31,172 students

    About $9,000 a year after aid, on average

    Value ExcellentAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 45%

    California State University-San Bernardino

    Top 3% for low net price
    San Bernardino, CA · Public · 4-year · 18,925 students

    About $5,000 a year after aid, on average

    Value ExcellentAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 47%

    Vanguard University of Southern California

    Good: Compass grade B
    Costa Mesa, CA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,219 students

    About $21,000 a year after aid, on average

    Value StrongAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 47%

    William Jessup University

    Good: Compass grade B
    Rocklin, CA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,484 students

    About $28,000 a year after aid, on average

    Value StrongAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 48%

    San Francisco State University

    Top 16% for earnings
    San Francisco, CA · Public · 4-year · 23,908 students

    About $12,000 a year after aid, on average

    Value ExcellentAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 49%

    California State University-Northridge

    Top 8% for low net price
    Northridge, CA · Public · 4-year · 37,760 students

    About $7,000 a year after aid, on average

    Value ExcellentAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    California State University-San Marcos

    Top 16% for low net price
    San Marcos, CA · Public · 4-year · 15,431 students

    About $10,000 a year after aid, on average

    Value ExcellentAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    California State University-Los Angeles

    Top 3% for low net price
    Los Angeles, CA · Public · 4-year · 25,080 students

    About $4,000 a year after aid, on average

    Value ExcellentAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    California State University-Bakersfield

    Top 5% for low net price
    Bakersfield, CA · Public · 4-year · 9,787 students

    About $6,000 a year after aid, on average

    Value ExcellentAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Fresno Pacific University

    Good: Compass grade B
    Fresno, CA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,921 students

    About $14,000 a year after aid, on average

    Value ExcellentAcademics Strong

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