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.
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).
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).
State: MichiganMajor: Engineering (any)Clear all

29 schools · Sorted by Compass Score

  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 3%

    University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

    Exceptional: Compass grade A+
    Ann Arbor, MI · Public · 4-year · 52,065 students

    $13,138 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 ScoreExcellent · Top 14%

    Michigan State University

    #3 in Michigan
    East Lansing, MI · Public · 4-year · 51,316 students

    $19,680 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 16%

    Hope College

    #5 in Michigan
    Holland, MI · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,368 students

    $27,182 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 18%

    Calvin University

    #6 in Michigan
    Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,364 students

    $22,992 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 18%

    Kettering University

    Top 3% for earnings
    Flint, MI · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,605 students

    $34,660 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 19%

    Michigan Technological University

    Top 9% for earnings
    Houghton, MI · Public · 4-year · 7,313 students

    $14,182 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 ScoreVery good · Top 26%

    Andrews University

    Top 18% for graduation
    Berrien Springs, MI · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,837 students

    $12,547 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 ScoreVery good · Top 28%

    University of Detroit Mercy

    Top 14% for earnings
    Detroit, MI · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,528 students

    $15,232 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.ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 29%

    Spring Arbor University

    #12 in Michigan
    Spring Arbor, MI · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,390 students

    $19,353 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.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 32%

    Alma College

    #13 in Michigan
    Alma, MI · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,273 students

    $20,694 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.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 33%

    University of Michigan-Dearborn

    Top 14% for low net price
    Dearborn, MI · Public · 4-year · 8,035 students

    $9,492 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.ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 36%

    Lake Superior State University

    Top 25% for low net price
    Sault Ste Marie, MI · Public · 4-year · 1,669 students

    $12,822 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 38%

    Wayne State University

    Top 24% for low net price
    Detroit, MI · Public · 4-year · 23,553 students

    $12,766 a year after aid, on average

    ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 38%

    Northwestern Michigan College

    Top 7% for low net price
    Traverse City, MI · Public · 4-year · 3,146 students

    $6,231 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 38%

    Lawrence Technological University

    Top 15% for earnings
    Southfield, MI · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,260 students

    $32,918 a year after aid, on average

    ValueFairAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 42%

    Grand Valley State University

    Top 25% for graduation
    Allendale, MI · Public · 4-year · 22,269 students

    $16,317 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 45%

    Oakland University

    Top 12% for low net price
    Rochester Hills, MI · Public · 4-year · 15,922 students

    $9,120 a year after aid, on average

    ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 47%

    Cornerstone University

    Good: Compass grade B
    Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,735 students

    $20,301 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 50%

    Albion College

    Good: Compass grade B
    Albion, MI · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,354 students

    $14,301 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Western Michigan University

    Good: Compass grade B
    Kalamazoo, MI · Public · 4-year · 16,693 students

    $15,273 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Madonna University

    Good: Compass grade B
    Livonia, MI · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,054 students

    $17,755 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Central Michigan University

    Good: Compass grade B
    Mount Pleasant, MI · Public · 4-year · 14,399 students

    $17,597 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Northern Michigan University

    Good: Compass grade B-
    Marquette, MI · Public · 4-year · 7,197 students

    $14,085 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Saginaw Valley State University

    Top 17% for low net price
    University Center, MI · Public · 4-year · 6,889 students

    $10,775 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    University of Michigan-Flint

    Top 8% for low net price
    Flint, MI · Public · 4-year · 6,130 students

    $7,007 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong

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