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.
Location
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).
Net price up to $20,000Major: TheologyClear all

60 schools · Sorted by Compass Score

  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 1%

    University of Chicago

    #1 in Illinois
    Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 18,339 students

    $14,860 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 1%

    Harvard University

    Exceptional: Compass grade A+
    Cambridge, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 30,386 students

    $19,066 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 9%

    Manna University

    Exceptional: Compass grade A
    Fayetteville, NC · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 230 students

    $15,210 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 not rated yetAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 13%

    Bob Jones University

    Excellent: Compass grade A-
    Greenville, SC · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,893 students

    $16,641 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 23%

    Elim Bible Institute and College

    Top 8% for low debt
    Lima, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 98 students

    $8,840 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 yet
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 25%

    College of Saint Mary

    #2 in Nebraska
    Omaha, NE · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 733 students

    $16,590 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.All-femaleAll-female: the school enrolls women only.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • 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 27%

    University of St. Francis

    Top 21% for earnings
    Joliet, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,185 students

    $13,006 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 28%

    Martin Luther College

    Top 19% for graduation
    New Ulm, MN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 860 students

    $18,463 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 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 30%

    University of Mary

    #2 in North Dakota
    Bismarck, ND · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,794 students

    $17,770 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 31%

    Valparaiso University

    Top 20% for graduation
    Valparaiso, IN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,846 students

    $18,578 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 32%

    San Diego Christian College

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

    $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.ValueStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 35%

    University of St. Thomas

    Top 22% for graduation
    Houston, TX · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,813 students

    $19,359 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 ScoreGood · Top 37%

    Lee University

    #10 in Tennessee
    Cleveland, TN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,680 students

    $18,878 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 37%

    St. Catherine University

    Good: Compass grade B
    Saint Paul, MN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,533 students

    $19,764 a year after aid, on average

    All-femaleAll-female: the school enrolls women only.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 40%

    Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

    Top 20% for low net price
    Winona, MN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,831 students

    $11,704 a year after aid, on average

    ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 41%

    Brescia University

    Top 12% for low net price
    Owensboro, KY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 638 students

    $8,709 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 41%

    Trinity Christian College

    #21 in Illinois
    Palos Heights, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 883 students

    $19,125 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 43%

    Baptist University of Florida

    Top 16% for low net price
    Graceville, FL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 352 students

    $10,372 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 43%

    Huntington University

    #19 in Indiana
    Huntington, IN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,504 students

    $19,310 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 44%

    Aquinas College

    Good: Compass grade B
    Grand Rapids, MI · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,295 students

    $16,626 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 47%

    Judson University

    #25 in Illinois
    Elgin, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,058 students

    $18,558 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 50%

    Kentucky Mountain Bible College

    Top 13% for low net price
    Jackson, KY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 87 students

    $9,337 a year after aid, on average

    Value not rated yet
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Gods Bible School and College

    Top 1% for low debt
    Cincinnati, OH · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 443 students

    $9,329 a year after aid, on average

    ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong

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