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.

Filters

Search & sort
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.
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 outcomes1
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).
Small classesMajor: Social workClear all

185 schools · Sorted by Compass Score

  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 31%

    Chatham University

    Very good: Compass grade B+
    Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,319 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.ValueFairAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 31%

    Baldwin Wallace University

    #22 in Ohio
    Berea, OH · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,308 students

    About $28,000 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.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 31%

    Concordia College at Moorhead

    Very good: Compass grade B+
    Moorhead, MN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,868 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.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 32%

    University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras

    Top 1% for low debt
    San Juan, PR · Public · 4-year · 11,493 students

    About $9,000 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.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • 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.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 32%

    Milligan University

    #9 in Tennessee
    Milligan, TN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,200 students

    About $21,000 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.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 34%

    Misericordia University

    Top 18% for graduation
    Dallas, PA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,107 students

    About $37,000 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.ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 34%

    Concordia University-Wisconsin

    Top 23% for graduation
    Mequon, WI · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 5,063 students

    About $36,000 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.ValueFairAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 35%

    Loras College

    Top 24% for graduation
    Dubuque, IA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,213 students

    About $21,000 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.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 35%

    Nebraska Wesleyan University

    #5 in Nebraska
    Lincoln, NE · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,690 students

    About $18,000 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.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 37%

    Salish Kootenai College

    Top 10% for low net price
    Pablo, MT · Public · 4-year · 648 students

    About $8,000 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

    About $20,000 a year after aid, on average

    All-femaleAll-female: the school enrolls women only.ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 37%

    Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion

    #16 in Indiana
    Marion, IN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,207 students

    About $23,000 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 37%

    Heritage University

    Top 18% for low debt
    Toppenish, WA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 835 students

    About $15,000 a year after aid, on average

    ValueExcellentAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 38%

    Western New England University

    Top 12% for earnings
    Springfield, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,574 students

    About $27,000 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 38%

    College of Our Lady of the Elms

    Top 24% for graduation
    Chicopee, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,332 students

    About $18,000 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 38%

    Caribbean University-Vega Baja

    Top 5% for low net price
    Vega Baja, PR · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 215 students

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

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 39%

    Eastern Mennonite University

    Top 25% for graduation
    Harrisonburg, VA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,292 students

    About $25,000 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 40%

    Gannon University

    Good: Compass grade B
    Erie, PA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,548 students

    About $23,000 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 40%

    Pacific University

    Top 25% for graduation
    Forest Grove, OR · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,479 students

    About $35,000 a year after aid, on average

    ValueFairAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 40%

    Caribbean University-Carolina

    Top 5% for low net price
    Carolina, PR · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 146 students

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

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 41%

    Ursuline College

    #28 in Ohio
    Pepper Pike, OH · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 923 students

    About $16,000 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 41%

    Saint Edward's University

    #22 in Texas
    Austin, TX · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,309 students

    About $26,000 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 41%

    University of New England

    Top 23% for graduation
    Biddeford, ME · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 6,473 students

    About $38,000 a year after aid, on average

    ValueFairAcademicsExcellent
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 41%

    Trinity Christian College

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

    About $19,000 a year after aid, on average

    ValueStrongAcademicsStrong

Don’t see a school? Suggest it.

Sort by

0 school selectedCompare

What would it cost your family?

Pick your family’s yearly income. Each college then shows what families like yours paid on average after grants and scholarships (federal data).

Reach, Target or Likely?

Enter an SAT or ACT to sort every college in this search.

Will you get in?

Enter your SAT or ACT. We compare it with the middle range of students the college admitted.