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 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).
Net price up to $20,000Small classesMajor: FinanceClear all

58 schools · Sorted by Compass Score

  • Compass ScoreExceptional · Top 10%

    Wofford College

    Top 8% for graduation
    Spartanburg, SC · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,873 students

    About $19,000 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 StrongAcademics Excellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 11%

    University of Tulsa

    #1 in Oklahoma
    Tulsa, OK · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,559 students

    About $15,000 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 Excellent
  • Compass ScoreExcellent · Top 13%

    Bob Jones University

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

    About $17,000 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 Strong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 24%

    Rutgers University-Camden

    Top 11% for earnings
    Camden, NJ · Public · 4-year · 5,776 students

    About $19,000 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 Excellent
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 24%

    Niagara University

    Top 15% for graduation
    Niagara University, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,221 students

    About $17,000 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 26%

    Andrews University

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

    About $13,000 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 29%

    Spring Arbor University

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

    About $19,000 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 Strong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 29%

    Otterbein University

    #18 in Ohio
    Westerville, OH · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,357 students

    About $19,000 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 Strong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 30%

    Oregon State University-Cascades Campus

    Top 20% for earnings
    Bend, OR · Public · 4-year · 1,313 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.Value StrongAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 31%

    Valparaiso University

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

    About $19,000 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%

    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.Value StrongAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 33%

    Stetson University

    Very good: Compass grade B+
    DeLand, FL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,669 students

    About $19,000 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 Strong
  • Compass ScoreVery good · Top 35%

    University of Evansville

    #14 in Indiana
    Evansville, IN · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,109 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.Value StrongAcademics Excellent
  • 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.Value StrongAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 37%

    Regis University

    Top 13% for earnings
    Denver, CO · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 4,631 students

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

    Value ExcellentAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 37%

    Canisius University

    Good: Compass grade B
    Buffalo, NY · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,545 students

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

    Value StrongAcademics Strong
  • 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

    Value StrongAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 43%

    Huntington University

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

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

    Value StrongAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 43%

    Mount St. Joseph University

    #33 in Ohio
    Cincinnati, OH · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,083 students

    About $17,000 a year after aid, on average

    Value StrongAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 44%

    SUNY at Fredonia

    Good: Compass grade B
    Fredonia, NY · Public · 4-year · 3,220 students

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

    Value StrongAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 46%

    Waynesburg University

    Good: Compass grade B
    Waynesburg, PA · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,315 students

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

    Value StrongAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 47%

    Saint Peter's University

    Top 22% for low net price
    Jersey City, NJ · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,673 students

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

    Value ExcellentAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 50%

    Albion College

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

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

    Value StrongAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood · Top 50%

    Illinois College

    #29 in Illinois
    Jacksonville, IL · Private nonprofit · 4-year · 958 students

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

    Value StrongAcademics Strong
  • Compass ScoreGood

    Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

    Good: Compass grade B
    Carbondale, IL · Public · 4-year · 11,359 students

    About $13,000 a year after aid, on average

    Value StrongAcademics Strong

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