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College Search and Comparison Tool for Parents

Filter thousands of U.S. colleges by major, state, admission rate and cost, then compare a shortlist side by side. The cost filter runs on average net price, what families paid after grant aid, rather than the sticker price almost nobody pays in full.

Browse colleges by state

Profile pages for 383 colleges across 50 states and Washington D.C. California has the most at 50. Each state hub lists its schools ordered by selectivity.

  • Alabama · (7)
  • Alaska · (1)
  • Arizona · (2)
  • Arkansas · (1)
  • California · (50)
  • Colorado · (7)
  • Connecticut · (7)
  • Delaware · (1)
  • Florida · (12)
  • Georgia · (12)
  • Hawaii · (2)
  • Idaho · (2)
  • Illinois · (14)
  • Indiana · (9)
  • Iowa · (5)
  • Kansas · (7)
  • Kentucky · (5)
  • Louisiana · (3)
  • Maine · (4)
  • Maryland · (8)
  • Massachusetts · (18)
  • Michigan · (5)
  • Minnesota · (8)
  • Mississippi · (2)
  • Missouri · (7)
  • Montana · (2)
  • Nebraska · (3)
  • Nevada · (2)
  • New Hampshire · (3)
  • New Jersey · (10)
  • New Mexico · (3)
  • New York · (27)
  • North Carolina · (11)
  • North Dakota · (2)
  • Ohio · (12)
  • Oklahoma · (3)
  • Oregon · (6)
  • Pennsylvania · (26)
  • Rhode Island · (5)
  • South Carolina · (7)
  • South Dakota · (2)
  • Tennessee · (8)
  • Texas · (17)
  • Utah · (2)
  • Vermont · (3)
  • Virginia · (12)
  • Washington · (7)
  • West Virginia · (1)
  • Wisconsin · (7)
  • Wyoming · (1)
  • District of Columbia · (2)

Questions parents ask

›How many colleges can I search?

The search covers every accredited U.S. institution reported in the federal College Scorecard, roughly 6,000 schools. A smaller set of the most-searched schools also has a full public profile page with acceptance rate, test score ranges, tuition and average net price.

›Do I need an account to use the college search?

No. Filtering, comparing and reading school profiles all work signed out. An account is what lets you save a shortlist, get admission-odds estimates against your own child’s GPA and test scores, and keep notes on each school.

›What is the difference between tuition and net price?

Tuition is the sticker price for instruction. Average net price is what students actually paid after grants and scholarships were subtracted, including housing, books and fees. Net price is the number worth comparing, because generous aid at an expensive private school often beats a cheaper public one out of state.

›Why is in-state tuition so much lower at public universities?

State governments subsidise residents at their public universities, so the same degree carries two prices. The gap is often larger than the entire tuition bill at a mid-priced private school, which is why residency is worth checking before a family falls in love with an out-of-state flagship.

›Is a low acceptance rate the same as a good college?

No. Acceptance rate measures demand and marketing reach, not teaching quality or outcomes. It matters for building a balanced list, because it tells you how likely admission is, but graduation rate, median earnings by field and average net price say more about what a family gets for the money.

›Where does the data come from?

Acceptance rates, test score ranges, tuition, net price and Pell figures come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which publishes what institutions report federally. Where a school has published a Common Data Set, its profile page also shows the admission factors that school says it weighs.

Other free tools, no account needed

  • Career explorer – pay, outlook and required education
  • Admissions timeline – what to do in each grade, month by month
  • AI college counsellor – ask an admissions or aid question
  • GPA calculator – weighted and unweighted
  • Scholarship directory – awards with published odds
  • Create a free account – save a shortlist, get odds against your own numbers
  • Pricing – what the paid plan adds

Browse the full directories

  • Colleges by state – every state, plus the national selectivity and cost lists
  • Careers guide – 826 careers with salary and outlook
  • Scholarship directory – awards with published odds
  • Admissions timeline – what to do in each grade