Key Takeaway
- While many students choose schools based on major, location, and cost—there are other good qualities in a college to look for.
- When researching schools, consider these qualities: majors, location, cost (including financial aid), support services, campus life, housing and dining, college size, class size, class offerings and resources, safety, admission difficulty, and graduation and employment rates.
- When making your decision, write down everything you are looking to get out of your college experience with statements like: Location is really important to me. I want to be at a school in a big city like New York or Los Angeles.
It’s finally time to start making your list of colleges, but before you choose solely based on obvious factors like cost, location, and major, there are a few more qualities to consider that are often overlooked. And trust us—these are things that can really make or break a college experience.
Before you decide on where your home will be for the next four years, check out these qualities in a good college that can help you dwindle your list and choose “the one” that’s right for you:
Qualities to Consider in a “Good Fit” College For You
1. Majors
Of course, looking to see if a college offers the major you are interested in seems like a no-brainer. But don’t just stop at checking to see if your top schools have your major. Some colleges are known for their certain programs, like engineering or arts, so do your research. For example, if you know you’re going to study biology, make sure it’s on the list and also look into how strong the program is, what kind of research opportunities they offer, and what other students have to say about it. A school might have your major, but is it the best place to study it?
2. Location
The location of a school is probably already on your radar, but there’s a little more to it than just picking a place on the map. First, ask yourself—are you looking to stay in-state or start fresh out-of-state? In-state schools tend to be cheaper, while out-of-state and private colleges typically charge a higher tuition rate. However, if the cost is manageable for you, then heading farther from home could be totally worth it.
Another thing to think about is where you’ll be living. Do you see yourself being in a big city, a smaller college town, in the mountains, or near the beach? The environment in which you choose to live will play a huge role in your next four years. Just think, if you aren’t someone who likes hot, humid weather, then a school in Florida is probably not for you.
3. Cost and Financial Aid
As you already know—college isn’t cheap. The last thing you want is to spend the next four years (and then some) stressed about your finances and paying off debt. So, before you commit to a school, make sure that it is a smart financial choice—look at the cost of tuition, room and board, meal plans, and textbooks. If your parents are helping you out, have a conversation with them and look at your savings account.
Fortunately, there is always financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants, and loans to help you out. Start researching early and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so you know exactly how much support you need and can qualify for. This way, you can start to feel excited about heading off to college—not stressed about how you’re going to pay for it.
4. Support Services
Having the right support in college can make all the difference, so consider what campus resources will be available to you. Will you have access to an academic advisor? Is there a tutoring center if you need some extra help? What about mental health resources like counseling? Even if you feel like you might not need those things right now, call or check the school’s website to see what’s available. It’s always helpful to know that support resources are nearby to offer peace of mind.
5. Campus Life
Yes, college is about academics—but it should also feel like your home away from home when you’re outside of class. Are there clubs, sports, or extracurriculars that interest you? Do students hang around campus all weekend, attending football games or events, or does everyone clear out and head home?
Maybe you’re thinking about joining Greek life—if so, check out what fraternities or sororities are offered and if any seem like a good fit. The main thing is that you should be able to picture yourself thriving there. If possible, try to schedule a campus visit during the school year so you can get a glimpse into what campus life is really like.
6. Housing and Dining
For 18 years, you’ve had your room, your bed, and your favorite food just a few steps away—but in college, that all will look a little different. You’re now going to be in a dorm with a roommate, and you’ll likely be heading to the dining hall (not the kitchen) for all your meals. As you’re touring schools, ask to see the dorms if possible. Are they modern and spacious or extremely tiny? Don’t forget to ask if there are different housing options—suite-style, traditional dorms, or apartment-style living.
Oh, and make sure you check out the dining options! Some schools have multiple dining halls, coffee shops, and even on-campus fast food. Others? Not so much. If you have dietary restrictions or you just love good food, check out what’s available to you—after all, you will be eating there every day.
7. College Size
When it comes to the size of a college, it’s all about what feels right to you. Do you see yourself being a part of a massive student body or a smaller, close-knit community? Big universities do come with a lot of perks, like lots of majors to choose from, bigger sporting events, and more resources and facilities. But even at a large school, there are still ways to make it feel more personal by joining smaller communities or clubs.
Smaller schools tend to offer a more personal touch. If you know that you thrive in smaller classes and you like the idea of seeing familiar faces everyday, then a small school might be just the place for you. When researching college size, take into account that a school with over 15,000 students is considered large and a school with 5,000 students or less is considered small.
8. Class Size
Do you prefer small, discussion-based classes or large lectures? Check out the student-to-faculty ratio when looking into your top schools. It is important to note that college size isn’t always indicative of large class sizes. While your general-ed classes might be larger lectures, your major-specific classes might be much smaller.
9. Class Offerings, Resources, and Opportunities
What classes do you want or need to take? Are you interested in research programs? If you want to take a unique course, like forensic psychology or Japanese, larger schools tend to offer more variety when it comes to courses and research opportunities. At the same time, smaller schools may have a more limited selection.
It’s not just about what classes are available though, the resources are important as well. For instance, a school known for biology may offer you more technology and lab equipment than others. Or if you want to experience a study abroad semester, you’ll want to make sure the college as a program to the country you’d like to visit.
Think about what is important to you when it comes to your learning experience.
10. Safety
You might not be thinking about this at the moment, but your safety is always worth considering. What is the crime rate of the surrounding city or town? What safety measures does the campus have in place if you’re coming home late from the library? Check to see if your school has campus security, emergency call stations, or student escort services.
Pro Tip: Use our search bar to find a college on your list, then click the “safety tab” for safety and crime stats at each campus. See for example: University of Colorado Boulder Campus Safety, Arrests On-Campus Residence Halls.
11. Admission Difficulty
How difficult is it to get into your top schools? While somewhere like Harvard only has a 3.6% admission rate, other schools may have an 80% or 90% admission rate. This is why it’s helpful to make a list of safety, match, and reach schools. Safety schools mean you have a 90% chance of getting admitted. Match schools are schools where you have a 40-70% chance of being admitted. Reach schools give you a less than 15% chance of admission. Having a mix of all three can help ensure you get an acceptance letter (or three).
And just because a school, accepts more people, doesn’t mean it’s a bad school. In fact, check out these Top 25 Best Easier-to-Get-Into Colleges (2024).
12. Graduation and Employment Rates
While graduation is still at least four years away, it’s always good to know if graduates are actually graduating on time and if they’re landing jobs afterward. Check out graduation rates to get a sense of how well a school supports students in completing their degrees.
You should also look into employment rates to see how many students from a given university are finding jobs. Note that your major will play a role in this, but it’s still helpful information to have. For example, 87% of North Carolina State University graduates find a job within a year, and 70.2% of Pennsylvania State students secure full-time jobs after graduation. These numbers can give you insight into the potential opportunities post-graduation.
What Are Your Ideal Qualities?
These qualities may, or may not, feel important to you, but you’ll want to prioritize the ones that are. Think about what you want out of your college experience—it could be anything! Write down everything you’re looking for in a college. If a school ends up checking all your boxes, well, it seems like a done deal. But just know that they might not, so identify what is the most important to you—the things you won’t compromise on. You could try writing statements like:
- The size of my college is really important to me. I would prefer a smaller school where I feel comfortable getting to know professors and other students.
- I’m looking for a school that has a large range of clubs and sports, particularly tennis.
- I’d prefer a school with a lower cost and plenty of scholarship opportunities.
- I’m not sure what I want to do yet. I would love a school that offers flexibility in majors.
- I want a school that invests in undergraduate research and hands-on learning.
Remember, what works for someone else might not be the right fit for you—and that’s okay. It’s important to think about the things that you want out of a school because that is what is going to help you thrive academically and individually. Use these 12 good qualities of a college to help you start brainstorming what’s most important to you so that you can have your best college experience.
Want to get started on building your list of top schools? Use our College Match tool and get matched with colleges based on your location, GPA, and test scores.
