How to Find the Right College
It’s important to think through lots of options when preparing your list of colleges. First you need to decide what you might want to study (take an interest inventory). You need to think about city/country school, big/small school, cold/warm climate, etc. You need to determine which colleges give you the financial aid. You need to decide if a community college is the best place to start (you can save LOTS of money by starting there). There are lots of questions you need to ask yourself. This page will help you think about those questions and come up with some answers.
The easiest way to find the right school for you!
This is a GREAT resource! Check out the college scoreboard – put together by the Department of Education. Federal officials say the College Scorecard is intended to be a resource for choosing colleges, helping students to broaden their college search and compare their top-choice schools. “By using the College Scorecard to compare costs and outcomes with their future degrees, students are better equipped to make these critical life decisions,” according to the site. The website also provides each school’s annual average cost and its graduation rates. The site allows you to sort the colleges to determine who leads and trails in each of these categories. If you click on a school, you’ll also get additional information on the school’s population and SAT and ACT scores.
Interest Inventories
It can be very hard to know “what do I want to do when I grow up” when you are still in high school. An interest inventory can help you identify careers that meet your interests. Interest assessments usually ask you a series of questions about what you like and don’t like to do. Then they match your likes and dislikes to careers. When you choose a career that matches your overall interests, you’re more likely to enjoy your job. You’re also more likely to be successful. There are many different interest inventories (or interest assessments) out there – these are just a few to consider. It’s worth looking at more than one of them – to see if you get the same general ideas for future career paths.
- This is an online form – https://www.careeronestop.org/toolkit/careers/interest-assessment.aspx – it not only gives more specific details of jobs and careers that might work, but it also gives an idea of how easy/hard it is to find jobs in those fields (“outlook”), what the jobs tend to pay (clearly this is an average), and what education level is needed. And if you click on a specific job topic then there is lots more info available about that job topic.
- https://careertech.org/student-interest-survey – you have to print this one out but it can give some general ideas on what career paths might be of interest.
- http://careerwise.minnstate.edu/careers/clusterAssessment – another online form; this one gets you to some career clusters that are based on your areas of interest; if you click on a career cluster then you will get much more info about jobs within that cluster.
- My Next Move, interest profiler
- 16Personalities, free personality test
Finding the Right College – Some Helpful Links
- Best colleges in PA for your money – this is ranking from US News and World Report (22/23) – listing the top PA schools that give you the best value.
- If you need some help just sorting through the long list of possible colleges – check out this website: www.bestcolleges.com. It has some great links related to finding a college, figuring out a major, looking for scholarships, etc.
- Would you consider an online college? This website gives lots of good info on how to think about online college.
- The Best Schools website has lots of filters that can be used to find the right online college just for you!
- Comparing Colleges, this website compares colleges and gives lots of quick facts about colleges – including graduation rates, etc. It is VERY helpful.
- College vs. Vocational School – a great way to look at college vs technical school options
- College Navigator – how to choose the right college and right major
- Quest Bridge – links bright, motivated low-income students with educational and scholarship opportunities at some of the nation’s best colleges.
- I’m First is a national nonprofit that works to empower first-generation college students on the path to and through college.
OTHER ARTICLES OF INTEREST ON CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLEGE:
Click on headlines below.
Paying for college if you are not a citizen and have no green card
For students who are not citizens and do not have green card status – paying for college can be challenging. The Federal Assistance (Pell Grants, Stafford Loans, PHEAA grants, etc) are not available to them. A helpful link to finding extra support is https://www.cappex.com/greenlight/articles/us-colleges-meet-need-undocumented-students. One student was able to get a full scholarship and explained the process used in finding that college:
I started researching colleges I wanted to attend, and then I went to their websites to gauge their financial support for students like me. Please beware that most of the institutions that offer need-based financial aid to undocumented students, or any student without a green card, are in the Top 30 of all universities in the country, including many top liberal arts colleges as well. Thus, extremely high grades and competitive college applications are required. Most other universities will consider these students to be international students, requiring proof of parents’ financial support before granting admission. Although some scholarships exist, competition is extremely fierce because of the limited number of spots that these colleges allocate to international students. Additionally, most public universities will have higher tuition rates for these students (as they are considered to be international students), although they may be residents in all but their immigration status. At the time of this research (2021), in Pennsylvania, the only institution that offers need-based financial aid for undocumented students is Swarthmore College.
Best schools in PA for salaries for graduates
Best schools in PA for salaries for graduates
Below is the list of the Pennsylvania schools and their average earning potential for graduates. The numbers are based on the average earnings of students 10 years after they enrolled. Clearly a lot of these numbers are based on the majors and degrees of the graduates, but it gives an overall picture. Published in August 2017.
- University of the Sciences, Philadelphia $95,800
- Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia $86,300
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Lehigh University, Bethlehem $76,700
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh $76,200
- Villanova University, Villanova $73,900
- Bucknell University, Lewisburg $69,100
- Lafayette College, Easton $68,800
- Drexel University, Philadelphia $62,600
- Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia $58,400
- Haverford College, Haverford $56,600
- Muhlenberg College, Allentown $56,300
- University of Scranton, Scranton $55,200
- Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr $53,600
- Dickinson College, Carlisle $53,300
- Widener University-Main Campus, Chester $52,900
- Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster $52,700
- Gettysburg College, Gettysburg $52,600
- Ursinus College, Collegeville $52,100
- Gwynedd Mercy University, Gwynedd Valley $51,600
- La Salle University, Philadelphia $50,900
- Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove $50,000
- Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre $49,900
- Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, Lancaster $49,300
- Strayer University-Pennsylvania, Trevose $49,200
- University of Pittsburgh (Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown and Pittsburgh campuses) $48,800
- Moravian College, Bethlehem $48,600
- Holy Family University, Philadelphia; Swarthmore College, Swarthmore $48,500
- Allegheny College, Meadville $48,400
- Philadelphia University, Philadelphia $48,300
- Misericordia University, Dallas $48,100
- Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown $48,000
- Washington & Jefferson College, Washington $47,900
- Rosemont College, Rosemont, King’s College, Wilkes-Barre $47,800
- Pennsylvania State University (all campuses); DeSales University $47,700
- Immaculata University, Immaculata $47,600
- York College Pennsylvania, York $47,500
- Temple University, Philadelphia $47,200
- Peirce College, Philadelphia $46,800
- Saint Francis University, Loretto $46,400
- Cedar Crest College, Allentown $46,300
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania, West Chester $46,100
- Lebanon Valley College, Annville $46,000
- Gannon University, Erie $45,900
- Albright College, Reading $45,800
- Saint Vincent College, Latrobe $45,300
- Waynesburg University, Waynesburg $45,100
- Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, Shippensburg $44,600
- Juniata College, Huntingdon $44,500
- Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Bloomsburg $43,900
- Robert Morris University, Moon Township $43,700
- Lycoming College, Williamsport $43,500
- Westminster College, New Wilmington $43,500
- East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, East Stroudsburg $43,000
- Millersville University of Pennsylvania, Millersville; Arcadia University, Glenside $42,900
- Alvernia University, Reading $41,900
- Messiah College, Mechanicsburg $41,900
- Eastern University, Saint Davids $41,300
- Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Kutztown $41,200
- Cabrini University, Radnor $40,900
- La Roche College, Pittsburgh $40,700
- Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport $40,100
- Delaware Valley University, Doylestown; Neumann University, Aston; Mercyhurst University, Erie $39,500
- Carlow University, Pittsburgh $39,400
- Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia $39,300
- Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock; Geneva College, Beaver Falls $38,900
- Lock Haven University, Lock Haven $38,400
- California University of Pennsylvania, California $38,100
- Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, Mansfield $37,800
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus, Indiana $37,400
- Mount Aloysius College, Cresson $37,100
- Thiel College, Greenville $37,000
- Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Clarion $36,800
- Point Park University, Pittsburgh $36,600
- Marywood University, Scranton $36,400
- Seton Hill University, Greensburg $35,900
- Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro $34,400
- Central Penn College, Summerdale $34,400
- Lincoln University, Lincoln University $33,500
- Chatham University, Pittsburgh $33,400
- Wilson College, Chambersburg $32,800
- Cairn University-Langhorne, Langhorne $32,600
- Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia $32,400
- The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College, Philadelphia $32,100
- The Art Institutes of York-PA, York $31,000
- Keystone College, La Plume $30,600
- Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster $30,000
- The University of the Arts, Philadelphia $29,800
- Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Cheyney $29,500
- Summit University of Pennsylvania, Clarks Summit $29,000
- University of Valley Forge, Phoenixville $28,800
- Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, Lancaster $26,800
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia $24,700
The Value of Tier 2 and 3 Schools
Many Tier 2 & 3 Schools Offer Tremendous Value
If you are a top academic junior or senior in high school, it might seem that selecting an elite (and expensive) college or university would help to leverage your personal and professional success. If this were the case, then choosing an Ivy League or Top-25 school would virtually guarantee you an edge over other graduates in the workforce.
However, there is no evidence that any school provides the right mix of factors to ensure personal and professional success. The only statistic available that shows the value of a college degree comes from a census study done by the federal government in the year 2012, which indicates that the average college graduate can expect to earn about $1,000,000 more than a high school graduate over a working lifetime.
In reality, though, an Ivy League degree does not guarantee anything except the short-term branding of one’s perceived quality or value as a person or an employee. There is no research that suggests an Ivy League college degree provides more earning potential over a lifetime, more happiness, more insight, more knowledge, or more self-worth per-dollar-cost than any other school in the country. A study by Forbes magazine revealed that among the CEOs of leading Fortune 300 corporations, 87% did not attend a Top 25 school for their undergraduate studies.
The fact remains that most college students do not attend elite colleges, regardless of the “nameplate” or “brand” of school they choose to attend. Many Tier 2 schools offer tremendous value, depending upon the needs, wants, and values that an individual student is looking for in his or her college search. Furthermore, you’ll find many corporate, foundation, and civic leaders who graduated from Tier 3 public and private schools too.
What about money?
Many Tier 2 and Tier 3 colleges offer significant grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts to attract quality students, regardless of the family’s income or financial need. Whereas Ivy League schools only offer financial aid to families with financial need.
Students enter college from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Then they graduate into a workforce with a specific set of skills, knowledge, and attitude shaped by very diverse experiences. No two graduates are alike, and no two schools are alike. Just remember, the right college choice can make a big difference in the student’s future; however, the wrong choice could cost a bundle.
If you are a top high school junior or senior this coming school year and you want to pick the right college (at the right price) for your future; then be sure you do a thorough analysis of the many Tier 2 and Tier 3 colleges available. Many offer significant grants, scholarships and tuition discounts that can make a BIG difference to your pocketbook!
From NICCP posting, Oct 2016
Good PA Colleges to Consider
You don’t have to only consider the most popular PA schools – it’s good to think outside the box! These colleges tend to have more available opening that many others. Many have lower tuition and/or good scholarship assistance. Remember, if you go to a PA college you’ll likely be eligible for PHEAA grants (those are usually only good for PA colleges).
NOTE: Those with a * are part of the PA State System of Higher Education, so their tuition may be lower for PA students. (Room/Board will usually be the same for in-state and out-of-state students.)
Allegheny College
Arcadia University
Bloomsburg University*
Cabrini College
Cedar Crest College
Central Penn College
Cheyney University*
Clarion University*
East Stroudsburg University of PA*
Elizabethtown College
Immaculata University
Indiana University of PA*
King’s College
Kutztown University*
Lackawanna College
La Salle University
Lebanon Valley College
Mansfield University*
Millersville University*
Point Park University
Shippensburg University*
Slippery Rock University*
St. John’s University
Temple University
University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
Ursinus College
West Chester University*
Widener University
Wilkes University
Wilson College
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