College Raptor Staff

Applying to college can be challenging, and so we at College Raptor feel it's our duty to make that process as easy, smooth, and rewarding as possible. We work hard to clarify dense material, dispel myths, uncover information, and help you learn what you need to know!
Coins super close-up.
questions & answers

Is There Any Way To Attend College Tuition-Free?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on March 24, 2025
Tuition free education seems like a tall order, an impossible dream. Reading about student loan debt is common. The more you read about it, the more it seems like all students who attend college take huge loans and graduate with massive debt. Unfortunately, what goes unmentioned is the number of students who attend college tuition-free …
What does standardized testing measure
ACT & SAT

What Do Standardized Tests Measure and Why Take Them?

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on April 9, 2024
Standardized testing is a highly debated topic. Many question its accuracy in assessing the true abilities and potential of students. Regardless, standardized tests still carry significant weight in the college admissions process. So the question remains: What exactly are standardized tests, and why take them? What is Standardized Testing? A standardized test is when students …
2018 university rankings

Top 25 Best HSIs: 2018 Rankings

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
Hispanic Serving Institutions, or HSIs, do just what their name implies. These schools are dedicated to serving Hispanic and Latino students in the United States. The mission of these schools is to increase the aid, support, and access to quality higher education for students of Hispanic descent—particularly first-generation and low-income students. However, HSIs open their doors …
College Raptor Rankings star badge that says "Top 25 HBCUs 2018".
2018 university rankings

Top 25 Best College and University Rankings (2018)

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
Historically black colleges / universities, or HBCUs for short, are schools established with the primary purpose of serving the African American community before the Civil Rights Movement. Out of the over 100 best HBCU that are operating today in America, the following selection of 25 are the strongest institutions of the bunch. The schools continue in …
A gold star badge that says "College Raptor Top 25 with Highest 1st Year Retention Rate 2018."
2018 university rankings

Top 25 Best First-Year Retention Rates: 2018 Rankings

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
Many prospective students look to a college’s first year retention rate as an indicator of a school’s quality. Retention rates show the percentage of the freshman class that remained enrolled for their second academic year—meaning they loved the school enough to continue their higher education there. For this list, we looked at which colleges had …
A gold star badge that says "College Raptor Top 25 Best Colleges in the Southeast 2018."
2018 university rankings

Top 25 Best Colleges in the Southeast: 2018 Rankings

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
The Southeast region offers a wide variety and distribution of colleges within its borders. Known for its beautiful weather and rich cultural history, this diverse area has a college experience for every student. Schools in the Southeast range from large research universities to small liberal arts institutions. Whether public or private, southeastern schools have a …
College Raptor Rankings star badge that says "Top 25 Best Colleges in the Southwest 2018".
2018 university rankings

Top 25 Best Colleges in the Southwest: 2018 Rankings

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022
The Southwest region of the United States is full of rich history, fascinating landscapes, and plenty of notable colleges and universities. We analyzed hundreds of colleges in the region based on various measures, including campus diversity, student outcomes, selectivity, and more. For the purposes of this list, we consider the following states to make up the …

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Join thousands of students and parents learning about finding the right college, admissions secrets, scholarships, financial aid, and more.