college search

What Juniors Should Do Over The Summer For College Prep

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on December 22, 2022

Using your time wisely over the summer to do your groundwork towards college prep and ease the stress during your senior year. Here are some of the most important things you should do over the summer as part of your summer college prep: Start Narrowing Down Colleges With over 2000 colleges and universities in the …

college majors & minors

Why Juniors Should Start Exploring for College Majors Now

By Allison WignallLast updated on December 22, 2022

While juniors definitely have college prep on the brain, they’re likely focusing on ACT/SAT scores, college visits, and cultivating academic rigor in their schedules. One thing that may not be on the radar yet is what major they want to pursue. Since—for the most part—it’s not technically required to declare a major on a college …

affordability & college cost

The Importance of Knowing Your Net Price

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

There are a lot of prices out there thrown around when it comes to your college education. From sticker price to tuition to room and board, it can be a bit confusing what these terms mean in relation to how much you’ll pay for a year at a particular school. That’s why it’s so important …

college search

Trust Your Instincts: Why Your Gut Feeling Matters in the College Section Process

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

Everyone has a gut feeling over many aspects of their life, and you could be having one about a college you applied to. Believe it or not, these gut feelings and your emotions combined with logic can provide valuable insight into whether or not the school is right for you. What Was Your First Impression? …

college majors & minors

How to Discover the Best Major For You

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

If you’re struggling to decide on a major, you’re not alone. Many students aren’t quite sure what they’d like to study and those that are sure sometimes change their mind once they start attending school. It’s not uncommon for college students to change their major once or even twice before graduating. Here are some tips …

tips tools & advice

Tips for First Generation College Students

By Brooke FaulknerLast updated on December 22, 2022

First generation college students often face a more difficult transition when starting school than students whose parents, grandparents, and beyond have attended college. First-generation college students tend to deal with a unique set of barriers in addition to the common problems that many incoming freshmen face. It’s important that these difficulties don’t prevent first generation …

college search

Should You Base Your Final College Choice on Greek Life?

By Hilary CairnsLast updated on December 22, 2022

Are you thinking about joining a fraternity or sorority while you’re in college? Greek life might weigh heavily on you when it comes to choosing a college, but there are a few things you should be considering before you let it affect your final decision. Is it Important To You? There’s no denying it: Greek …

affordability & college cost

Average Cost of College in US for 2017-2018

By Allison WignallLast updated on March 5, 2025

Sometimes it helps to look at the data, and when it comes to college cost, there’s plenty of data. College costs are rising steadily year over year, so let’s take a look at the average cost of college in the US from 2017 to 2018. Average Cost for Bachelor Degrees According to College Board, NCES, …

2018 university rankings

Top 50 Best Colleges in the United States: 2018 Rankings

By College Raptor StaffLast updated on June 17, 2024

The Top 50 Best Colleges in the U.S. list is our most-selective and most prestigious. The schools in this category are the best of the best. We analyzed data on each school from thousands across the country and selected the best of the four-year colleges throughout the nation. This list includes schools of all sizes, …

college search

Deciding What You Want Out of College: School vs. Major

By Devin MorrisseyLast updated on December 22, 2022

Typically, individuals interested in starting their college career (or continuing it) are faced with two main considerations: Do you choose a program first and then find a school with that preferred program? Or should you choose the school first and then find a program there that suits you? There are certainly pros and cons to …