Find the right college for you

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Some students want to find the perfect college. The truth is, there's no such thing. You can find many colleges where you'll be happy and get an excellent education. The college search is about exploring who you are and what you want and then finding colleges where you can meet your goals.

Still, it's important to narrow the possibilities into a manageable list. Use the tools below to build your list which should contain approximately:

• One to two safeties

• Two to four good matches

• One to two reaches

How Much Is College Tuition?

In looking at schools ranked by U.S. News, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2024-2025 school year is $43,505 at private colleges, $24,513 for out-of-state students at public universities and $11,011 for in-state residents at public schools. That is, the average tuition and fees to attend an in-state public college are nearly 75% less than the average sticker price charged at a private institution, according to U.S. News data.

 

When searching colleges, run their Net Price Calculator to get a realistic idea of cost based on your circumstances.

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College Admission Representative Visits see the CHS College & Career Center calendar for upcoming dates. Students don't miss your opportunity to speak face-to-face with visiting College Admission Representatives! Ask all your burning questions about campus life, majors, admission requirements, etc. Some bring swag to share too! Advisable for 10th-12th graders.​

• *Note: If you are a College Admission Representative, we'd love to have you visit! Please use RepVisits to schedule an available date.

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College Search & Application Tools

• Xello (can use the app through www.office.com)

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• BigFuture Discover which colleges and programs are right for you. Filter by location, major, and more.

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• Prepare for College Resources to prepare for postsecondary education.

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• Find the right college for you Start exploring.

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• College Search step-by-step Although there's no magic formula for choosing a college, you can start by asking yourself some questions that help most students find the right fit.

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• College admissions | Life skills | Khan Academy Let Khan Academy guide you through the college process.

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• Applily College Search College & scholarship search

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• College Scorecard U.S. Department of Education. Search and compare colleges: their fields of study, costs, admissions, results, and more.

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• Degreechoices Find colleges that best fit your needs

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• You Visit College Search Find the right college for you! Virtual visits.

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• The College Tour on Amazon Prime In this innovative and informative series, each story is told by real students attending the featured college or university right now!

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• Real Talk – BigFuture | College Board Connect with Black college and career planning experts.

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• Jeff Selingo's Buyers and Sellers College List 

  • The search for the right fit in a college should result in one that measures up in three ways: academic, social, and financial. But too often, families have only a hazy idea of what their tuition bill might look like. So they don’t think about the price of college until it’s too late.

  • The 2024 Buyers and Sellers List provides essential data on more than 500 colleges and universities, and a very rough sort of the chances for receiving merit aid.

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• The Common App guide for first-year students Get tips and best practices to give yourself the best chance at success.

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• College Application Hub (from College Essay Guy)

  • Where to apply

  • Application pre-work

  • Personal statement

  • Supplemental essays

  • The rest of the application

  • Financial aid

  • After you apply

  • Other important things

  • More resources for more students

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• EA vs ED vs REA vs RD – What’s the Best Way to Apply?

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Click on the pictures below for more information about 4-year and 2-year/technical colleges in Washington State

 

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