There are a no shortage of college related web sites that allow you to search for particular colleges that meet your interests and needs. Unfortunately it is sometimes difficult to find out how often a website updates their data. It is difficult to know when a site is updated (if ever) and whether you can rely on the information provided.

One reliable source of information which is updated annually is the National Center for Education Statistics website provided by the US Department of Education. While the site isn't as flashy as some others, the data is the most reliable, although it is always a year behind the current year.

All SAS students have access to Family Connection, a college and career information website that is used to track all college application for all SAS students. All students have a unique login and password. If you don't remember yours, click the "help" button on the sign in screen or contact your counselor. One very important function of this website is its ability to help predict chances of admission at any college of interest to you through a tool called "scattergrams." Scattergrams graphically depict the GPA's, SAT scores, and admission experience of SAS students at hundreds of different colleges over the past years. Students can check their GPA and SAT scores against those previous students who applied to a particular college and thereby estimate the likelihood of gaining admission to this college.

College Search Engines

Family Connection
The college search feature allows you to search and automatically add schools to your "prospective" list. Rather than searching from other websites, you might find it easiest to simply login to Family Connection and click "college search" under "About College."

College Navigator
College Navigator consists primarily of the latest data from the Integrated Post secondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the core post secondary education data collection program for NCES – the National Center for Education Statistics. It is designed to give students and families accurate and reliable information about US colleges and universities.

Institute of International Education
IIE has conducted an annual statistical survey of the international students in the United States since 1949. Open Doors reports on U.S. students studying abroad and on international scholars at U.S. universities and international students enrolled in pre-academic Intensive English Programs.

U.S. News Edu
Here are the rankings and other information related to college admission.

Unigo
A platform for college students to share reviews, photos, videos, documents, and more about their school. .It’s also a place for high school students to find out what life is really like at particular colleges.

Specialized Schools/Programs

Art Schools - schools offering programs ranging from dance to interior design to photography.

Business Schools - BusinessWeek uses nine distinct measures to rank undergraduate business schools. While no ranking is perfect, it does provide a starting point.

Engineering Schools - engineering and computer disciplines at the bachelor's, master's, and PhD level.

Medical Schools - FACTS is the most comprehensive source of information regarding medical school applicants, matriculants, and graduates available to the public free of charge. It also includes information on colleges offering combined Bachelor's/MD programs. An additional source of information on combined BA/MD programs can be found on the Medical Help Network. If you're an international student you need to know that not only is it extremely difficult to obtain admission to American medical schools, but also that financial aid for such study is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to secure. This website, from the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions, has details.

Online Schools - Accredited online colleges and universities

Additional Categories and Information

• Christian
• Jesuit
• Jewish
• Gay and lesbian friendly
• Colleges with the Most Graduates earning a Ph.D. - This list shows the top 10 institutions in the nation ranked by percentage of graduates who go on to earn a Ph.D. in selected disciplines. Many students and parents are surprised to learn that undergraduate liberal arts colleges produce more Ph.D.s than the highly selective research institutions.
• Liberal Arts - Colleges that Change Lives - If you'd like to expand your lists of college possibilities beyond the traditional Ivy League and name-brand schools, check out this site. The percentage of students admitted to graduate school from the most selective colleges is dwarfed by the percentage rates for these 40 schools.
• Economicdiversity.org - Provides campus-level data on student income, race and ethnicity, and student loan usage that can be compared over time and across institutions. If you are concerned about the diversity of the school you are considering, you can view and compare 258 different data elements for each of 3,000 accredited colleges and universities.
• Graduation Rates - The National Center for Education statistics, U.S. Department of Education gathers information on college and university graduation rates. Search schools here.
• OPE Campus Security Statistics - A direct link to reported criminal offenses for over 6000 colleges and universities in the United States.
• Campus newspapers - Read about local issues on a campus