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Colorado College Guide
Buyer's Guide
We hope this guide is useful in helping you determine which colleges or universities best suit your needs. Following is a list of factors and questions to consider as you explore your choices. This overview is only a starting point; it is intended to guide you toward the appropriate resources.
Two Year vs Four Year
- Four-year colleges usually offer Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Sciences degrees. Vocational certificates and Associate of Applied Sciences degrees are also available, but nontransferable.
- Two-year colleges usually offer Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees.
- Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees are applicable towards partial credit (usually junior class status) in a four-year program.
- Undergraduate community, vocational, technical or professional schools train students for very specific career fields. This is a good option for the student who is seeking in-depth job-specific training in his or her career.
- Universities are generally larger and contain a liberal arts school, as well as a number of graduate and professional (post-graduate) programs. Keep in mind that graduate programs tend to require four-year degrees.
When you are considering various institutions, you may want to ask the following questions:
Academics/Faculty
- Does the department in which you are interested have a strong reputation outside of the school?
- What is the average student to faculty ratio?
- How accessible are faculty members?
- What is the average class size for my major?
- What kinds of special programs are available?
- Is academic counseling or tutoring offered?
- Does the school offer study abroad programs?
- What kinds of research opportunities exist for undergraduates?
- What types of academic support programs such as tutoring and peer counseling are available?
- Do any of the four-year schools offer two-year programs?
- Does the school have service learning, internships and cooperative education programs?
- Does the school offer unique academic calendars, such as two long terms and one short academic term, or year-round flexible terms allowing for internships?
- What are the graduation and retention rates for the school?
- Does the school offer student evaluations of faculty?
Student Life
- What is the availability of on-campus student activities?
- What percentage of students lives on-campus?
- What types of public transportation are available to students?
- What percentage of students works while attending school?
- What types of special interest programs and groups are available?
- Are there racial/ethnic, religious or cultural participatory groups?
- What roles do fraternities and sororities play on campus?
- What programs are in place to ease the transition from high school to college?
- What is the atmosphere of the surrounding community?
- Is the campus located in a metropolitan setting, or is it in a small town?
- What types of library resources are available to students?
- What types of child care are available on campus?
- What kind of campus safety system is in place?
- What types of meal plans are offered? Is a plan mandatory?
Financial Information
- What is the overall price of the school (tuition, room and board, books) in conjunction with any financial aid you may have been offered?
- What kind of availability is there for scholarships in your field of study?
- How many work-study jobs are available?
- What is the availability and average cost of off-campus housing?
- What was the average fee increase over the last five years?
Technology
- What kind of technology is available to students?
- How many computer labs are available to students, and what is the ratio of computers to students?
- Does the school offer distance education degrees or courses?
Job Placement
- What kinds of job placement services are available to students?
- What are the job placement rates for graduates?
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