How can I make the most of the College Scorecard?

I've been exploring the College Scorecard website to help me decide on colleges. Are there any strategies or tips you have for effectively using this tool to find the best college match for me?

The College Scorecard is a great resource for researching different schools. Here are some tips to help you maximize the benefits of this tool:

1. Use the filters: Make full use of the College Scorecard's filters, such as location, size, degrees offered, and more to customize your search results. This will help you find schools that meet your criteria.

2. Pay attention to outcomes: The College Scorecard provides information about graduation rates, average earnings after graduation, and loan repayment rates. This can give you a sense of how well a school's graduates are doing after they leave college.

3. Compare schools: Create a list of schools that interest you and compare their statistics side-by-side using the College Scorecard's features. This will give you a better sense of the schools' strengths and weaknesses relative to one another.

4. Consider other factors: While the data provided by the College Scorecard is useful, remember to also consider other factors, like campus culture, extracurriculars, and specific programs, that will also have a major impact on your overall experience at a school.

Lastly, don't hesitate to also use other resources like college search engines, virtual campus tours, and individual college websites to complement the insights you gain from the College Scorecard. CollegeVine itself also has some useful information about what many schools out there are like, and even has some blog posts dedicated to explaining what makes a particular school special.

Happy searching!