Campus setting
Campus setting describes the area in which the campus is located. The schools have classified themselves for this question, so there are no rigorous definitions. Keep in mind that a campus in the middle of a city can look bucolic and colleges in rural locations may have an urban feel.

Doesn't matterRural (under 5,000)Small Town (5,000 - 24,999)Large Town (25,000 - 74,999)Small City (75,000 - 299,999)Urban/Major City (300,000 - 1,999,999)Metropolitan Areas (2 million and up)

Cost
Search for schools by the total cost per year. Total cost equals tuition and fees plus room/board. Remember, many expensive schools often discount their prices by offering need-based and merit-based financial aid packages to students.

Size
Find schools based on the total number of undergraduates. You may also want to consider class size, which may vary from one department to the next at both large and small colleges.

Doesn't matterVery Small School (less than 750 students)Small School (750 - 2000 students)Medium School (2000 - 10,000 students)Large School (10,000 - 25,000 students)Very Large School (over 25,000 students)

Selectivity
Selective schools will have lower acceptance rates, more students from the top 10 to 25 percent of their high school class, and high SAT or ACT scores. Keep in mind that selective schools also look at your grade-point average and the content of your courses. Ask yourself whether you want to be average in a tough academic school or above average in a less demanding environment.

Doesn't matterNot SelectiveSelectiveHighly selectiveMost selective

Student/faculty ratio
Student/faculty ratio measures the number of professors per number of students. Keep in mind, however, that student-to-faculty ratio can vary from department to department.

Doesn't matterStudent/faculty Ratio Low (less than 15:1)Student/faculty Ratio Medium (15-20:1)Student/faculty Ratio High (greater than 20:1)

Single sex or coed?
Some single-sex schools admit members of the opposite sex for special programs or other unique circumstances. Contact a school directly if you have questions about its admission policies.

Doesn't matterWomen's college (90% or more)Men's college (90% or more)Co-Ed (between 70% men and 70% women)Female Majority (70% - 89% women)Male Majority (70% - 89% men)

Religious affiliation
Be aware that the religious affiliation of a given school may have more to do with the way the school was chartered than with a religion's presence on campus. The extent to which a religious affiliation is reflected in campus life varies from school to school.

Doesn't matterCatholic AffiliationProtestant AffiliationMormon AffiliationOther Religious Affiliation

Diversity
The selection "Overall diversity" is defined as a school whose minority population is greater than 17 percent.

Doesn't matterTotal Minority: High (over 20%)Black Students: High (over 20%)Hispanic Students: High (over 10%)Asian Students: High (over 7%)Native American Students: High(over 5%)Foreign Students: High (over 10%)Out of State: High (over 50%)

Varsity sports
Keep in mind that colleges often drop and add sports programs; therefore, make sure that the sport you want will be offered when you plan to attend.