The colleges on these lists were amassed using the following data collection techniques:
 

• Experts' Choice: Our Experts’ Choice lists were collected by tallying opinions of experts around the US and internationally. More details are shared below.
   

• Research: More than a dozen researchers were hired to work exclusively for The College Finder to find reliable data about all aspects of the college experience.
   

• Credible Publications: Data from reputable associations, organizations, publications, and websites added depth and credibility.
   

• Firsthand Insights: Steve and Jay regularly visit colleges and interview students, faculty, and administrators to get a fair, well-rounded perspective.
   

• Specialist Input: Invited experts offered guidance on topics such as learning-disability-friendly colleges, best colleges internationally, and summer programs.
   

• Collaboration: Collaboration with colleagues and certificate students from the University of California provided valuable insights.

The primary goal of The College Finder is to expand the pool of colleges that students consider, extend the possibilities they envision, and magnify their sense of power as they research colleges. No one factor—not overall prestige, academic program of interest, prowess of athletic teams, nor social environment—is all-important; college choice is best done when numerous aspects are considered. The unique format of this book should provide many ways to cross-reference and analyze multiple issues. If The College Finder helps a student identify even one new college for consideration, then it will have fulfilled its purpose.

This Fifth Edition is our most robust yet, featuring a comprehensive update of existing topics and lists, alongside exciting new content. This edition features more than 1,200 lists, 65% more than the last edition. Specifically, it includes 250% more lists concerning affordability and cost; 74% more focusing on athletics; and a 66% increase in lists related to international schools and study abroad. We think that the section on “lifestyles interests and personalities” in Chapter 5 is particularly useful. That part of the Chapter reflects a greater than 160% increase in lists and includes colleges in a host of categories—colleges for lovers of ideas, techies, fans of live music, would-be inventors, free spirits, and fitness fiends.

A centerpiece of this latest edition are the more than 375 Expert Choice lists. These lists were compiled from the surveys of school counselors and Independent Educational Consultants. In addition to the continued input from educational consultants in the Independent Educational Consultants Association and the Higher Education Consultants  Association, our collaborations expanded with this Fifth Edition as we engaged more regional and state-wide college admissions associations in the surveys. In total, college experts from 47 states completed surveys and another 77 surveys were provided by experts advising students internationally. This broader reach allowed us to pose more than 600 Experts’ Choice questions and receive 1,450 completed surveys.

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If you’d like to have your voice included in future Experts’ Choice surveys, we’d love to hear from you. Join our community of counselors by adding your email below, and we’ll be in touch when the next survey launches.​​