College Exploration Websites
by Jeff Flott
August 30, 2007
ACT Financial Aid Estimator (www.act.org/fane) - The Financial Aid Need Estimator allows you to calculate both your family contribution and costs at specific institutions
National Architectural Accrediting Board (www.naab.org) - College Architecture Programs
College Confidential (www.collegeconfidential.com) - Comprehensive site guides you through the entire process from researching colleges to getting in and paying for them.
50 States (http://www.50states.com/college/) - A listing of every college and university by state.
College University Rankings (www.library.uiuc.edu/edx/rankings.htm) - For many years, various bodies have undertaken statistical and reputational rankings of colleges and attempted to provide information to prospective students. At this site, you will find links to many ranking services, along with cautionary notes and a discussion of the ongoing controversy over rankings.
Campus Tours (www.campustours.com) - provides online tours, pictures, and interactive maps of college campuses.
Collegezone (www.collegezone.com) - a great site run by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Contains tuition information, scholarship information, online applications, and a state and federal aid estimator.
Culinary Schools (www.culinaryed.com)
Illinois Vocational and Trade Schools (http://www.rwm.org/rwm/tf_ill.html)
Illinois Board of Higher Education (http://www.ibhe.state.il.us/ProgInv/default.asp) - Search tool for academic degree programs in Illinois.
Peterson's (www.petersons.com) - We've compiled search tools for some of the best colleges and universities, articles, and resources to help you find the right school, contact admissions officials instantly, excel on tests, and pay for college.
Princeton Review (www.princetonreview.com) - A website with college and career information.
College and University Rankings (http://www.library.uiuc.edu/edx/rankings.htm) - The University of Illinois keeps listings of statistical and reputational rankings. Increasingly, the importance and validity of college rankings is a hotly debated issue. Many universities, including highly ranked ones, are beginning to question both the data and methods used by some ranking services. Of special concern are the aspects of the rankings which deal with the difficult to measure concept of institutional reputation. At this site, you will find links to many ranking services, along with cautionary notes and a discussion of the ongoing controversy over rankings.
