Does the U.S. Department of Education Have a College Finder Service?
The U.S. Department of Education provides online services for students searching for an appropriate college or university. The College Navigator and College.gov websites are two online resources from the Department of Education that provide information on colleges.
College Navigator
The U.S. Department of Education runs the College Navigator website at www.nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator. This resource allows prospective students to search public and private colleges and universities by state, degree level and type of institution. Searchers can filter schools by tuition and fees, the minimum and maximum number of undergraduate students, campus setting, the percentage of applicants who are admitted, athletic teams and extended learning opportunities, such as distance learning.
Important Facts About College Navigator's Search Criteria
| Institution Type | Public, private non-profit, public for-profit |
| Program Lengths | 4 years, 2 years, <2 years |
| Level of Award | Certificate, associate's, bachelor's, advanced |
| Campus Setting | Rural, suburban, town, city |
Purpose of College Navigator
College Navigator allows students to refine a search to narrow down results and to build a list of schools to compare. College researchers are given the ability to export the search results into a spreadsheet. College Navigator provides additional resources, such as financial aid and career information, which is taken from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Studentaid.gov Website
Studentaid.gov also provides information for students seeking a college education. The site helps new students apply for admission and choose a major, as well as decide what kind of school they should attend. The site features public and private 4-year colleges and universities, community and junior colleges, and vocational and technical schools.
Studentaid.gov also helps prospective students determine if they qualify for financial aid. The site explains the many types of aid available, as well as the eligibility qualifications and how to apply.