Pursuing higher education pays off, literally. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) supports that higher education yields higher earnings. Bachelor's degree-holders earn a median annual salary of $72,830 — twice the $37,690 median wage for all occupations.
The best colleges and universities offer scholarly information that helps individuals succeed in their future careers. These institutions provide various majors tailored to specific interests and professions. To choose a college, aspiring graduates should conduct research. In this guide, we provide a starting point for individuals to learn more about higher education. Keep reading to discover how to choose a major, find the right school, and fund a degree
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Career and Salary Outlook
Higher education helps students reach career and salary goals. Before individuals choose a university, though, they need to determine the right major for their desired professional field. Many schools hire academic advisors to help undecided majors select the right career path. Choosing a major before enrolling helps learners avoid paying for unnecessary classes. Even so, many students end up switching majors at some point during their studies.
Since majors correlate with specific jobs, prospective learners should read career descriptions before enrollment. The BLS provides information on thousands of careers, even those relatively unknown. When researching careers on this site, pay attention to the job outlook. This percentage projects how much the need for particular professions should grow within the coming years. The BLS also offers data on unemployment rates and median weekly earnings by education level.
Data from the Social Security Administration show how education level influences earnings. Men with a bachelor's degree earn $900,000 more in median lifetime earnings than high school graduates. Women with this same education level earn $630,000 more. You can learn more about higher education financial benefits by reading the CollegeBoard's report.
Accreditation
Accreditation status marks another top factor to consider when students choose a college or university. Institutions with accreditation receive frequent quality assessments from third-party agencies that the U.S. Department of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation oversee. This means the best universities maintain accreditation status.
The best colleges and universities feature programs with programmatic accreditation as well. Employers view degrees from accredited schools and programs as legitimate, and most scholarships only award funds to learners attending accredited institutions.
To quickly verify a school or program's accreditation status, use the U.S. Department of Education's lookup tool.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
To attend one of the best colleges, some students may need financial assistance in the form of scholarships, loans, or grants. The FAFSA allows academics to apply for multiple federal loans and grants through a single form. This application takes about 45 minutes to complete and requires income information found on federal tax documents. Individuals who file their taxes as dependents must submit their guardian's tax information.
Based on the applicant's FAFSA information, the government distributes Federal Pell Grants and subsidized loans to individuals with financial need. Subsidized loans do not collect interest while the recipient maintains enrollment. Individuals who do not financially qualify can borrow unsubsidized loans, which begin collecting interest immediately.
Scholarships provide financial assistance that does not require repayment. Universities, colleges, nonprofits, foundations, and businesses all award these funds. Some scholarships aid students majoring in a specific area. Others assist underrepresented students. Scholarships usually require essays, recommendation letters, and official transcripts.
The Best Colleges and Universities 2021
It takes time to choose a college, so we offer some initial research to help. Each year, we review graduate retention rates, tuition, and accreditation status for schools nationwide. Using these figures, we create a ranking of the best colleges and universities. Use this list as a starting point, but we encourage prospective students to research each school further.
