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Compare your choices

A few key numbers

When you're comparing colleges, a few key numbers will tell you a lot of what you need to know.

Class size
Some college classrooms can hold more than 500 students. It's possible to learn a lot in such a setting, but it might not be the ideal learning environment for you. Schools that offer small classes—an average of 20 students, and no more than 40—are most likely to give you the personal attention you deserve. So if you want to know your professors and most of your fellow students personally, look for a school with a smaller average class size (like Elmhurst).

Financial aid
If you're hoping for financial assistance, it's helpful to compare schools in terms of their financial awards. Most colleges will tell you the percentage of students who receive financial aid. An even more important statistic is the percentage of demonstrated financial need that a school meets.

Retention rate
A school's retention rate tells you if new students like a school well enough to stay: It measures the percentage of entering freshmen who come back for sophomore year. It's not uncommon for a school to lose nearly half of its first-year students. This may not mean that it's the wrong school for you, but it's a fact worth considering.

And more
A few other numbers to check out: