Academic Programs
Seek out schools or distance learning programs that offer the education and programs you need for the occupations you’re interested in. For example, you’ll need to go to a school with a nursing program if you want to be a nurse.
Costs and Financing
Know how much your education is going to cost, including tuition, supplies, and living expenses. If you need to work while in school, think about what types of schools or programs will provide flexibility. Identify what financial aid is available to you, including family assistance and scholarships.
Your Learning Style
Do you like to learn in teams? Do you enjoy the classroom environment? Do you like large or small classes? Think about what environments you like to learn in and then identify what types of schools or programs provide those types of learning environments.
Location and Housing
Choose whether you want to go to school nearby or in another city, state, or country (or even online!). Remember that it will cost more, at least for the first year, to go to out-of-state schools. Think about whether you’d like to be in a big or small city. Finally, decide whether you want to live on or off campus (or at home) and what that does to your budget.
Campus and the Campus Environment
If you’ll be attending a college, university, or vocational school, decide what type of campus environment you want. Which institutions offer recreation and learning facilities, such as gyms and computer labs? Do a lot of students live on campus? You’ll be living your life within the campus community, so make sure you know what types of amenities and culture you want out of your environment.
Retention, Graduation, and Job Placement Rates
Look at each school’s retention, graduation, and job placement rates. Retention rates show how many students stayed in school. Graduation rates show how many students graduated. Job placement rates measure how successful students were in getting a job after graduating. These are important indicators of how successful and satisfied students are at each school. It also points to how long it usually takes for students to graduate. Keep in mind that rates can sometimes be lower for distance learning institutions.