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College Comparison Spreadsheet: A Step-by-Step Guide to Create One

Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

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Cait Williams is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cait recently graduated from Ohio University with a degree in Journalism and Strategic Communications. During her time at OU, was active in the outdoor recreation community.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

With so many options available, it can be difficult to narrow down your college options to a workable list. This is where a college comparison spreadsheet comes in; they are a great way to lay out all of your options in one document and compare their advantages and disadvantages. This can be a good way to decide what you want to prioritize in your prospective colleges, and ultimately it can help you save on application fees, which can add up quickly.

In this guide, we’ll lead you through every step of creating a college comparison spreadsheet. That includes a guide to what information to include for each college, where to source the information, how many schools to add, and how to read your sheet once you’ve finished it. We’ll even give you some options for programs to use for the spreadsheet. Let’s get into it!

Jump ahead to…

• Goals for a college comparison spreadsheet

What columns should I include on my spreadsheet?

Where should i source data for my colleges.

• How many schools should I include?
• What program should I use?
• Free college comparison spreadsheet template
• Additional college resources
• Frequently asked questions

What should a college comparison spreadsheet accomplish?

When you’re digging into a college decision, there are a lot of factors that you need to weigh at the same time in order to make a good choice. It’s easy to become scatterbrained if all of this data isn’t in the same place.

A college comparison spreadsheet solves this problem by aggregating all of this information in one place. It mixes official, objective information, such as average test scores, salaries, tuition, and location, with personal preferences and impressions.

Don’t ignore the process!

Part of the beauty of a college comparison spreadsheet is that it can help you out with your decision making in several ways. Once it’s finished, it’s a great resource to look back at and narrow down your options. But on top of that, you’ll receive considerable benefit just by making it.

By filling out entries for each school you’re considering, you’ll find out more about the schools in the process. You’ll also be given opportunities for personal reflection in some of the columns. So, you’ll be doing half the work just by making the spreadsheet!

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Your first step when creating your spreadsheet should be laying out what categories you’ll use to assess your prospective schools. Each category will occupy its own column in the spreadsheet. In general, your categories will fall into one of the following themes:

General information

• Personal preference 

The general information section will be the easiest to fill out. All the information you need should be on any college profile. Here is everything you should add in the general information theme:

• Name of the school
• Public or private?
• Demographics of location (urban vs. rural)
• Total number of students
• Total number of undergraduate students

This part may seem basic, but it’s important to fill out for every school, and can help inform your later themes, such as personal preference.

Related:   Top 15 college majors for the future

The academics section is important for two reasons. First off, it’s a good indicator of your admissions chances. If you fall within the range of typical admitted scores, you have a higher chance of being admitted. And if you fall above it, you have a better chance of scoring merit scholarships at the school.

Second off, it’s a good way to get an idea of whether the school has the level of academic rigor you’re looking for. Looking at the percentage of students who go on to grad school can help you decide if this is a good option to set you on track.

Since these categories are a little more complex than the previous section, we’ll briefly explain each one.

Average high school GPA for incoming freshmen

This will show you the average GPA for students who were admitted and decided to attend. It’s a good benchmark of how your potential future classmates did in high school. It can also indicate whether you’ll earn merit-based aid at the school. If your GPA is higher than the listed number, you may have a better shot at getting financial assistance.

Average admitted test scores

Similar to the previous category, this is a benchmark number to show you what academic level your future classmates would be at. Tests like the ACT and SAT aren’t everything but it can be a good at-a-glance statistic.

But keep in mind, test scores are becoming less relevant in recent years, and many schools have stopped requiring them . So, don’t take this number too seriously, especially if your scores are low.

Graduation rate

A good indicator of a college’s academic strength is its graduation rate. The graduation rate shows what percentage of students who start the program go on to graduate. Schools with strong academics tend to retain their students and a high percent of students graduate from the program.

Percentage of students who go on to grad school

This number measures the percentage of students who go on to grad school within a set number of years after graduation. If you’re considering grad school, this is a very important statistic for academics.

It can indicate how well the college prepares students for grad school, as well as the support structures at the school to help students with the application process. If you have an idea of what you want to major in, you might even be able to find the grad school percentage for students in your major. This could be more accurate to your situation, as some majors lend themselves to grad school more than others.

Top 25% of test scores

This number shows the top 25th percentile of admitted students’ test scores. If you’re in this percentile, you’ll have a good shot at getting some merit-based aid from that school.

Financial information

Now we’re getting deeper into the numbers. This section is more pragmatic, as it gives you an idea of whether you can afford the school you’re considering. Here are the categories you should include for financial information.

Total cost should include your tuition, room and board, supplies, and additional fees . Most colleges have a breakdown of all of their costs on their website. Some call this the “sticker price” – it may seem intimidating, but most students with financial need will qualify for aid to reduce the price.

Percentage of students who receive merit-based aid

This is the percentage of incoming students who receive financial aid that is based on their application strength rather than their financial need. This gives you an idea of how likely you are to receive aid on top of your need-based aid .

Average merit award for freshmen

This number is the average amount awarded for students who qualify for merit-based aid. So, if you earn merit-based aid at the school, this gives you an idea of how much it will be.

Average percent of need met

Once you submit your financial information to a school, it’ll be up to them to decide how much financial need you have. They gauge your ability to pay, and subtract that from the total cost of attendance. The remaining number is your financial need.

Average percent of need met shows how much of that number the college will cover. Many schools pledge to meet all financial needs, while others only cover part of it. So, schools with a higher percent will have a higher chance of giving you a workable aid package.

Average undergraduate financial aid

This gives you a portrait of how much financial aid the school gives to the average student who demonstrates financial need. It might be difficult to make sense of this figure on its own, but it should be telling when you compare it to other schools’ numbers.

Average graduate salary

If you’re going to have to take out student loans , it’s a good idea to check out average salaries for recent graduates of the school. You want to ensure that you’ll be able to pay any loans back.

But also keep in mind that salaries are influenced not only by school, but by the major and profession you choose. An English major at a prestigious school may go on to earn less than an economics major at a less prestigious school.

Personal preference

In this section, you’ll start reflecting on what you know about the college. Not everything fits into numbers and statistics, so this is kind of a catch-all for everything else about the college that could impact your decision.

The columns are less standard in this section. If you’ve visited the campus , you could include a description of what you liked about it and what you didn’t like. If you’ve talked to a student or alumnus, you could discuss that experience.

Even if you haven’t visited or talked to anyone there, you can quickly run-down your feelings about the statistics you already entered. For example, if you prefer urban schools and the school is rural, you can note that here. If a school has an especially renowned department in a field you’re interested in, you can note that here too.

Here are a few sample columns for this category:

• Campus feel
• Gut feeling about the school
• Personal testimony about the school

You can source data for college comparison spreadsheets from a variety of mediums. Once you have an idea of the schools you want on your list, you can start by going directly to the college’s website. Most schools should have a profile for each incoming class, as well as information about the community and campus life.

Next, you should use a site like College Scorecard , which is managed by the Department of Education. Oftentimes, these sites will have average admitted GPA and test scores, location, and some financial aid information. 

Finally, firsthand testimony is a very important part of the process! This can include college visits, Q&A sessions online, and conversations with current students. Oftentimes, you can ask your high school guidance counselor to match you with any alumni of your high school who go to the college now.

Related: What is a safety, reach, and match school?

How many schools should I include on my college comparison spreadsheet?

The answer to this question depends on how many schools you’re considering. Adding a school to a thorough spreadsheet is a fairly intensive class, so you should decide that you are actually considering a school before you add it.

Sometimes, the process of adding a school to the spreadsheet might be enough to tell you that it’s not a good fit. If so, the spreadsheet is doing its job by narrowing down your choices.

It’s a good idea to get at least five colleges on your list. However having more, closer to ten or even fifteen, isn’t a bad thing either. From here, you can whittle it down and decide which places you actually want to apply to .

What programs are useful for making college comparison spreadsheets?

The most popular spreadsheet programs are Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. You can use whichever you are most familiar with; functionally, they are very similar. However, there are a few advantages to using Sheets.

Sheets is free software, so you’ll be able to use it as long as you make a free Google account. It also has a sharing function that makes it easier to collaborate with other people. So, if you want some input on your choice, Sheets might make it easier to share your options with friends and family.

College comparison spreadsheet template

Just to make things a little easier for you, we’ve cooked up a template to help you start your comparison spreadsheet! You can access our template here . Once you’ve arrived on the page, just click File – > Make a Copy, and it’ll copy an editable version of the spreadsheet into your own Google Drive.

Remember, you can edit the spreadsheet however you’d like to make it work for you. Especially when it comes to the personal preference columns, students may have their own categories they want to add. Everyone has different priorities when it comes to finding a college, and you should make your spreadsheet reflect what those are to you.

Additional resources

Good luck with your college decision! And remember – we’ve got a lot of other resources to guide you through your decision-making process. We’ve got a guide on how to write a successful college application , how to write an essay about yourself , and we can help you fill out the activities section on the Common App .

And once your applications are in, don’t forget to look into scholarship opportunities. Luckily, we can help with that too. We’ve got a free tool that custom-matches you with vetted scholarship opportunities based on your interests, demographics, and age. In addition to that, you can check out our list of scholarships for high school seniors . Best of luck!

• Decide whether Google or Excel will be best for you to make your college comparison spreadsheet in, and then decide which categories you would like to have on your spreadsheet (it can get quite lengthy, but detail can be good!)
• Now, begin the list of colleges you think you would like to compare, it’s important to have a variety of schools, even if you think you already know one might not be for you, it can’t hurt to look closer
• Okay, now is when you really begin to dig in and do your research, it’s time to fill in that spreadsheet, and don’t forget that hearing about peoples’ experiences at a school can always be helpful too
• Now that your spreadsheet is filled out, it’s time for the hardest part of all: Deciding!
• Good luck! 😀

Frequently asked questions about how to make a college comparison spreadsheet

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• College Comparison Worksheet

A college comparison worksheet is a tool that helps you compare different colleges side-by-side to make an informed decision about where to apply and attend. It can be a simple table or a more complex spreadsheet, and it can be tailored to your individual needs and preferences.

Back2College College Comparison Worksheet can be a valuable tool for helping students make informed decisions about their college applications. By carefully comparing different colleges, students can increase their chances of finding a school that is a good fit for them and where they can thrive.

How to use College Comparison Worksheet

To use a college comparison worksheet, start by listing the colleges you are interested in. Then, fill in the information for each college, using reliable sources such as college websites, admissions brochures, and online college rankings. Once you have completed the worksheet, you can compare the colleges side-by-side to identify which ones are the best fit for you.

• Gather information: Gather information about the colleges you are considering from their websites, brochures, and other sources.
• Create a worksheet: Create a worksheet or use an online tool to compare the colleges.
• Fill in the worksheet: Fill in the worksheet with the information you have gathered.
• Compare the colleges: Compare the colleges based on the factors that are important to you.
• Make a decision: Make a decision about which college is the best fit for you.

Here are some additional tips for using a college comparison worksheet:

• Prioritize the categories that are most important to you.  Not all categories of information are equally important to everyone. Decide which factors are most important to you and focus on those categories.
• Use your own criteria.  There is no one-size-fits-all college comparison worksheet. Use the worksheet as a starting point, but feel free to add or remove categories as needed.
• Keep your worksheet updated.  As you learn more about each college, be sure to update your worksheet accordingly.

Using a college comparison worksheet can be a valuable tool in the college admissions process. It can help you narrow down your list of potential schools and make an informed decision about where to apply.

Get Printable College Comparison Spredadsheet here:

Or you can use this Google Sheet to fill up: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BpRwNU7xqZEkrD-G8IvabQ35apd4VkUWmJ-JDYirnJU/edit?usp=sharing

Check out other useful tools for college students here:

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Use a Spreadsheet to Compare U.S. Colleges

Prospective international students can download a template from U.S. News to begin their comparisons.

Use Spreadsheet to Compare U.S. Schools

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Some experts advise prospective students to include around 20 schools on their initial college list, which they can create in a spreadsheet.

With thousands of U.S. colleges and universities to choose from, organization is critical for prospective international students during their college search process.

Experts say using a spreadsheet to catalog information about various schools is a great way to achieve this goal.

"You’re going to be bombarded with so much information that if you don’t organize it, if you try to just keep it in your head or if you try to maintain it sort of piecemeal in these different places, you’re going to lose track of everything," says Erick Hyde, college counselor for the University of Pennsylvania 's English Language Programs.

By creating a college spreadsheet, you can quickly and easily compare schools you are interested in. This tool can also help you keep track of application requirements and deadlines, which vary by school.

Ultimately, having data about many schools in one place can help you determine which institutions are a good fit , says Umair Khan, country coordinator for EducationUSA Pakistan. EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State-supported network of advising centers that offers free assistance to international students who want to study in the U.S.

College List Spreadsheet Template

International high school counselors may offer students a premade spreadsheet template. But this isn't always the case, so some prospective international undergraduates might have to create or find their own document.

U.S. News created a college list spreadsheet template for prospective international students based on the guidance that various experts offered.

Download the spreadsheet template here . You can tailor the spreadsheet to your needs and interests by adding new columns with different categories of information.

Microsoft Excel | USN&WR

The spreadsheet template includes some but probably not all of the categories of information students will want to learn about each of the schools they are interested in.

Researching and Compiling the List

Before you begin collecting data, do a bit of self-reflection, says Jennifer Ann Aquino, an author and independent educational consultant. She recommends first thinking about the factors that are most important to you in a school, such as academic offerings, cost and the size of the international student population , to name a few. Having a sense of what you're looking for will help you narrow down options.

Experts say researching schools online is a good way for international students to begin learning about U.S. institutions.

Get tips on

As you research colleges, visit multiple websites, Hyde advises, because each online resource offers different types of valuable information. "Research is not one-stop shopping," he says. Some online college information resources experts recommend include the College Board , CollegeView , Peterson's and colleges' own websites.

When you come across a school that interests you – perhaps because it's a good academic fit or it offers scholarships to international students – add its name to your spreadsheet. Then fill in details about the school, its application process and the academic profile of its students, experts say. You can browse the U.S. News spreadsheet template to get a better sense of what types of information to include for each school.

However, during the search process, Aquino cautions students not to disregard too many schools too soon. Exploring a range of institutions – particularly in terms of school type, location and size – will help you better understand how U.S. schools actually differ and inspire further reflection about what would be the best fit, she says.

Strive for some variety in your college list, Aquino says. For example, even if you're interested in liberal arts colleges , be sure to include a few larger national universities too.

Consider both

Khan, of EducationUSA, also encourages students to keep an open mind during the research process. He says students should consider lots of factors when looking at schools instead of looking only at a single data point such as a school's rank or tuition price. "Have a more holistic approach where you’re thinking about multiple things," he says.

Experts recommend students aim to have around 20 schools on their initial list. However, they don't recommend applying to all 20 schools. Instead, talk with a counselor after creating your list and choose six to 10 schools to submit applications to.

The start of students' second-to-last year of high school is a good time to begin putting together a college list, Aquino says. And the list may continue to evolve over time, as you realize new things about higher education in the U.S. and what actually matters most to you in a school – it's okay to change your mind, she says.

Aquino says when she talks with students about their initial college list, she tells them, "You may apply to two of those universities, you may apply to seven, you may apply to none of them. But it gets you moving into the research phase."

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The Scholarship System

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How to Build the Ultimate College Comparison Spreadsheet

Student Success

Updated on January 31st, 2022

For many students, trying to figure out where they want to apply to college is a daunting task. After all, there is a lot of information to consider beyond whether their major is available.

If your student is like most, they need to take a hard look at everything the school has to offer, what it will cost to attend, and their odds of being accepted. This is especially true if your student has a limited amount of money to spend on application fees, making it a priority that they make smart choices from the beginning.

Luckily, it is possible to build a solution that can serve as a college comparison spreadsheet template this year and for years to come, should they need to revisit their options or simply want to pass it down to a younger sibling.

Here’s everything your student needs to do to create an enviable college search organizer.

If you and your student want to learn more about finding scholarships,  sign up for our free college scholarship webinar ! Take a moment and head over to  http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar  to reserve your spot today .

• 1.1.1 Basic Info Section
• 1.1.2 Academic Section
• 1.1.3 Financial Information Section
• 1.1.4 Personal Criteria Section
• 2 What Data Matters for a College Planning Worksheet?
• 3 What Are Good Sources for Data for a College Research Worksheet?
• 4 What Program Should I Use for a College Planning Spreadsheet?
• 5 Where Do I Store a College Search Spreadsheet?
• 6 How Many Schools Should I Add to a College Comparison Worksheet?
• 7 How Do I Turn This Into a College Decision Spreadsheet?
• 8.1 What Information Do You Need for a College Cost Comparison Calculator?
• 9 Do You Want a Ready-Made College Comparison Solution?

If your student needs a robust college planning spreadsheet, they need to track the right information. Everything from the size and location of the school to admission requirements to costs is worth listing if they want to make a comparison.

By focusing on being organized from the beginning, your student will have an easier time collecting the data. Then, when it comes time to make a college decision, they will have all of the critical information available in one place.

What Columns Should I Include on a College Spreadsheet?

When it comes to creating a great college search spreadsheet, it’s all about choosing the right columns. These are headers that identify the kind of data that will be in the cells, making sure every note is in its proper place.

Basic Info Section

Any college worksheet worth its salt is going to begin with the following columns:

• School Name
• Type (Public or Private)
• Geographic Region
• Student Body Size
• Full-Time Undergrad Students

This reflects basic data about the school itself, making it critical for any college comparison.

Academic Section

Next, your student should include details regarding certain admissions requirements and data to help them determine whether they can land merit-based scholarships from a particular school. Here are a few to add:

• SAT/ACT Requirements
• Top 25% on Test Scores
• Average High School GPA for Incoming Freshman
• Percentage of Freshman without Need Receiving Merit Aid
• Average Merit Award for Freshman without Financial Need

The SAT/ACT requirement and high school GPA information allow your student to consider their odds of acceptance along with how stringent the school is overall.

The other details make comparing their chances of getting merit-based aid easier, including if there is no financial need. For example, if your student is in the top 25 th percentile, they are much more likely to receive merit aid money.

Financial Information Section

Then, your student should add columns for certain financial aspects of selecting a specific school, including:

• Total Cost (Tuition, Room and Board, Supplies, etc.)
• Average Percent of Need Met
• Average Undergraduate Financial Aid Package
• Average Undergraduate Need-Based Award

These columns help your student compare the financial aspects of selecting a school without factoring in merit-based financial aid.

Since your student may not know in advance if they’ll receive merit-based awards, being able to use a college comparison spreadsheet to examine the percentage of need met and averages about financial aid packages and need-based awards can help them decide where to apply.

Personal Criteria Section

Finally, your student should add a few extra columns based on what’s important to them. One can be a “personal school rating score,” a reflection of their gut feeling about whether they would like to attend college there.

However, they should feel free to define a few personal measures as well, such as whether certain amenities are available, to examine points they value. If they score multiple criteria, they can also add an extra column that calculates an average, to make comparison simpler.

Here’s a quick look at how your student could set up the columns:

What Data Matters for a College Planning Worksheet?

Since the spreadsheet needs to allow for easy comparison and also serve as a college financial planning worksheet, collecting all of the data based on the column recommendations above is crucial.

Details about what the school itself offers, the size of the student body, and location gives your student the ability to consider their quality of life and the educational experience while attending the school.

Data about the total costs, financial aid packages, and chances for merit-based awards allow the document to work as a college cost comparison spreadsheet, which helps your student to determine affordability.

Without one aspect or the other, making a college decision can be more challenging. Ultimately, having a solid overview is a must for every student, and those columns can help them do that.

Related articles:

• 5 Common Mistakes That Increase the Cost of College
• How to Begin Searching for Colleges
• Top Choice College or Graduate Debt Free? How to Choose

What Are Good Sources for Data for a College Research Worksheet?

In the end, a college comparison spreadsheet is only valuable if the data is accurate. Selecting reputable and reliable sources is a must. Otherwise, flawed information could lead your student to make a decision based on an inaccuracy.

Usually, the first place your student should look for reliable data is on each school’s website. They should begin with the admissions section, as this will include details about the requirements for getting into the school.

In most cases, schools provide financial details in sections dedicated to costs and financial aid, usually in a subsection of the admissions portion of the website. There are rules about how a college can advertise its prices, so accuracy is typically a priority.

Information about the school’s size and student body might be in the admissions, student life, about us, or “why choose [school]” sections. However, reputable data covering these details is also available elsewhere. Similarly, city and state details are readily available, even with a quick Google search.

Another great source of information is the Big Future section of the College Board website. The site provides details on nearly any school, including data on the student body, costs, average financial aid packages, application deadlines, unique features, accreditation, and more.

If your student can’t find details on a school’s website, Big Future is the place to go. Since the College Board has no stake in what your student chooses, they aren’t going to entice your student with skewed data. Plus, it’s completely free to use, and you don’t need an account to look at school information.

No matter which sources your student chooses, they always need to scan the websites for any fine print. If there are caveats associated with the data, they should be listed on the webpage. Your student may need to scroll to the bottom of the page to see if there are any notes or look for small numbers next to a claim that relates to a footnote.

What Program Should I Use for a College Planning Spreadsheet?

Short answer : spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or OneDrive spreadsheets

If your student hasn’t built a lot of spreadsheets, they may be wondering whether they should create a college spreadsheet in Microsoft Word or Google Sheets. Luckily, this doesn’t have to be a hard decision, as both can do the job.

Each has similar features and formatting, so your student isn’t necessarily getting a more or less powerful program in either case. As long as your student stores an Excel spreadsheet in OneDrive and has an account, it will open using the Office Online program. Sheets in a Google Drive essentially do the same thing.

Plus, you can convert data in Microsoft Excel into a Google Sheet and vice versa. This means if your student chooses one and (for whatever reason) needs to switch, that’s pretty easy to manage. A quick copy and paste can move simple data from one document to the other.

However, repeatedly copying data back and forth isn’t ideal. If your student doesn’t consistently have access to Microsoft Excel, then Google Sheets might be a better option because the core product is free.

This is especially true as many schools accept Google documents, spreadsheets, and slideshows for assignments, decreasing the need to pay for Microsoft Office at all.

Where Do I Store a College Search Spreadsheet?

Short answer : Somewhere that syncs online so you don’t lose all your hard work and key information!

Once your student has a spreadsheet built, they need a safe place to store it. While saving it to their computer is always an option, it isn’t necessarily the best approach.

First, should their computer completely crash (such as from a dreaded hard drive failure), their spreadsheet is gone. While that may not hurt if they just created it, after they spend a few hours adding data, it could be a massive loss.

Second, keeping it locally on a laptop means that, unless they have their computer with them, they can’t access the information. If your student might need to look at or add to their college search spreadsheet on the go, that isn’t ideal.

Today, nearly everyone has at least some cloud storage. Google account holders get some automatically, as well as Amazon Prime account holders. Microsoft Windows users can use the One Drive feature too. However, your student could also open up a free Dropbox account if they only need a little storage.

Cloud storage gives users a ton of benefits over using their computer to store critical files, including:

• Freeing up hard drive space
• Automatic backups and redundancy
• Access from any internet-connected device

Many cloud storage systems can be accessed from nearly any device, anywhere. Most come with mobile apps, meaning your student can get to (and potentially edit) their college comparison worksheet from their smartphone.

Ultimately, when it comes to accessibility, it’s hard to beat cloud storage. Plus, if the provider has a desktop feature, your student can easily search their cloud files on their computer. What’s easier than that?

I’ve used Dropbox for almost a decade. While I pay for 1 TB now, giving me the ability to back up EVERYTHING I do, the smaller accounts (even the free one) can be great for students working to organize their college search.

Don’t have a Dropbox account?  Click here to get started .

How Many Schools Should I Add to a College Comparison Worksheet?

The number of colleges your student should add to their college search spreadsheet depends on how many schools they are considering. Essentially, if a particular one is on the table at all, it’s wise to collect this basic data to see if it might be a good fit.

However, overloading the worksheet with information from every school imaginable isn’t always smart. To say it is easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of potential options is an understatement, so your student should only list colleges they are genuinely considering.

Similarly, if they eliminate a school from contention entirely, it isn’t out of line to remove it during the process. For example, if they already have nine colleges listed and, while adding details about a tenth they figure out one of the schools on the worksheet is solidly beaten out by the others or just isn’t a realistic option, they can remove it.

However, they should do so with caution, particularly if they don’t have all of the facts. For instance, deleting a school because of the cost may seem like a good idea. But, if they are applying for external scholarships that could make it affordable and haven’t found out if they are getting the award, then why not keep it on the list, at least for now?

Most spreadsheets can store TONS of data, so having a lot of schools on the list isn’t hurting anything from that perspective. Plus, even massive worksheets don’t take up a lot of space on your cloud drive, so there shouldn’t be a storage issue there either.

Ultimately, your student should add data for any school they are considering. That way, when its time to turn their college comparison worksheet into a college decision spreadsheet, they are all set.

How Do I Turn This Into a College Decision Spreadsheet?

One of the best things about the document your student creates is how easily it can become a college selection spreadsheet. Whether your student uses Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, the result is a highly sortable and filterable spreadsheet.

For example, your student can organize the information based on the total cost of attending, the percentage of need met the average financial aid package, or any other column, or hide colleges from view that don’t hit a certain standard.

In Google Sheets, your student simply goes to the Data tab (sixth menu option from the left) on their college selection worksheet to sort by a chosen column or filter based on specific criteria. For Microsoft Excel users, they just need to click on the Sort & Filter option in the Editing section (far righthand side) of the Home tab.

With sorting and filtering, your student can compare what each school has to offer with ease. However, this isn’t necessarily the only comparison they should perform.

Taking It to the Next Level: The Scholarship System’s College Cost Comparison Calculator

While the college comparison spreadsheet does capture basic financial information for each school, using a college cost comparison calculator is a smart move.

These calculators allow your student to get a better picture of what a school will cost out-of-pocket as they take into consideration other sources of funding.

For example, if your student will be working to help pay for their education, that impacts the amount of financial aid they need. Similarly, scholarships that work at any college should be factored in, as well as any federal grants or student loans they will get based on their FAFSA.

What Information Do You Need for a College Cost Comparison Calculator?

While each college cost comparison calculator is different, choosing a comprehensive one allows your student to more accurately examine what selecting a particular school means from a financial perspective.

Along with potential sources of funding, including everything from wages to gifts to scholarships to grants, having a thorough breakdown of a school’s costs is a smart move. This includes details about:

Additionally, they should examine other expenses that don’t fall into those categories but will be on their shoulders, such as:

• Car Insurance
• Gas and/or Public Transportation
• Car Maintenance/Repairs
• Cell Phone Plan
• Entertainment
• Personal Care
• Renters Insurance
• Medical Expenses

All of those costs potentially vary by location. For example, insurance always factors in where your student lives, and food prices also differ, including based on the actual stores where your student intends to shop. Sales tax also varies by state and even city.

Your student can add all of these costs to their larger college comparison worksheet, though it will certainly take additional time. Often, your student should use the base information to narrow down their list first, then add these details in to get a better picture regarding their top choices.

In some cases, your student is going to need to obtain quotes for car and renter’s insurance. Luckily, getting free quotes is pretty easy, and there is never any obligation.

Similarly, reviewing local grocery or department store fliers or online ordering options may make these costs easier to estimate.

While it can be a significant amount of work, it’s wise for your student to take on the task to make sure they are fully prepared.

Do You Want a Ready-Made College Comparison Solution?

If you are ready to up your organization game, the Scholarship System’s Ultimate College Cost Calculator and Comparison Workbook have your back.

It’s an easy-to-use, plug-and-play tool for calculating, tracking, and comparing college costs, allowing your student to make the best decision possible while helping them avoid student loan debt.

Not only does it include a helpful calculator, but also a college application checklist spreadsheet and a college comparison template. There’s also a handy college scholarship spreadsheet to make sure that part of the process stays organized too.

Essentially, your student can organize the entire process without having to design a college search spreadsheet on their own.

Grab a free copy of our College Cost Calculator here: https://thescholarshipsystem.com/calculator

If you and your student want to learn more about finding scholarships,  sign up for our free college scholarship webinar ! Take a moment and head over to http://thescholarshipsystem.com/freewebinar  to reserve your spot today .

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Articles & Advice > College Admission > Blog

College Search Spreadsheet Template

Here's the college search spreadsheet template you need to keep all your admission and application info organized! Download the free resource here.

by CollegeXpress

Last Updated: Aug 13, 2024

Originally Posted: Feb 25, 2019

Researching colleges? Keep track of them all with this handy spreadsheet. College search spreadsheets are magical. They let you keep track of all your college info and compare it easily. With tools like Google Drive and Dropbox, you can access your spreadsheets all the time on your phone and laptop. You can even color-code the fields if you want to get really wild. We tell students to make a spreadsheet for their college search all the time (it came up three times in our  Ultimate Guide to the College Search alone!). But after we looked online and saw there weren’t many sample college search spreadsheets out there, we decided we needed to take matters into our own hands.

Download our free College Search Spreadsheet

So here it is, a College Search Spreadsheet template for the world to use. You can use it as is or make it your own with all of the college search criteria that are important to you.

Please note : This is our example template, so we can't grant you access to edit this specific document. But you can download the Google Sheets file to your own computer to make your own personal copy, copy and paste the fields into a new document, or just look at it for inspiration. Click the image to view the Google Doc:

Adding schools to your spreadsheet

What colleges should you add to your College Search Spreadsheet? Any ones that interest you, including safety, match, and reach schools ! If you're still not sure where to start, check out our featured colleges . We've partnered with these schools to make the college search easier for you; all you have to do is click a school's green "Yes, connect me" button and we'll let them know that you're interested; then they'll get in touch with you with more information! This one-click recruitment feature helps you demonstrate your interest and gets you on a school's radar ahead of the admission process.

PS: You'll need to register on CollegeXpress to connect with our featured schools and download our College Search Spreadsheet. If you haven't signed up already, you can create a personalized account here . It's free to join and lets you access all our resources, connect with colleges quickly and easily, and enjoy other perks to simplify your life as a student.

Ready to start your own spreadsheet? Check out our College Search tool or our unique Lists & Rankings to find even more schools to add!

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College Comparison Worksheet Template

What is a college comparison worksheet.

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College Comparison Worksheet

ACT published a easy to use College Comparison Worksheet that makes it easy for your students to compare the pros and cons of the Colleges they are considering.

The items to include to compare the schools they are considering are: Location, Size, Environment, Admission Requirements, Academics, College Expenses, Financial Aid, Housing, Facilities, Activities and Campus Visits.

Here is a link to the their PDF for Download: https://www.linkforcounselors.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/CollegeComparisonWorksheet.pdf

• Date October 11, 2021
• Author Jason Bullock
• Category Uncategorized
• Comments No Comments

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Your Guide to Creating the Ultimate College Search Spreadsheet

There’s nothing like having a well-organized spreadsheet during your college application process. It allows you to better digest the information and quickly compare the colleges you’re interested in.

Rather than having pages of information about your colleges in various documents, consider creating a spreadsheet of the information instead.

But how do you create and format that spreadsheet? How do you effectively research your colleges ? Here are the steps you should take when creating your college spreadsheet. I’ve also included a spreadsheet example here !

Create categories

Begin by breaking your spreadsheet down into 5 categories: basics, cost, academics , student life , and school specifics. Depending on your priorities, you may want to add categories such as school safety , honors programs , or study abroad programs.

Remember to attach the links (either as a comment or hyperlink) to the information as you input it. This way, you can easily refer to the school site to find information. It’ll save you time and allow you to stay updated should any information change. 

Based on personal experience, I’d recommend making each category their own row while putting the schools as columns. I’ve found this makes it easier to know which information I’m comparing.

You can switch it (schools as rows and categories as columns), but the categories tend to increase over time so you’ll eventually have to keep scrolling back and forth to understand what information you’re looking at. Ultimately, it’s up to you – just make sure that the format works best for you.

Now that we’ve got the basics, let’s explore each of the categories a bit further.

Include the location, type of university ( public , private , Ivy League , community , women’s only , religious , liberal arts , etc.), acceptance rate, application fee , application deadline, notification date, which application is accepted ( Common App , Coalition , etc), enrollment size, average high school GPA, and if applicable, the average SAT or ACT score.

When recording high school GPAs, check that the number you are recording is the weighted or unweighted GPA as this can make a significant difference. 

While you may add more sections to the basics, I do not recommend eliminating any of these pieces of information. While they are the basics, they are super important, and this will allow you to get an initial holistic look at the school.

For most students, the cost of college is a high priority factor, so you should research it in-depth to make the most accurate assessment possible.

In this category, you should include the cost of tuition, room and board, total cost, and the average aid per student. If you are an out-of-state student , ensure that the numbers you record reflect your residency. You may want to consider adding a section for possible scholarships (you can leave it blank for now unless you’ve already received admissions decisions and have information to input).

Many colleges have scholarships that they will automatically consider you for when you apply. This means that even if the upfront cost of one college is greater than others, it may have more or larger scholarships you could receive to make your final cost less expensive. You likely won’t know if you will qualify for or receive these scholarships until you’ve received an admissions decision, but it is something to keep in mind.

Unlike the statistics you’ve already researched in the basics category, the academics category will focus more on your specific academic needs and goals. Here, record if the school has your desired major and the average student-to-faculty ratio.

It’s important to note that a school may not have your exact major, but they may offer something similar. Do not immediately write off the school if your major isn’t available and take the time to research further.

In addition, you can consider adding things specific to your intended major like honors colleges, study abroad options, internships, and if they accept AP/IB credits (if they do, research further to see what applies to you). 

Student Life

In this category, you’ll focus on how the college differentiates itself from the rest. To put it simply, the vibe.

Look at things like leadership, volunteer, and athletic opportunities as well as social clubs, organizations, Greek life, and off-campus activities. Compared to the other categories mentioned so far, this one has a greater potential for customization. Focus on your priorities and don’t include anything you feel is unimportant.

School Specifics

You can think of this section as your “extra notes” area. Some schools may have programs and activities only offered there that you’ll want to note, or you can jot down your quick opinion and impression about the school.

Start your college search research

Now the question is: how do you find all of the required information? For simple things like the basics, cost, and academics categories, you should be able to find most, if not all, of the information from the official school website and Niche . 

I’ve found that tuition cost can take a bit more research than you’d expect. From my personal experience, the tuition costs you initially see are the average costs. This means that the financial aid has already been subtracted from it. Most colleges will have a tuition cost calculator that you can use which can be tailored to you and your needs and will give you a more accurate estimate of the costs. 

For the other categories, specifically student life and school specifics, look outside of the schools’ websites. Consider looking at their social media pages such as their Facebook , Twitter , YouTube , Instagram , TikTok , or Reddit as well as any blogs run by the school or by current students. To better understand the schools and what your experience may be like, you’ll need to delve deeper. Don’t be afraid to reach out to current students at schools you’re interested in or speaking to admissions officers and representatives!

In-depth research is one of the first steps to the college search process. Setting up an easy way to look at all the information you worked so hard to collect will leave you grateful in the long run.

If done correctly, this spreadsheet will become something you reference and look back to throughout the entire process and will hopefully make it much easier to compare and decide between schools. Of course, don’t forget to have fun! Color-coding your spreadsheet helps visually and is a fun way to make your spreadsheet pop.

Ready to Find Your Niche? Create an Account

Author: Sophia

Sophia is a current college freshman at Pennsylvania State University with plans to major in marketing. When she's not studying or in the gym, you can find Sophia watching her favorite Youtube channels or streamers. In the future, she hopes to travel the world while developing her marketing skills and building her network.

More Articles By Niche

While many current college students tout the importance of being able to actually step foot onto the campus you might go to, sometimes the circumstances just do not work out.

At Niche, we know a college is more than its stats or buildings. We also know it can be hard to figure out a college’s vibe or how students feel about it from its website alone. Using our comprehensive college profiles and social media accounts, you can get a sense of what life at a college is really like. Here are three simple ways to do that.

In case you haven’t heard yet, Niche has an amazing new opportunity for high school seniors. Niche Direct Admissions is a program that allows participating colleges to accept students and offer scholarships based on their Niche Profile. That’s right — no application needed.

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Campus Visit Checklist

Visiting a college campus is an important step in the college selection process. It provides firsthand experience and insights into the college's environment, culture, and facilities. A college visit worksheet can help you accomplish all your goals on these visits.

How to Make the Most of Your Trip

Visiting a college campus helps you get a sense of what a college─and student life at that college─is like. This can help you decide whether the school is right for you .

When planning your campus visits, allow time to explore each college. While you're there, talk to as many people as possible. These can include college admissions staff , professors, and students. Below are some other things you can do while visiting. Note that some activities, such as meeting with an admissions officer or staying overnight in a residence hall, might need to be set up in advance.

Gather Information

Find out what you need to do to apply. See if the college's class and major offerings are what you want. Be sure to take the following steps:

• Take part in a group information session at the admissions office.
• Interview with an admission officer.
• Get information about financial aid options and deadlines .
• Sit in on a class that interests you. If classes aren’t in session, just see what the classrooms are like.
• Meet a professor who teaches a subject that interests you.
• Talk to students about what they think of their classes and professors.
• Get the names of the people you meet and their business cards so you can contact them later if you have questions.

Explore the Campus

Get a feel for student life and see if this college is a place where you will do well:

• Take a campus tour.
• Talk to current students about life on campus and the college.
• Check out the first-year residence halls. Stay overnight in a residence hall , if possible.
• Visit the dining hall, fitness center, library, career center, bookstore and other campus facilities.
• Talk to the coaches of sports that you may want to play.
• Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus.

Check Out Campus Media

Tune in to learn what’s happening on campus and what’s on students’ minds:

• Listen to the college radio station.
• Read the student newspaper.
• Read other student publications, such as department newsletters, alternative newspapers and literary reviews.
• Scan bulletin boards to see what daily student life is like.
• Go to the career center and learn what services it offers.
• Browse the school’s website and any campus blogs.

Questions to Ask During Your Visit

Here are some questions you may want to ask your tour guide or students you meet on campus:

• What are the best reasons to go to this college?
• What’s it like to go from high school to college?
• What do you do in your free time? On the weekends?
• What do you love about this college?
• What do you wish you could change about this college?
• Why did you choose this college?
• What is it like to live here?

Adapted from  Campus Visits and College Interviews  by Zola Dincin Schneider.

What’s a campus visit?

A campus visit is a planned visit to a college or university campus. It involves a guided campus tour, information sessions, and meeting with admissions officers. Visitors can interact with current students, explore the campus community, and see if the college matches their interests and goals. The purpose is to provide firsthand experience and insight into the college's environment.

Why is it important to visit a campus?

Visiting a campus is important because it allows prospective students to get a feel for the college's atmosphere and culture. It enables you to explore the facilities, interact with current students, and envision yourself as part of the community. It also allows you to ask questions, gather information, and make an informed decision about your college choice.

How do I prepare for a campus visit?

Start by researching the college beforehand to familiarize yourself with its programs, activities, and campus layout. Create a checklist of areas you want to explore and questions you want to ask during the visit. Plan your visit by scheduling a campus tour and a meeting with an admissions representative.

What should I include in my college visit checklist?

Schedule a campus tour and attend an information session to learn about the college's programs and campus life. Arrange to sit in on a class and meet with an admissions representative to discuss your interests and ask questions. Engage with current students to gain insights into campus culture and explore campus facilities and the surrounding area. Take notes, gather information on financial aid, and follow up with a thank-you note or email after the visit.

How can I make the most of my college visit?

Plan well ahead if you want to make the most of your college visit. Research the college beforehand, including its programs, campus facilities, and student organizations. After the visit, review your college visit checklist and the notes you made. These will help you reflect on your experience and consider how well the college aligns with your goals and preferences.

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