So when searching for schools... (degree, costs, best, accreditation)

[mattee01]

What resources do you use to figure out if it's going to be affordable for you and have the accreditation that you need?

[TabulaRasa]

You do a FAFSA application to determine how much financial aid you are eligible for.

You contact the school via website or by calling and requesting materials or both. Their accreditation will be listed and will be easily searchable online, and if their tuition/fee/room & board costs are not posted online, they will be in admissions information you request.

[bler144]

The FAFSA is useful if you're at the point of actually applying. If you're entering your junior/senior year and just starting to look, you could use the 'Net Price Calculator' on each school's site.

There are a few undergrad institutions who are exempt, and a number who are out of compliance, but most undergrad institutions should have one.

I mean, you could also dig through the Dept. of Education's 'College Navigator' site, but I don't see many students/parents who do. Lot of data in there, it's just not necessarily the best interface or easiest format for someone who doesn't work with that kind of data to just dive into.

[John Dark]

The Common Data Set is also another source of information on schools, including financial aid stats like average aid awards, % of students who receive aid, etc. (section H, if I recall). Just keep in mind that averages are of limited usefulness when considering your own situation.

You can find most of them by just Googling the name of the college or university and "Common Data Set." Probably not as helpful as an accurate Net Price Calculator with your specific details entered, but it's something.

[tnff]

I spent a lot of time in the College Navigator site collecting data and building comparison spreadsheets when DD was applying. Also used the College Board and USNews search sites to find colleges with various degree options. Kind of started there for general searches, then to the College Navigator for more detailed info. There's also a site called College Confidential which has student views and sometimes web tours of colleges, though I tend to put some salt on these since the reviews tend to be either of the "greatest college ever" or "worst profs ever" type with few that offer a well thought out view.

Once you narrow down to the colleges to look at, go to their websites and look for the Net Price Calculator (might have to search since some hide it). It gives a rough estimate of your cost and financial aid for that school. Be aware that schools do not always meet the difference between your expected contribution and the full cost, so your actual cost may vary.

[L210]

The best way to find out if you need a certain type of accreditation is to check state laws. For many licensed professions, either programmatic accreditation is required or it's a more difficult process to become licensed without it. For professions that aren't regulated by the government (and even some that are), you should check job ads in the region to see if a specific type of accreditation is often required or preferred by employers.

You can verify accreditation here:

U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs

And here:

User Agreement

[RegalSin]

All school are the same. The same professor in one college works in the same college. Sometimes they work across the world. Your only hurting yourself. If you have an GED go to the closest Community college and avoid heavy commute. Want to same some money go to an special needs school with an original mission of providing free education to the poor.