4 Year Graduation Rate: Pay attention to a college’s 4-year graduation rate, which tracks the percentage of undergraduate students who graduate in four years or less. Colleges are also required to share their 6-year graduation rate as well. Understanding a college’s graduation rate will help determine how well the school keeps its students on track and can provide insight into how easy or difficult fulfilling graduation requirements might be. Data gathered by the National Center for Education Statistics show that 43% of freshmen nationally will graduate within four years.

Gender breakdown: As we wrote about previously, colleges are experiencing an alarming drop in male enrollment, and a majority of college campuses are home to more women than men. This gender gap is worth minding and has the potential to affect campus life, personal and romantic life, and student interaction as a whole. 

Percentage of students in the major you’re pursuing: In other words, how popular is your first choice major compared to the rest of the university’s academic offerings? 

Percentage of In-state vs. out-of-state students: If your student is considering attending college out-of-state, this ratio can be important to consider. At state flagship universities, a low percentage of out-of-state students can be one indication of selectivity. 

Students living on-campus vs. off-campus: this ratio is especially important for first-year students who hope to live on campus. A higher percentage typically means that housing is guaranteed for freshmen students and can infer a more residential and communal atmosphere to the college campus. 

Racial breakdown: Colleges and universities strive to create incoming classes diverse in race, religion, and experience. Examining a college’s demographic information is especially important, especially for students of color. 

Percentage of students who study abroad: Students hoping to spend a term or more abroad should note this statistic, which can mean many things depending on the college campus. A higher percentage can often indicate a college’s robust study abroad programming and support for students while studying abroad. 

Percentage of students accepted to graduate school: If your student already plans to pursue post-secondary education, be sure to examine how many recent graduates a particular college sends to graduate programs. Such a statistic can help families determine if a particular college adequately prepares students for the rigors of graduate work while also revealing how closely professors work with undergraduates. Surprisingly, liberal arts colleges are often among the feeder institutions for Ph.D. and medical programs. 

Percentage of applicants who do and don’t submit test scores: this ratio becomes especially significant in the age of test-optional admissions. For example, knowing a college is test-optional, but a majority of applicants submit test scores, will give you a better idea of the applicant pool overall.