Catalina Espinosa
Research expert covering society, economy, and politics for Europe and the EU
College choice in the United States - Statistics & Facts
Selecting a college is a major life decision that many high school seniors face every year. Prospective college students in the United States have no shortage of decisions; as of 2020, there were 3,931 higher education institutions across the country. Many factors influence a student's decision when choosing a college, some of which include cost of attendance, location, majors offered, and size. Furthermore, students must endure a rigorous admissions process, which includes standardized testing scores, grades, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation. In 2022, colleges and universities that accepted less than 24 percent of applicants in the United States still received almost 2 million applications. After colleges send out admissions letters, students can then start the tough decision-making process to determine their college of choice.
