What are the most important questions to ask a college?

Questions about total cost and aid, graduation and retention, class sizes and teaching, support services, outcomes for graduates and whether your intended program is a good fit.

Admissions staff, department faculty, current students, recent graduates and staff in services such as financial aid, career and disability support.

Where can I find answers without asking?

School websites, course handbooks, official data sources, student forums and independent reports. Compare several sources.

How do I compare answers between schools?

Use the same list for every school, write down answers and weight what matters most to you.

Is it okay to ask hard questions?

Yes. Good schools welcome them, and the way they answer tells you something about the school.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a School (Colleges and Universities)

Choosing a school is easier when you know what to ask. Open days and brochures are designed to impress, and it is easy to leave a tour with a vague good feeling and little hard information. A prepared list of questions turns visits, emails and conversations into evidence you can compare. It also helps you notice what a school does not say.

This guide gives a set of questions grouped by topic. You do not need to ask all of them everywhere. Pick those that matter to you, and ask the same ones at every school you consider. Systems and terms differ by country, so adapt the wording.

How to use this list

Choose your top priorities. Cost, a specific program, support needs, location and culture are common.
Pick five to ten questions per priority.
Ask the same questions at each school, so answers are comparable.
Write down answers, with the date and who said them.
Check claims against official data where possible.
Note what is vague or avoided.

Our guide to how to build a college shortlist explains how to turn this into a decision.

Questions about academics and teaching

What does the first year look like in my intended program?
How are classes taught: lectures, seminars, labs, projects?
What is a typical class size in my first two years and in upper years?
Who teaches introductory classes: professors, lecturers or teaching assistants?
How easy is it to see faculty outside class?
Can I change majors or add a second one? What are the deadlines and conditions?
What are the prerequisites for competitive programs?
Are there research opportunities for undergraduates?
How is the program accredited, and does it lead to professional licensing if I need it?
What are the most popular courses and the most common complaints?

Questions about costs and aid

What is the total cost of attendance for a year, including tuition, housing, food, books and fees?
How much has tuition increased in recent years, and how likely are increases?
What scholarships and grants are available, and how do I apply?
Is aid renewable, and what are the conditions?
What is the average aid package for students like me?
What happens if my family's circumstances change?
What are the payment plan options?
How much do students typically borrow, and what do they repay?
Are there hidden costs, such as course fees, lab fees or compulsory equipment?

Our guide to how to compare college costs explains how to line up offers.

Questions about outcomes

What share of first-year students return for the second year?
What share graduate within four, five and six years, or the normal program length?
What do graduates do: jobs, further study, other?
What salaries do graduates of my program typically earn, and how is that measured?
Which employers recruit here?
How do you support internships and placements?
What share of students complete an internship or work experience?
What do alumni say about the program?
How does the school help students who struggle?

Treat averages with caution, and ask how data was collected and how many students are included.

Questions about support

What academic support exists: tutoring, writing help, advising?
How are advisors assigned, and how often do students meet them?
What mental health and counseling services are available, and how long are wait times?
What is the process for disability accommodations?
What support exists for international, first-generation, adult and transfer students?
What career services are available, and when should I start using them?
What support exists for students from my background?
What happens if I need to take time off or change plans?

Questions about housing and location

Is housing guaranteed, and for how many years?
What are the housing options, costs and rules?
How far is housing from classes, and how do students get around?
What is the surrounding area like: safety, costs, transport, jobs?
How easy is it to live off campus, and what does it cost?
What are meal plan options and costs?
How do students get home during holidays?

Questions about culture and community

What is the student mix: size, diversity, commuter versus residential?
What are the main clubs, sports and activities?
How do students spend weekends?
What are the school's traditions and values?
How is the school responding to issues students care about?
How safe do students feel on campus, and what safety services exist?
What do students like and dislike?

Our guide to questions to ask current students lists what to ask students directly.

Questions about fit with you

Does the school suit how I learn: lectures, discussion, hands-on work?
Do I feel comfortable on campus?
Is it a place where I could do well, not just get in?
Do I have enough support in what I find difficult?
What would my daily life be like?
Could I picture myself here during a hard week, not just on a good day?

Who to ask

Person	What they can tell you
Admissions staff	Application process, program details, general data
Department faculty	Content, teaching style, research, outcomes
Financial aid staff	Real costs, aid rules and examples
Current students	Daily life, workload, culture
Recent graduates	Outcomes and how the degree helped
Support service staff	What help exists and how to access it
Local residents	Safety, transport and costs in the area

Ask each person what they know best, and cross-check answers.

How to ask

Email ahead if you want a specific person.
Be polite and specific.
Ask for numbers and examples, not only impressions.
Ask how they know: is it official data or opinion?
Take notes, and thank them.
Follow up if an answer is unclear.

A school that answers hard questions openly is usually one that serves students well.

Compare answers

After visiting or researching, put answers in a table with one column per school. Mark each question as strong, adequate or weak. Weight the questions that matter most to you. Notice gaps, such as a school that cannot give graduation data. Then ask yourself how you feel, because gut feeling counts too, as long as it rests on information. Our guide to how to choose between two colleges helps with the final stage.

Sample questions in context

A good conversation might go like this. You ask the financial aid office: "For a student with my profile, what is the typical total cost after aid, and how much of that is grants versus loans?"

You ask a department: "How many of last year's graduates found work in the field within six months, and where?"

You ask a student: "What was the hardest thing about your first term, and who helped you?" You ask housing staff: "What happens if I do not get a place in the second year?" These questions are specific and answerable, and they reveal more than "What are your strengths?"

Red flags in answers

No data: the school cannot or will not share graduation or outcome figures.
Vague promises: "everyone gets a job" without evidence.
Pressure: urging you to deposit quickly without time to compare.
Inconsistency: different people give different answers.
Costs hidden or confusing.
Dismissal of your questions.

Treat these as reasons to look more closely, not necessarily to reject the school.

Questions for different situations

If you are an international student, ask about visa support, work rules, tuition differences, health insurance and support for newcomers. If you are a first-generation student, ask about mentoring, orientation and financial advising. If you have a disability, ask about accommodations and how to arrange them before you arrive. If you are an adult learner, ask about flexible scheduling, credit for prior learning and childcare. If you play a sport or perform, ask about time demands and support.

Keep a record

Create a simple document or spreadsheet for each school with the date, who you spoke to, what you asked and what they said. Add links to official pages. Over weeks, memories blur, and notes help you compare fairly. Share your notes with family or advisors if that helps you decide.

Common mistakes

Asking only about rankings.
Accepting vague answers.
Forgetting to ask about total cost.
Not asking students.
Using different questions at each school.
Letting a nice tour override the facts.

A quick checklist

Do I have a prioritized list of questions?
Have I asked the same ones at every school?
Have I checked answers against official data?
Have I spoken to students and graduates?
Do I have a way to compare?

Final thoughts

Good questions turn a school visit into research. Choose your priorities, ask the same questions everywhere, check the answers and compare honestly. The right school is the one where the facts and the feeling both point the same way.