College Variables to Consider When Selecting a College 

Creating a list of schools that your son or daughter is interested in requires research and can be very overwhelming. Each player should identify and create a list of their top 25 schools, a second group of 25 schools and so on.  To help with this process, your son or daughter will need to identify a school that most suits their needs.  Below is a list of areas to consider that will help you when creating your list of schools. There are also links in the left margin tabs to a large number of soccer conferences in the NCAA Division's I, II and III and the NAIA Conferences to help you identify schools that you may be interested in.

 Creating your list of schools and then contacting those coaches or academic admissions advisors is the first step in this process. 

Soccer Program

• Level of Play
• Team Success
• Conference the Team Plays In
• Style of Play
• Athletic Scholarship Requirements
• Facilities
• Academic Support for Athletes
• Housing Options

Academic Programs 

• Academic Admitance Requirements (High School GPA, SAT Score, ACT Score)
• Academic Scholarship Requirements
• Areas of Study / Degree Programs / Majors and Minors

School Sizes and Student to Teacher Ratios

• Big School:  20,000 - 40,000+ Students = Bigger Class Sizes - 100+ Students per Teacher
• Small School:  3,000 - 10,000 Students = Smaller Class Sizes - 25+ Students per Teacher

• Rural or Urban Environment
• Weather
• Things to Do
• Commuter School (Many students leave for home on the weekend) OR School where most students stay through the weekends  

• Private or Public
• In-State or Out-of-State Tuition
• Room and Board
• Books and Class Fees
• Academic Scholarships, Athletic Scholarships
• Financial Aid or Institutional Aid