Skip to content
Big changes are coming to the NCAA and college recruiting. Click here to read more.
  • Popular Links
    • Name Image Likeness (NIL)
    • NCAA Transfer Rules
    • NCAA Scholarship Limits by Sport
    • College Recruiting Guides
    • Everything You Need to Know About JUCO
    • Athlete Success Stories
  • Shop at IMGAcademy
  • Contact Us
  • Log In
    • NCSA College Recruiting
    • Parents & Athletes
    • College Coaches
    • IMG Academy
    • Essentials
    • One-On-One Coaching
    • IMG Academy
    • Blackbaud
    • Teamworks
    • SchoolDoc
  • Call us
NCSA College Recruiting Logo
  • Services
    Student-Athletes

    Gain exposure to college coaches, get step-by-step guidance through the recruiting process, communicate directly with college coaches, access to development and tools to find the right college fit for you.

    College Coaches

    NCSA makes it easy to find the right recruits for your program on the largest recruiting network. We offer tools to simplify communication, track an athlete’s progress and an experienced staff dedicated to helping you succeed.

    Club & High School Coaches

    With NCSA’s recruiting and development education, group workshops and one-on-one coaching, your team can get access to the tools that can help each player perform at their best and navigate their future.

    Student Athlete Services
    College Coaches Services
    Club and HS Coaches Services
    Services
    • Student-Athletes
    • College Coaches
    • Club & High School Coaches
    Connect
    Schedule Assessment Schedule Assessment phone icon Call Us chat icon Start a Chat
  • Resources
    RESOURCES

    Everything student-athletes and their families need to navigate the recruiting and development process.

    Workshops
    College Recruiting Guides
    • How to Get Recruited
    • The Recruiting Process
    • Contacting Coaches
    • Recruiting Guide for Parents
    Scholarships
    • Scholarship Facts
    • Find Scholarships
    NCAA Eligibility
    • NCAA Eligibility Center
    • NCAA Eligibility Requirements
    • NCAA Recruiting Rules
    • NCAA Recruiting Calendars
    More Resources
    • NAIA Eligibility
    • Workshops
    • Blog
    By Sport
    Women’s Sports
    • Basketball
    • Beach Volleyball
    • Field Hockey
    • Golf
    • Gymnastics
    • Hockey
    • Lacrosse
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Water Polo
    • Wrestling
    Men’s Sports
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Lacrosse
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Water Polo
    • Wrestling
    Coed Sports
    • Cheerleading
    Resources
    • By Sport
      • Women’s Sports
        • Basketball
        • Golf
        • Hockey
        • Rowing
        • Softball
        • Tennis
        • Volleyball
        • Wrestling
        • Beach Volleyball
        • Field Hockey
        • Gymnastics
        • Lacrosse
        • Soccer
        • Swimming
        • Track & Field
        • Water Polo
        Men’s Sports
        • Baseball
        • Golf
        • Lacrosse
        • Soccer
        • Tennis
        • Volleyball
        • Wrestling
        • Basketball
        • Football
        • Hockey
        • Rowing
        • Swimming
        • Track & Field
        • Water Polo
        Coed Sports
        • Cheerleading
      General Resources
      • College Recruiting Guides
        • How to Get Recruited
        • The Recruiting Process
        • Contacting Coaches
        • Recruiting Guide for Parents
      • Scholarships
        • Scholarship Facts
        • Find Scholarships
      • NCAA Eligibility
        • NCAA Eligibility Center
        • NCAA Eligibility Requirements
        • NCAA Recruiting Rules
        • NCAA Recruiting Calendars
      • More Resources
        • NAIA Eligibility
        • Workshops
        • Blog
    Connect
    Schedule Assessment Schedule Assessment phone icon Call Us chat icon Start a Chat
  • Colleges
    COLLEGES

    Search every school in our database to find the one that fits for you.

    By Division
    • NCAA Division 1
    • California
    • Florida
    • New York
    • Texas
    • NCAA Division 2
    • NCAA Division 3
    • NAIA
    • Rankings
    By Sport
    Women’s Sports
    • Basketball
    • Beach Volleyball
    • Field Hockey
    • Golf
    • Gymnastics
    • Hockey
    • Lacrosse
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Water Polo
    • Wrestling
    Men’s Sports
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Lacrosse
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Water Polo
    • Wrestling
    Coed Sports
    • Cheerleading
    Colleges
    • By Division
        • NCAA Division 1
        • California
        • Florida
        • New York
        • Texas
        • NCAA Division 2
        • NCAA Division 3
        • NAIA
      By Sport
      • Women’s Sports
        • Basketball
        • Golf
        • Hockey
        • Rowing
        • Softball
        • Tennis
        • Volleyball
        • Wrestling
        • Beach Volleyball
        • Field Hockey
        • Gymnastics
        • Lacrosse
        • Soccer
        • Swimming
        • Track & Field
        • Water Polo
        Men’s Sports
        • Baseball
        • Golf
        • Lacrosse
        • Soccer
        • Tennis
        • Volleyball
        • Wrestling
        • Basketball
        • Football
        • Hockey
        • Rowing
        • Swimming
        • Track & Field
        • Water Polo
        Coed Sports
        • Cheerleading
    • Rankings
    Connect
    Schedule Assessment Schedule Assessment phone icon Call Us chat icon Start a Chat
  • Camps
  • Contact Us
  • Join Today
  • Popular Links
    • Name Image Likeness (NIL)
    • NCAA Transfer Rules
    • NCAA Scholarship Limits by Sport
    • College Recruiting Guides
    • Everything You Need to Know About JUCO
    • Athlete Success Stories
  • Shop at IMGAcademy
  • Create My Profile
    • Stand out to college coaches
    • Attend free workshops
    • Access our college coach directory
    • Track college coach activity
    • Find more schools that match your needs
    • Get expert guidance
    Join Free Today
Parents Start Here Athletes Start Here
Home > Blog > 5 things you can’t overlook when comparing colleges (Free college comparison template)

Get Recruited To Play Sports in College

Join the Largest Recruiting Network

Parents Start Here
Athletes Start Here

I wouldn’t be going to the school I’m going to without NCSA.” – Student Athlete

Categories
Categories
  • About NCSA
  • Athlete Success Stories
  • Athletic Recruiting
  • Coach Communication
  • College Search
  • FAQs
  • Mental Health & Nutrition
  • NCAA News
  • Scholarships
  • Training

5 things you can’t overlook when comparing colleges (Free college comparison template)

By

NCSA College Recruiting

There’s no denying it—researching colleges is a lot of work. From academics to tuition, there are a lot of factors to consider, especially when you’re a student-athlete. But the more thorough you are in your analysis, the more confident you’ll feel about your college decision.

So, to help you save some time and energy, we created a college comparison chart that lists all the aspects you need to look into. That way, you’ll have a clear view of all your college options and can carefully consider which one is the best choice for you. (This chart will also come in handy when you begin to visit colleges).

Download the Chart

Plus, here’s a recap of the five aspects you can’t overlook when you’re comparing your college options.

The college’s profile

First and foremost, you want to cover all the logistics. Not only is it the easiest way to start comparing colleges, but it can also help you spot some deal breakers. Begin by researching basic information like the school’s student population, where it’s located (specifically, how far away from home will you be?), application deadlines, average incoming freshman ACT and SAT scores, the campus setting, and housing available. You can use our free NCSA Find Colleges map when you create an NCSA profile to start gathering information.

Cost and scholarship

Sometimes it all comes down to money—and college price tags can be quite shocking. To get a realistic comparison, look at the total cost of the college, not just tuition or how much scholarship money you’re getting. First-year costs include tuition, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, etc. (The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau created a nifty tool you can use to get a complete view of college costs). And then plug in your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and any additional aid you’re receiving—scholarships, grants, merit-based aid.

Academic history

Obviously, you want to set yourself up for success. So, on top of looking at the school’s national rankings and graduation rate, don’t forget to check out the team’s academic data, too. For example, have any of the student-athletes graduated with the major you’re interested in? What is the graduation rate among the players? At some colleges, it’s common for the college-athletes to major in the same field and take the same classes together so they can all be available for practice. As you explore different athletic programs, dig deep into academics. After all, it’s a main aspect in your college experience.

Your chances of connecting with the coach

If you’re dead set on competing in college, then you need to consider your chances of getting recruited at every school you’re interested in. A college can offer you everything you’ve ever wanted, but if you’re not in contact with the coach, then you’re not going to have a lot of luck getting on their radar. A great way to gauge your chances of getting recruited is by looking at the team’s roster. Here you can see the athlete’s key stats, where they’re from (aka where the coach recruits), and if there are a lot of upperclassmen graduating in your position. Then, you should track your communication with every school to see how you’re progressing with each coach. Your free NCSA profile provides a progress tab when you click on a specific college, which makes tracking your coach relationships easy.

How you feel about it

Nothing can tell you how much you like—or dislike—about a college like your gut. We always recommend visiting campus if you can and checking out the scene for yourself to help you get the full picture. Some student-athletes have that “aha” moment where they just know this is where they belong. And others realize they’re looking for a different experience. Either way, you need to listen to your instincts when it comes to picking your school. You shouldn’t have any doubts when you make the college decision. And mostly importantly, you should ask yourself, “Would I still want to go to this school even if I couldn’t compete in my sport here?” If the answer isn’t yes, keep looking.

You can learn more about the best ways to search for colleges on the NCSA website.

NCSA Logo
  • Connect with us on Facebook
  • Connect with us on Instagram
  • Connect with us on TikTok
  • Connect with us on YouTube
  • Connect with us on Twitter
About
  • About Us
  • Reviews
  • Our Experts
  • Our Partners
  • Careers
  • All in Award
  • Shop at IMGAcademy
Mobile Apps
IMG Academy+

IMG Academy+

Mental Performance & Nutrition

Download IMG Academy+ on the App Store
NCSA

NCSA

Athletic Recruiting

Download NCSA on the App Store Download NCSA on the Google Play Store
  • BBB Accredited Business
  • Nortan Secured
  • Certified Compliant
© 2002-2025 NCSA College Recruiting All Rights Reserved Terms of Use Privacy Policy Notice at Collection Your Privacy Choices California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Opt-Out Icon