College Fun Facts

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Of the 4,360 higher education institutions in the U.S., 2,832 are four-year colleges and 1,582 are two-year colleges. According to the latest data from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), there is a total of 1,050 community colleges in the U.S.

CALIFORNIA

Apply currently counts 644 institutions of higher education in the state of California. 

(Our home state:  Massachusetts: In terms of number of colleges by state, Massachusetts is number 11. However, when it comes to the number of top-ranked schools in the state, it ranks 4th. Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University regularly rank in the top 5 schools in the nation. It also has institutions like Amherst College, Boston College, and Boston University.  There are currently 148 colleges and universities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  These institutions include 14 research universities, 21 master's universities, and 34 special-focus institutions.

The term "Ivy League" is typically used beyond the sports context to refer to the eight schools as a group of elite private colleges with connotations of academic excellence, extreme selectivity in admissions, and social elitism. Ivy League schools are viewed with international prestige. 

There are 8 total colleges that are considered to be "Ivy League":

The most elite HBCU's equal to the Ivy League are sometimes called the "Black Ivies."

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) play a critical role in higher education for a complex group of students. The term AAPI stands for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, a massive category that encompasses more than 50 unique ethnicities.

Because the AAPI community is so large and diverse, many of the unique difficulties faced by some Asian Americans are obscured by the success of others. The model minority myth — the stereotype that all Asian Americans are naturally good in school, work hard, and are successfully living the American Dream — significantly harms many people within the AAPI community.

Many Asian American and Pacific Islander students who need extra support in school often get overlooked because of the model minority myth, including low-income and first generation students. AANAPISIs play a key role in providing additional support. Schools may offer mentorship programs, academic assistance, career counseling, and other resources specifically for AAPI students.

Community colleges have, and still to this day, play an important role in preparing students for the workforce. There are over a thousand community colleges in the US.  Most offer a variety of degrees or certificates that prepare both domestic and international students immediately for their first entry-level job. Community colleges also serve as access points into a traditional university for students who plan on continuing their education.

So, what’s the difference between a community college and a four-year university? A community college is exactly as the name implies: A higher education institution that primarily serves its surrounding community. Community colleges offer traditional academic classes like math and history that will transfer to a four-year college or university but also community programs like resume help to job seekers, or swim classes to children. As community colleges grow in popularity they are serving more individuals both locally and from around the world.

For a searchable list of Community Colleges in the USA visit here

For a comprehensive listing of all-women colleges, visit here

351 DIV I / 308 DIV II / 443 DIV III

According to the NCAA, there are 351 Division I schools, 308 Division II schools, and 443 Division III schools. To give you a better idea of size and how they divisions compare, about 176,000 student athletes compete at the Division I level. A little more than 118,000 student-athletes compete in Division II and Division III has just under 188,000 student athletes on its various rosters. And that’s just the NCAA divisions. There’s also the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) with more than 250 schools and of course many options at the junior college level for high school athletes. While there are some similarities, you’ll find each college option is somewhat unique.  MORE ABOUT NCAA DIVISIONS CLICK HERE