Why CollEdge Counselor Exists
Real data. Real decisions.
I applied to a school because they made it sound like exactly what I needed. The career courses would be a shoe-in. I'd find my path. When I got there, those opportunities didn't exist. I felt lied to.
Then I realized this happens to students everywhere. University websites are marketing. Rankings are paid. The whole system is designed to sell you, not help you decide.
So I built CollEdge Counselor: the first student-first platform with verified data, transparent sourcing, and zero bullshit. Every number on this site links to its official source. No sponsors. No ads. No agenda. Just the truth about schools, so you can make the decision that's right for you.
— Josh, Founder
Why Free Forever?
The first day of my marketing class, the professor asked: "Who are the most vulnerable consumers?"
We spent the first 10 minutes listing them:
- Children, who don't know they're being sold to
- The elderly, often isolated, trusting, less tech-savvy
- Students, making huge decisions with no experience, under pressure, desperate to belong
And then the professor said something I'll never forget:
"These are your targets. Learn to reach them."
I walked out of that class and never thought about marketing the same way again. Universities, ranking websites, loan companies: they all know students are vulnerable. That's why they spend $10 billion a year on marketing.
You deserve real data, not another sales pitch.
This platform exists to arm you with the same data universities use to set prices. For free, forever.
Official IPEDS Data
U.S. Department of Education
Every statistic on CollEdge Counselor comes from IPEDS, the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Schools are legally required to report this data. No marketing spin. No cherry-picking.
Learn about IPEDS →Zero Sponsors
No paid placements. Ever.
No school pays to rank higher. No "featured" listings. No affiliate links. CollEdge Counselor shows you schools based on your criteria, nothing else. The rankings industry is broken. We're not playing that game.
What We Believe
Students deserve facts, not marketing
Universities spend $10B+ on marketing every year. You deserve access to the same data they use to set prices.
Every claim should be verifiable
Click any stat on CollEdge Counselor and you'll find the source. If we can't cite it, we don't show it.
Education decisions shouldn't cost money
CollEdge Counselor is free. No premium tiers. No paywalled features. Information about your future shouldn't be a luxury.
Lifestyle matters as much as academics
Where you live for 4 years matters. That's why we include weather, walkability, nearby amenities, not just test scores.
Success comes through community, not at its expense
We win when you win. The students-against-the-world dynamic ends here.
Our Mission
To give every student, regardless of income, background, or connections, the same information advantage that prep school kids and college consultants have. The playing field should be level. CollEdge Counselor is our attempt to level it.
Ready to find your school?
Search 6,000+ schools with verified data. Compare side-by-side. Make an informed decision.
Questions? Found an error? Email us at hello@colledgecounselor.com