You’ve got big life goals—like getting into your dream school. From planning and paying, to application and acceptance, here’s what you need to know.
Education and money management go hand in hand. We’re here to support you in the classroom and beyond.
Find your best-fit college with the College Match tool from College Raptor®, Citizens’ college planning platform. Get college matches based on cultural and geographical preferences, majors, GPA, test scores, and more.
Choose a college with confidence. From asking the right questions to taking campus tours, get started finding your dream school with these simple steps.
EA, ED, or Regular Decision? Which should you apply under? Here’s what you need to know about the different college application deadlines.
Do you have a 3.5 GPA and participate in school activities? You’re already halfway to a great college app. See what else you can do to stand out.
Tuition, room and board, books, supplies, transportation, and other living expenses—find out how much your education will really cost.
Citizens and College Raptor®, Citizens’ college planning platform, have the tools and products you need to help you plan and prep for what’s next.
Boost your college fund with scholarships from Citizens and College Raptor. Each month, one student will win $2,500 from Citizens, plus one annual grand prize of $15,000 for school expenses. Also, enter to win College Raptor's quarterly $2,500 scholarship for school expenses. No purchase necessary.
Apply now and start planning for what’s next.
Find billions of dollars available in institutional, private, and government scholarships, all in one place. See how much you could be eligible for.
Your degree should align with your passions and future goals. College Raptor’s Majors Search helps you discover top schools for your major, program insights, career paths, and more.
Compare your financial aid award letters side-by-side. Cut through complex, confusing terminology and see which school is giving you the best offer.
With flexible repayment terms and perks like interest rate discounts and no application fees, we can help find a perfect solution for your needs.
Get started building your credit1 with no annual fee2, everyday savings, and account3 and purchase protection4.
When do you need to start your search? Well, the easy answer is, “the sooner, the better.” Starting your college search early gives you a better understanding of what it takes to get into the schools you really want. For example, most colleges look for well-rounded students. That means:
But if your goal is getting into a highly competitive school with low acceptance rates—like Harvard or Yale—you’ll likely have a more rigorous path you’ll need to take to stand out. So, starting early can set you up for success later on.
Don’t miss a step! See what you need to do to start your college search if you’re starting out early as a junior, or if you’re getting started a little later as a senior.
Once those acceptance and offer letters start coming in, it’s time to start making some decisions. Here’s how you can narrow your list:
See what’s next after you’ve made your final decision.
If you didn’t get into your top choice school, your journey isn’t over—it just may look a little different (and could be even better!). You can:
If your “what’s next” after high school isn’t a traditional 4-year college, that’s okay. Here are some options you can explore that could still offer amazing experiences.
If you’re still not sure about what path you should take, try exploring career options with our Career Finder. You’ll see what job skills you need for each career, expected salaries, and job growth projections.
The cost of college depends on several factors. Are you going to a public in-state university, public out-of-state university, or a private college? Then you have the “sticker price”—the price listed on the school's website, and the “net price”—the amount you’ll actually pay after federal grant aid and scholarships.
Here's a look at recent figures for full-time undergraduate students attending 4-year colleges (full cost of attendance including tuition, fees, housing, and food):
Average Sticker Price | Average Net Price | |
---|---|---|
Public in-state Cost of Attendance | $29,910 | $20,780 |
Public out-of-state Cost of Attendance | $49,080 | Not listed |
Private not-for-profit Cost of Attendance | $62,990 | $36,150 |
Source: TRENDS IN HIGHER EDUCATION SERIES Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid 2024
While college is expensive, there are ways to help make it more affordable. We generally recommend following these steps:
You should always apply for FAFSA even if you don’t think you’ll qualify for federal aid. FAFSA is free to apply and basically the gateway into qualifying you for all types of federal aid, work study, federal student loans, and even state and institutional grant aid. If you don’t fill out the FAFSA, you could be missing out on money to help make your dream school more affordable. Learn more about FAFSA and how to get started filling out the form.
High school is full of milestones—first jobs, prom, college exams, and more. Having the right tools in your kit is key, and we’ve got them right here.
If getting into your dream school is on your daily planner, we’ve got all the tips and tools you need to find, get into, and pay for college.
Discover tips for managing money, finding careers, and preparing for life post-graduation. Your success starts here.
Take your next step with tips on pursuing your dream career, saving for your next big goal, or paying off those student loans.
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* Citizens Scholarship: No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. The Citizens Scholarship Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, D.C., and U.S. Territories, who are 18 years of age or older, are students, or prospective students, or parents or legal guardians of students intending to enroll or enrolled at least half-time in an accredited undergraduate/graduate post-secondary institution. To be eligible for a chance to win the Citizens Building the Workforce of the Future Scholarship entrants must be from an underrepresented or a low-income community as described in the Official Rules. Sweepstakes begins at 12:00 AM ET on 4/1/25 and ends at 5:00 PM ET on 3/31/26. Sponsored by Citizens. See Official Rules for details.
** No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. The $2,500 College Raptor Scholarship Contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, D.C., and U.S. Territories, who are 16 years of age or older, and are students or prospective students who are enrolled or intending to enroll in an accredited undergraduate/graduate post-secondary institution no later than Fall 2027. The Contest begins at 12:00 AM ET on 10/1/25 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on 12/31/25. See https://www.collegeraptor.com/page/2500scholarship-terms-conditions/ for details.
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