College - College and Postsecondary Planning

You want to go to college? Explore the resources on this page to help figure out which college is best for you.

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COVID-19 Update

Colleges And Universities Temporarily Waiving ACT/SAT Requirements

Thinking about your academic interests and any activities you may want to continue after high school? Wondering if you should go to a two-year college or a four-year college? Not sure how to begin your college search? Explore the links below to help figure out which is best for you.

College Board Resources

National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Resources

Four-Year Colleges

Many types of schools fall into the category of a four-year institution: public universities, private universities, liberal arts colleges, and career colleges that offer bachelor's degrees. In many cases, bachelor's degrees are designed to be completed in four years as a full time student at such schools. Visit the schools virtually by taking Virtual Campus Tours.

Colleges with learning support programs

This includes programs known to serve students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

George Mason University
- Mason Learning Into Future Environments (LIFE)
- Mason Autism Support Initiative (MASI)
Northern Virginia Community College
- NOVA Disability Support Services
American University, Washington, DC
- Academic Support and Access Center
Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
- Student Learning Center
Bethany College, Bethany, WV
- Program for Academic and Social Success (PASS)
- PASS Application (PDF)
Limestone College, Gaffney, SC
- Learning Enrichment & Achievement Program (LEAP)
Marshall University, Huntington, WV (ASD)
- Higher Education for Learning Problems (HELP) Center
McDaniel College, Westminster, MD
- Student Accessibility & Support Services (SASS)
  - Basic Program
  - Academic Skills Program (ASP)
  - Mentorship Advantage Program (MAP)
  - Providing Academic Support for Success (PASS)
Mercyhurst College, Erie PA (ASD)
- Learning Differences Program (ASD)
St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, PA (ASD)
- Kinney Center ASPIRE Program
Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA (ASD)
- Drexel Autism Support Program (DASP)

Two-Year Colleges

A community college or junior college is the most common type of two-year college. It is a public school run by a state university system. These colleges offer many types of educational programs, including those that lead to degrees and certificates and that serve as job-entry educational experience. Other types of associate degrees are good preparation for transfer to a four-year college where graduates can earn a bachelor's degree. There are more than 1,300 two-year colleges in the United States.

Schools in Virginia

Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) is a public community college that has six campuses and four centers in Northern Virginia. It is the second largest multi-campus community college in the United States and the largest educational institution in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Richard Bland College of William & Mary is a public junior college associated with the College of William and Mary and located in Prince George County, Virginia. Watch the video to learn more about the student experience at Richard Bland College.

Tidewater Community College is a public community college in South Hampton Roads, Virginia with campuses in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.
Reynolds Community College is a community college in Virginia with three campuses: Parham Road Campus in Henrico County, Downtown Campus in the City of Richmond and Goochland Campus in the community of Goochland Courthouse.

Next Steps

Applying to College

The Common Application provides access to over 800 colleges and universities on one platform. Check out their Application Guide for First-Time Students.

The Coalition for College helps make college a reality for all students with their free, online college-planning tools that helps students learn about, prepare for, and apply to college.

NOVA JumpStart offers tuition free, college courses to eligible Northern Virginia high school graduating seniors.

The College Admissions Process

In this video, representatives from Washington University St. Louis, Notre Dame and Swarthmore College talk about the admissions process in general with some references to the impact of COVID-19.