College, major & career discovery
Explore Colleges, Majors & Careers
A field guide for the decisions that come before the application: what your grades actually add up to, what your test scores mean, and which majors and careers fit the way you like to work.
How this module works
Measure first, then explore
Most college-search sites hand you a ranked list before you know where you stand. This module runs the other way round. Every calculator here takes numbers you already have (your course grades, your official section scores) and turns them into the single figure an admissions reader will see. Then the guides explain what that figure is worth and where it stops mattering.
Every page is a single file that runs entirely in your browser. There is no account, no upload, and no server call: your grades stay on your device. Each tool states its assumptions on the page and links to the official body it follows, because scoring rules genuinely differ between schools, testing agencies and countries, and two of them changed in 2026.
Two scoring rules changed recently: check yours
TOEFL iBT: as of 21 January 2026, section and overall scores are reported on a 1–6 scale in half-point increments; the overall score is the average of the four sections rounded to the nearest half band. A comparable 0–120 score is still reported during a two-year transition period.
ACT Superscore: on the enhanced ACT, the Superscore Composite averages English, Math and Reading and divides by three. Science no longer counts toward the composite. It feeds the STEM score instead. The legacy ACT still averages all four sections. Sources are listed at the foot of this page.
Grades & GPA
19 pagesThe number every US admissions reader looks at first, and the four different ways schools calculate it.
GPA Calculator
Enter your courses, credits and letter grades to get a semester GPA and a running cumulative GPA on the 4.0 scale.
Open tool → 02 ToolWeighted GPA Calculator
See your weighted and unweighted GPA side by side, with adjustable Honors, AP and IB bonus points.
Open tool → 03 ToolUnweighted GPA Calculator
Calculate your GPA on a standard 4.0 scale that treats every course equally: the figure colleges use to compare applicants fairly.
Open tool → 04 ToolHigh School GPA Calculator
Track your cumulative GPA across all four years of high school, semester by semester, and see how colleges recalculate it.
Open tool → 05 ToolPercentage to GPA Calculator
Convert percentage marks or a 10-point CGPA into a 4.0-scale GPA, with the conversion rule shown in full.
Open tool → 06 Tool4.3 GPA Scale Converter
Convert your GPA between the 4.0 and 4.3 scales, with an exact result if you know your A+ credit count, or a quick estimate for comparing transcripts.
Open tool → 07 Tool5.0 GPA Scale Converter
Convert a weighted 5.0-scale GPA into its unweighted 4.0-scale equivalent, so it reads the same way colleges see it.
Open tool → 08 ToolLetter Grade to GPA Converter
Convert any letter grade to its point value on the 4.0 or 4.3 scale, from A+ to F, or look up the letter grade behind a GPA figure.
Open tool →Is a 3.5 GPA Good?
What a 3.5 means in high school versus college, how it reads against course rigour, and when it stops being the deciding factor.
Read the guide →What Colleges Accept a 3.0 GPA?
Selectivity tiers, guaranteed-admission pathways and how to build a balanced college list around a 3.0 GPA.
Read the guide →Standardised test scores
08 pagesCombine, superscore and convert official section scores using each testing body's published rule: no raw-score guesswork.
SAT Score Calculator
Total your Reading & Writing and Math section scores, superscore across test dates, and work out the section score you still need.
Open tool → 12 ToolACT Superscore Calculator
Build a Superscore Composite from up to six sittings, under both the enhanced ACT rule and the legacy four-section rule.
Open tool → 13 ToolIELTS Band Score Calculator
Average your four section bands and apply the official rounding rule, including the .25 and .75 edge cases people get wrong.
Open tool → 14 ToolTOEFL Score Calculator
Work out your overall score on the current 1–6 band scale, or total four section scores on the legacy 0–120 scale.
Open tool → 15 ToolSAT to ACT Score Converter
Convert an SAT score to its ACT equivalent instantly, using the same official 2018 concordance behind the table below.
Open tool → 16 GuideWhat Is a Good SAT Score?
The national average sits near 1050, but elite colleges expect 1500+. 2026 percentile benchmarks by school tier.
Read the guide → 17 GuideSAT to ACT Concordance Table
Convert an SAT score to its ACT equivalent using the official 2018 concordance, with the methodology explained.
Read the guide → 18 GuideDuolingo English Test Score Chart
See how Duolingo English Test scores align with IELTS and TOEFL bands, and which universities accept DET.
Read the guide →Majors & careers
13 pagesWork out which subject families suit you, then read the comparisons that decide the close calls.
College Major Quiz
A 24-question interest inventory that scores you across six work-style themes and maps the results onto major families.
Take the quiz → 20 GuideComputer Science vs Software Engineering
Curriculum, accreditation, maths load and career paths compared, and how to tell which degree a given job actually wants.
Read the guide → 21 GuideHardest and Easiest College Majors
Compare majors by real registrar GPA data and NSSE study-hour survey results, not internet folklore about who has it hardest.
Read the guide → 22 GuideEconomics vs Finance
Economics leans theory and policy; finance leans applied valuation and corporate practice. Curriculum, careers and how to choose.
Read the guide → 23 GuideAccounting vs Finance
Compliance versus strategy, CPA versus CFA, curriculum and entry-level jobs compared side by side.
Read the guide → 24 GuideMarketing vs Communications
Data-driven marketing versus narrative-focused communications: curriculum, career paths and salary compared.
Read the guide → 25 GuideCivil vs Mechanical Engineering
Infrastructure versus machines, PE licensing and career paths compared for two of the largest engineering majors.
Read the guide → 26 GuideBiology vs Biochemistry
Biology covers organisms and ecosystems; biochemistry adds a much heavier chemistry sequence. Compare curriculum and pre-med fit.
Read the guide → 27 GuidePsychology BA vs BS
The two degrees differ in science intensity, language requirements and graduate-school fit. See which suits your goals.
Read the guide → 28 GuideNursing vs Pre-Med
A BSN is a complete professional major leading to RN licensure in four years; pre-med is prerequisite coursework before medical school.
Read the guide → 29 GuidePublic Health vs Nursing
Direct clinical care requiring NCLEX versus prevention work with no licensure exam: education, careers and scope of practice compared.
Read the guide →What Can I Do With a Psychology Degree?
Careers a psychology bachelor's opens directly (HR, market research, social services) and which paths require graduate school first.
Read the guide →Reference
What each score is measured on
| Measure | Scale | Parts | How the total is formed |
|---|---|---|---|
| US GPA | 0.0 – 4.0 | per course | Credit-weighted mean of grade points; weighted scales add bonus points for Honors, AP and IB |
| SAT | 400 – 1600 | 2 | Reading & Writing plus Math, each 200–800, added together |
| ACT | 1 – 36 | 3 or 4 | Mean of section scores, rounded to the nearest whole number |
| IELTS | 0 – 9 | 4 | Mean of the four bands, rounded to the nearest half band |
| TOEFL iBT | 1 – 6 | 4 | Mean of the four sections, rounded to the nearest half band |
Each calculator links to the testing body's own documentation, and none of them reproduce raw-score conversion tables. You enter official section scores and the tool applies the published rule.
Rankings, research status and institutional strength
How the big rankings are built and how to read them, plus what Carnegie R1 and R2 status, AAU membership and flagship or land-grant labels actually tell you.
U.S. News Ranking Changes: How to Read a Big Move
US News ranking changes rarely mean what they look like: see the five real causes, this edition's Carnegie remap, and a free tool to check your school's move.
Read guide → 02How College Rankings Work: Weights, Publishers, Noise
How college rankings work: the U.S. News weight table (52% outcomes, 20% peer opinion), nine publishers compared, plus the noise-floor math. Read it first.
Read guide → 03College Ranking Methodologies Compared: 10 Lists
College ranking methodologies compared across 10 lists: verified 2026 indicator weights, the survey share behind every score, and a sortable matrix. Start here.
Open tool → 04R1 University Meaning: R1 vs R2 vs RCU Explained
R1 university status means $50 million in research spending and 70 doctorates. See the exact 2025 counts for R1, R2 and RCU schools, and what the label misses.
Read guide → 05College Rankings Release Dates: 2026-27 Planner
College rankings release dates for 2026-27: US News (Sept 22), THE (Sept 30), QS (June 18) and more, checked against your own application deadlines.
Open tool → 06R1 Universities by State: Full 187-School List
R1 universities by state: filter all 187 Carnegie 2025 R1 schools by state, public or private, AAU, HBCU and land-grant status. Build your shortlist now.
Open tool → 07Which College Ranking Should I Use: Take the Quiz
Which college ranking should I use? Score 9 publishers against your goal, budget, and major in 6 questions, then check the full point table before you decide.
Open tool → 08Unranked Colleges: What Unranked and RNP Really Mean
Unranked colleges aren't automatically bad: see U.S. News's Unranked and RNP definitions, run the 5-question decision tree, then verify accreditation.
Read guide → 09College Rankings by Major: How to Check the Data Yourself
College rankings by major barely exist: U.S. News covers six fields by peer opinion. Get the real department numbers with a free 3-school scorecard.
Read guide → 10Carnegie Classification Methodology Change: 2021 vs 2025
Carnegie Classification methodology change, 2021 vs 2025: a relative index became $50M and 70 doctorates. See all 42 new R1 schools in a sortable table.
Read guide → 11US College Rankings for International Students: Eligibility
US college rankings for international students: which of 10 lists can include your school. QS needs postgraduate degrees, THE needs 1,000 papers. Check yours.
Read guide → 12R2 universities list: all 139 R2 and 216 RCU schools
R2 universities list: all 139 R2 and 216 RCU schools with research spending, doctorates awarded and a bar showing each gap to the next tier. Search yours.
Open tool → 13AAU Universities: Members, Criteria and What It Signals
AAU universities: all 71 members with year joined and 2025 Carnegie R1 status, plus the 118 R1 schools outside the AAU. Sort the table and compare.
Read guide → 14College Rankings Myths: 14 Beliefs, Fact-Checked
College rankings myths, tested one by one: 14 claims about US News, QS and ARWU checked against the actual 2026 methodology. Score yourself free, no signup.
Read guide → 15R1 University Myths: 12 Undergrad Claims Checked
R1 university myths about admissions, TAs, and pay get checked against Carnegie, IPEDS, and College Scorecard data across 12 myth cards. See what to check.
Read guide → 17HBCU research designations: R1, R2 and RCU in 2025
HBCU research designations checked school by school: 1 R1, 13 R2 and 26 RCU HBCUs in the 2025 Carnegie file, with each dollar and doctorate gap. See the table.
Read guide → 18Student-Faculty Ratio vs Class Size: The Real Gap
Student-faculty ratio vs class size: a 15:1 ratio can mean 18-person seminars or 400-person lectures. Run the seat-weighted calculator to check yours.
Read guide → 19Research University Fit Quiz: R1, R2, or No Designation
Research university fit quiz: 8 questions score you across R1, R2/RCU, and teaching-first colleges, then quote back the 3 answers that decided it. Try it free.
Open tool → 20College Rankings Glossary: 40 Terms in Plain English
College rankings glossary: 40 terms defined with the exact 2026 weight each publisher gives them, from peer assessment to PCP, with worked numbers. Search it.
Read guide → 21Research Spending Per Student Calculator: R1 Checker
Research spending per student calculator: enter HERD expenditure, enrollment and doctorates to see the per-student figure and R1, R2 or RCU status.
Open tool →Accreditation and online degrees
Check whether a college or program is properly accredited, spot diploma mills, and judge whether an online or hybrid degree will be recognised.
How to Check if a College Is Accredited: DAPIP + CHEA
How to check if a college is accredited using the official DAPIP and CHEA databases: a 6-minute worksheet, status decoder, and printable record. Free to use.
Read guide → 02Regional vs National Accreditation: Myths vs Facts
Regional vs national accreditation: test 14 real beliefs against the 2020 rule change and 2026 proposals, see which cost money and what to ask instead.
Read guide → 03Institutional Accreditors List: 21 ED-Recognized Agencies
Institutional accreditors list: all 21 ED-recognized agencies, each one's pre-2020 state footprint, degree levels and CHEA status. Filter by state and chip.
Open tool → 04Will My Credits Transfer? Accreditation Rules Explained
Will my credits transfer? Answer 5 quick questions to get a likelihood band, see which factor hurt most, and copy a ready-made registrar email.
Read guide → 05ABET Accreditation: What It Changes For You
ABET accreditation covers engineering, computing and science programs, not schools. See how EAC, ETAC, CAC and ANSAC affect your PE license and job search.
Read guide → 06Programmatic Accreditation by Major: Who Accredits What
Programmatic accreditation by major: search 44 fields for the accreditor, whether it gates a licence, and what breaks without it. Look up your major.
Read guide → 07Do Employers Care About Online Degrees? Survey Evidence
Do employers care about online degrees? Five statistics shown with sponsor, sample size and verbatim question wording, plus 8 fields ranked by risk. Check yours.
Read guide → 08Does an Online Degree Say Online on the Diploma?
Does an online degree say online on the diploma? See Penn State's real diploma fields, transcript codes and NSC verification data, then what to ask first.
Read guide → 09CCNE vs ACEN: Nursing Accreditation Compared
CCNE vs ACEN nursing accreditation compared: get a verdict by degree level and goal, a 14-row matrix, and what controls NCLEX eligibility. Check yours.
Read guide → 10Institutional vs Programmatic Accreditation: Which Applies
Institutional vs programmatic accreditation controls different things: aid, transfer, licensure, grad school. See the 9x7 lookup and check your case free.
Read guide → 11AACSB vs ACBSP vs IACBE: When It Actually Matters
AACSB vs ACBSP vs IACBE compared in a 15-row matrix with verified 2026 recognition status, plus a verdict tool for PhD, CPA, and hiring goals. Check your case.
Read guide → 12Diploma Mill Red Flags: 12-Round Practice Drill
Diploma mill red flags, tested not told: judge 12 fictional school profiles and get instant annotated feedback on all 8 warning signs. Try the free drill.
Open tool → 13DEAC vs Regional Accreditation: 12-Point Comparison
DEAC vs regional accreditation: a 12-row consequence matrix on aid, transfer, licensure and military benefits, sourced to policy. Check your two schools now.
Read guide → 14Online vs Hybrid vs In Person Classes: 9-Question Quiz
Online vs hybrid vs in person classes, decided by your own hours: a 9-question quiz weighs work, commute, deadlines and visa rules, then explains why.
Open tool → 15Online Degree Cost Calculator: Per-Credit vs Flat
Online degree cost calculator: compare per-credit and flat-rate tuition with 2026 rates, total cost, months to finish, and your break-even pace. Try it free.
Open tool → 16College Loses Accreditation: What Happens Next
College loses accreditation: what happens to your credits, transcript, degree and loans, with three worked examples and a closed-school discharge check.
Read guide → 17Accreditation Probation: Sanction Levels at 9 Accreditors
Accreditation probation decoded: every US institutional accreditor's sanction word ranked 1 to 4, plus aid and transfer rules. Print the one-page grid.
Read guide → 18NC-SARA state authorization: complaint route by state
NC-SARA state authorization for 53 US jurisdictions: every portal entity, the two-year appeal window and why California is the exception. Find your route now.
Open tool → 19Online Degree Recognition by Country: Verified Matrix
Online degree recognition by country: 8 jurisdictions checked at official sources, with separate verdicts for employment, study and licensure. Check yours.
Open tool → 20Accreditation by Country: US, UK, Canada, Australia
Accreditation by country: the one official register to open for 8 study destinations, with TEQSA plus CRICOS worked examples. Check yours before you pay.
Open tool → 21Competency-Based Degree: How a Flat-Rate Term Works
A competency-based degree charges one flat price per term. Three worked terms at $4,050 (2026 rate) run $126.56 to $337.50 per credit. Try the sliders.
Read guide → 22Accreditation Terms Glossary: 61 Terms in Plain English
Accreditation terms glossary for students: 61 definitions of candidacy, show cause, teach-out and more, each with the letter you will see it in. Search it.
Read guide →English proficiency tests: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and more
Formats, fees, registration, score requirements and section techniques for IELTS and TOEFL, plus how to choose between the tests and convert scores.
TOEFL vs IELTS: Which Test Should You Take?
TOEFL vs IELTS for the 2026 TOEFL format: an 8-question decision quiz, the official IELTS-to-TOEFL score table, and a verdict you can defend. Start free.
Read guide → 02Which English Test Should I Take: 6-Step Decision Tool
Which English test should I take? Answer six questions for one recommendation built from the UK SELT, Australian DHA and Canadian IRCC lists. Start now.
Read guide → 03IELTS Academic vs General Training: Which to Book
IELTS Academic vs General Training vs UKVI vs Life Skills, in one sortable 18-row matrix, plus a 6-goal verdict tool that names the exact test to book.
Read guide → 04TOEFL iBT Format: Sections, Timing & Task Types
TOEFL iBT format as of September 2026: 4 sections, 12 task types, about 90 minutes of testing, adaptive Reading and Listening. See exactly what changed.
Read guide → 05IELTS Score Requirements: University vs Visa by Country
IELTS score requirements for 7 countries: 37 sourced university and visa rules with overall band and no-band-below figures. Filter them by your own bands.
Open tool → 06IELTS to TOEFL Score Converter: PTE, Cambridge, CEFR
IELTS to TOEFL score converter built only from official ETS, Pearson and Cambridge tables, with PTE, Cambridge Scale and CEFR readouts. Convert a score now.
Open tool → 07English Test Acceptance by Country: Visa vs Admission
English test acceptance by country and purpose: 341 checked rows, 8 countries, UKVI and IRCC visa lists split from what universities take. Filter yours.
Open tool → 08What TOEFL Score Do I Need: Section Planner
What TOEFL score do I need? See practical bands (4.0-5.0) for undergrad, competitive, and grad schools, then find which section to raise in the planner.
Open tool → 09IELTS Exam Fee by Country: 147 Sourced 2026 Prices
IELTS exam fee by country: 147 prices pulled from British Council and IDP pages, each with a source link, a US dollar estimate and a check date. Compare yours.
Open tool → 10How to Register for IELTS: Booking to Test Day
How to register for IELTS: pick IDP or British Council, confirm the right test type, meet ID rules, and follow test day minute by minute. Free checklist.
Read guide → 11IELTS Writing Task 2 Outline Generator: 5 Types
IELTS writing task 2 outline generator that reads your prompt, names the question type, and plans word counts per paragraph. Paste your prompt and try it free.
Open tool → 12IELTS Reading Question Types: Method for Every Type
IELTS reading question types get a numbered method, the trap, and a worked example each, plus a live 60-minute pacer for all 40 questions: try it now.
Read guide → 13TOEFL Fee by Country: 2026 List for 210 Locations
TOEFL fee by country: official ETS prices for 210 testing locations, from $170 to $475, plus reschedule and score report costs. Build your real total.
Open tool → 14IELTS Speaking Test Parts: Band 6 vs 7 vs 8
IELTS speaking test parts explained with band 6, 7 and 8 example answers for Part 1, 2 and 3, plus a working Part 2 cue-card timer you can try now.
Read guide → 15Is the Duolingo English Test Accepted? Visa Limits
Is the Duolingo English Test accepted for admission, UK/Australia/Canada visas, and PR? A myth-vs-fact check of 12 claims with 2026 sources and real costs.
Read guide → 16How to Register for TOEFL: 7 Steps, Deadlines & Fees
How to register for TOEFL iBT, step by step: ETS account setup, deadlines, the US$69 reschedule fee, and the 10 p.m. score-recipient cutoff, with real numbers.
Read guide → 17IELTS Score Planner: Bands Needed for Your Target
Use this IELTS score planner to find which sections to raise, in half-band steps, so your target band and your per-skill floor are both met. Try it.
Open tool → 18IELTS One Skill Retake vs Full Retake: How to Choose
IELTS One Skill Retake rules explained with the 60-day and 42-day deadlines: answer 7 questions to see if a retake, remark, or full resit fits. Free tool.
Read guide → 19Computer-Based IELTS vs Paper-Based: 2026 Changes
Computer-based IELTS vs paper-based: verified 2026 results timelines (1-5 vs up to 13 days), mode differences, and a free date estimator for your deadline.
Read guide → 20TOEFL Score Validity: Expiry, MyBest & Report Costs
TOEFL score validity lasts exactly 2 years from your test date. Check your exact expiry, MyBest rules, and 2026 report fees with a free calculator.
Read guide → 21IELTS for UKVI: Who Needs It and the Right Band
IELTS for UKVI explained: find out if your UK visa route needs the SELT version, the exact CEFR band per route, and what to do if you booked the wrong test.
Read guide → 22TOEFL Retake Rules: Myths vs Facts
TOEFL retake rules explained: the real 3-day minimum gap, no annual cap, MyBest scoring, and a free earliest-retake date calculator. Check before you rebook.
Read guide → 23TOEFL Test Day: What to Expect Step by Step
TOEFL test day, minute by minute: arrival window, ID checks, all four sections timed, the break policy, and a printable bring-list. Plan your day now.
Read guide → 24TOEFL Home Edition Requirements: Full Checklist
TOEFL Home Edition requirements checklist: machine, room, ID, and note-taking rules verified against the 2026 ETS bulletin. Print it before test day.
Open tool → 25CELPIP vs IELTS vs PTE Core: Pick by Your CLB Target
CELPIP vs IELTS vs PTE Core: choose a CLB level and see the exact per-skill score each test demands, taken from IRCC's chart. Compare before you book a seat.
Read guide → 26PTE Academic vs PTE Core: Which One Do You Need?
PTE Academic vs PTE Core: IRCC accepts Core for PR and citizenship, not Academic. Sortable matrix, CLB scores and a 2-question chooser. Check before you pay.
Read guide → 27IELTS Listening Dictation Drill: Numbers, Dates, Names
IELTS listening dictation drill with unlimited generated numbers, money, dates, times, phone strings and spelled names, marked instantly. Start a round.
Open tool → 28TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing: 4-Move Builder
TOEFL academic discussion writing: build a response with a 4-move structure, a live word counter, and a practice clock. Try the free builder.
Open tool → 29TOEFL Speaking Practice: 45-Second Interview Drill
TOEFL speaking practice with a live drill: four fresh Take an Interview questions, a 45-second timer, instant pace and structure meters. Start the drill.
Open tool → 30TOEFL Write an Email Task: 3 Worked Examples
TOEFL write an email task, worked line by line: three example emails, a register spectrum, and a free checker, so you know what scores before test day.
Read guide → 31OET vs IELTS: What Your Health Regulator Wants
OET vs IELTS for nurses, doctors and pharmacists: three cases with real regulator minimums for the UK, Australia, Ireland and NZ, plus a lookup tool.
Read guide → 32Cambridge English Scale: C1 and C2 Score Guide
The Cambridge English Scale runs 80 to 230. See what your C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency score means in CEFR terms and against IELTS. Check your score free.
Read guide → 33English Test Timeline Planner: Book, Sit, Send
This English test timeline planner works backward from your deadline to your prep start, booking date, last safe test date, and retake room, free.
Open tool → 34English Test Superscore Rules: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, More
English test superscore rules for IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Duolingo, Cambridge, CELPIP and OET: what each retake option covers, so you know before you rebook.
Read guide →Questions