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Choosing a College

Start looking for the right college when your child is a freshman or sophomore in high school.

Your teen will need a college that is welcoming and can help him succeed. This page will help you find a college that fits your child. We also give you resources to help your child make his choice.

If your teen isn't ready for the tough classes and long hours of studying, some colleges have special programs for deaf students . These programs work closely with your child to help him continue his education.

Picking the right college

Talk about these questions with your teen:

• What does your child want to study?
• What kind of college does your child want to go to?
• Does your child want to go to a college that's close to home, or far away?
• Does your child want to go to a small or large college?
• How much does the tuition cost?
• Are there other teens with hearing loss at the college?
• How do you narrow down the choices?
• What do you do when you visit the colleges?

What does your child want to study?

Most colleges have different programs to study. Most students decide to study something they're good at or like to do. Other students go to college with no idea what they want to do.

Your child can narrow down the list of colleges she wants to go to by finding out which colleges have the major she wants to study. Search for colleges by major.

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Types of colleges

There are some colleges just for deaf students. And many colleges have deaf centers and programs for students with hearing loss. Other colleges have mostly hearing students, but offer special services to students with hearing loss. Read more to find out about the different types of colleges.

Community and junior colleges

Four-year colleges

Public colleges get most of their money from the state or local government. On average, it costs $4,000 a year to attend a public college.

Private colleges get most of their money from tuition and other private sources. On average, it costs $20,000 a year to attend a private college. Some private colleges may give scholarships to help students with the costs.

Colleges for students with hearing loss

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Location, location, location

Talk with your child about where he wants to go to college:

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Size of the college

College campuses can range from hundreds to tens of thousands of people. A large college may have more majors and different things to do. But a smaller college would have smaller classes. The professors there may be able to give your child more attention.

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The costs

The costs of college tuition can range from around $1,700 a year for a 2-year college, to more than $18,000 a year for a private 4-year college. Here's how much two of the leading colleges for the deaf cost:

You can get help to pay for college. Read our Paying for College page to find out about different kinds of help.

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Are there other students with hearing loss?

Having other students with hearing loss on campus may help your child feel less lonely. Here are some questions your child may want to ask:

• How many deaf and hard of hearing students go to the college now?
• Do new deaf students enroll every year?
• What do they do after they graduate?
• Can your child contact them to ask about their experiences?

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Narrowing down the choices

Once your child has a list of colleges he's interested in, your child should contact the college's admissions office to:

• Ask for more information.
• Put his name on the mailing list for more information.
• Find out what he needs to do to get accepted into the school:
• Take tests, like the SATs or ACTs. It is better for deaf and hard of hearing students to take the ACTs because it asks questions on subjects your child learned in high school.
• Have good grades and take special classes
• Send a copy of his grades (called a transcript) to the college
• Have a high school diploma or GED. (The GED is a certificate that is like a high school diploma. You have to take a test to get one.)

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College visits

When your child has found some colleges that look good, visit each school. Be sure to ask for an interpreter before you go if your child will need one.

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Learn more about choosing the right college

Next: Getting Ready for College

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