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There are over 2,000 accredited colleges and universities in the United States, not counting community colleges! How will you choose?

Ask these questions to discern what matters for success:

1. What % of students graduate, and how many years does it take them?

Graduation rates matter because you want to complete your degree in a reasonable (and affordable) amount of time.
On average, only 65% of students at private colleges graduate, only 58% of students at public colleges. Of those who do graduate, only 39% graduate within 4 years; many take 5, 6 or more.
Look for high graduation rates and a high percentage of students graduating within 4 years (or less).

By offering 3-year bachelor’s degrees in Business, Education, Psychology and Science, Bay Path even makes it possible to graduate in just three years, which is a great way to reduce college costs and accelerate your path to work or graduate school. Transferring in credits can also accelerate your degree completion.

2. Are graduates successful?

Outcomes for graduates matter because you want a good return on your college investment.
In 2015, the federal government made it easier for you to evaluate colleges’ value by establishing the “College Scorecard,” a database that shows graduation rates, salaries after attendance, and other factors for 7,000 institutions.
Look at each college’s data at collegescorecard.ed.gov.

98% of Bay Path’s 2016 graduates are employed or in graduate school. Bay Path grads’ salaries average $7,000 more than college grads nationally (Department of Higher Education College Scorecard).

3. Are the programs flexible?

Flexibility matters for students who have family or work commitments and those who want or need to complete a program faster than the traditional four years.
Ask about online courses, credit for high school work, or fast-track programs.

At Bay Path, a mix of classroom and online courses makes it easier for students to accommodate work shifts and personal commitments. Bay Path students who want to accelerate their programs can receive credit for high school work such as AP/CLEP exams or courses taken during the summer. Full-time tuition at Bay Path covers up to 18 credits and competitive rates for summer session courses are also offered. Many degree programs can be completed in 3 years.

4. How big are the classes?

Small classes matter because students get lots of face time, feedback, and mentoring from faculty; feel at ease asking questions; do hands-on and interactive classroom activities; get creative-thinking assignments; and sometimes even participate in research with faculty.
Studies show that small classes generate higher student enthusiasm and better progress on course objectives, especially in developing creative capacities and communication skills (IDEA Center).

At Bay Path the student-to-faculty ratio is 12:1, and 86% of classes have fewer than 20 students. Bay Path faculty know students as individuals and have meaningful discussions with them about coursework, choice of major, internships, career paths and life plans.

5. What are the internship opportunities?

Internships and other hands-on opportunities matter because students learn in the context of real-world problems.
Students with college internships are 50% more likely to thrive as professionals (Gallup poll) and receive 2/3 of the full-time job offers (National Association of Colleges and Employers).

At Bay Path, 100% of students experience the hands-on learning of an internship, field work, or practicum. 25% of 2016 graduates say they landed jobs thanks to internships.

6. How does the school teach the “soft” skills employers love?

Writing, speaking, analyzing, thinking critically, problem solving and other so-called “soft” skills matter for many reasons, one of which is that the job market (and the technical skills it requires) changes so rapidly.
Employers seek employees not only with field-specific, technical skills but also transferrable, broad skills (Hart Research Associates).

Bay Path’s Women as Empowered Learners and Leaders (WELL) program prepares all graduates for the interview question, “Can you tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership or creative problem-solving?” In the four courses required in WELL, students discern their passions; develop skills for professional networking; create an ePortfolio highlighting skills in leadership, problem-solving and communication; and apply their passions and leadership skills to a real-world problem through a community service project.

7. What does the teaching look like?

Innovative classrooms with active learning and collaborative problem solving (instead of traditional lectures) matter because they lead to greater growth in critical thinking skills (Kilgo).

At Bay Path, small classes (86% with fewer than 20 students) means many opportunities for hands-on projects and small group problem solving. In the Biology class Plants Rock, for example, students ferment beer, test food for GMOs, and try to keep a plant alive!

8. How available are the professors?

Being able to talk to teachers outside of class matters because mentoring relationships keep students on track and lead to greater personal engagement and growth in students.
The most professionally successful adults are twice as likely to say they had a professor who cared about them “as a person” or got them “excited about learning” (Gallup poll).
Accessible faculty are also linked to higher graduation rates and higher earnings (MONEY).

What do Bay Path students say about their teachers?

I love it here where every professor knows me and helps me to grow in my academics as well as in my personal life.”

My teachers go out of their way to help me. I've learned more at this college than I have anywhere else. This school really cares about helping students succeed.”

9. Can students do research with professors?

Research opportunities matter because investigating real-world problems is the best way for students to engage deeply with a subject and prepare for a profession.
While many students have to wait for graduate school to do real, hands-on research, the luckiest ones have opportunities as undergraduates. Some even present their research at national conferences or publish scholarly papers with their professors.

At Bay Path, students at all levels are encouraged to design and undertake research projects with one-on-one guidance from faculty members. Bay Path students are supported by funding of up to $500 for supplies, subscriptions, travel, memberships, conference fees and other associated costs. Bay Path students approved for the selective Summer Scholars program also receive a $1,000 stipend to help them pursue their independent research.

10. Is the school well connected to industry professionals and alumni?

Having a professional network matters for job hunting.
Surveys (by Jobvite) show 40% of workers say they got their best job from a personal referral.

At Bay Path, the Sullivan Career and Life Planning Center provides networking opportunities with professionals in your field and over 16,000 alumni.

11. What academic and personal support is available?

Even if you never needed help in high school, academic and personal support in college matters because college brings so many challenges, from new subjects and technologies to independent self-care and time management.
College challenges mean only 4 in 10 students achieve their goal of earning a bachelor’s degree within 4 years, only 6 in 10 within 6 years (National Center for Education Statistics).

Bay Path offers free academic help from Student Learnings Assistants, Peer Tutors, Professional Tutors, and Academic Coaches. Bay Path’s Early Alert System is in place to trigger a personalized support plan at the first sign a student is struggling academically. Bay Path’s Counseling Center is open every weekday, offering free and confidential help with managing academic, developmental, and interpersonal challenges.

12. What career guidance does the school offer?

Career services matters because nobody is born knowing how to negotiate a salary or navigate an industry’s career ladder, and only a lucky few have personal contacts in their chosen field.

Bay Path’s Sullivan Career and Life Planning Center provides one-on-one career guidance with dedicated Career Coaches, career shadowing opportunities, interview prep, career and networking events, and support developing resumes, Linkedin accounts, and ePortfolios that highlight students’ accomplishments in and out of the classroom. This work begins in a student’s first year at Bay Path. Bay Path’s center is available and free to Bay Path students not just during their undergraduate education but for their LIFE.

13. How diverse is the campus community?

Diversity matters because today’s leaders say diversity fosters innovation and because the workforce is more diverse than ever, with organizations prioritizing hiring diverse candidates and creating inclusive cultures. Visit our Diversity and Inclusion page for more information.

Bay Path’s students have diverse backgrounds in terms of ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, and physical ability. In 2016, 37% of Bay Path undergrads were students of color and more than 60% were the first in their families to attend college. The 2017 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) shows that first-year students at Bay Path were more likely than other first-year students at similar colleges to have discussions with people from other races or ethnicities, discussions with people from different economic backgrounds, discussions with people from different religious backgrounds, and discussions with people from different political views.

14. Is the equipment and technology up to date?

Current equipment and technology matters for many reasons, including that it enables personalized, tailored learning and prepares students for what they will use in industry.

Bay Path science students use specialized equipment generally found only in industry or graduate research labs, including a Confocal Microscope, a 3500 Genetic Analyzer, and an Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer. All Bay Path students receive iPads that allow online connection campus-wide, interactive classroom learning, and access to the library’s 400,000 ebooks, 60,000 ejournals, and 50,000 streaming video programs.

15. How much financial aid do students get?

A college’s financial resources matter because financial support for students comes not only from federal sources, such as need-based grants and loans, but also from college-specific sources such as institutional scholarships based on academic merit, cultural background, and other factors.

All full-time Bay Path students receive a merit scholarship that doesn’t need to be repaid, and 96% receive additional financial aid (grants, scholarships, loans) — an average of $37,892 for first-year students. For Bay Path students whose financial situation changes, the Opportunity Grant Program may help them stay and graduate. Bay Path rewards high academic achievement with merit-based scholarships of up to $96,000 over four years.

16. Are there hidden costs?

Extra costs matter because they can add up significantly.
Nationally, fees for technology, sports, and activities, rose 30% more than tuition did between 1999 and 2016 (NYTimes.com)!
In addition to fees, there are the costs for parking, textbooks, and more – all adding thousands of dollars to each year’s bill.

At Bay Path, there are no fees. NONE. Bay Path did not increase room/board rates in 2018. Bay Path has found creative ways to reduce non-tuition costs, such as substituting Open Educational Resources (free texts) for costly textbooks, providing free laundry, exercise and health services, establishing stipends for students doing unpaid internships, and creating 3-year bachelor’s degrees and other “fast tracks.”

17. Is it safe?

Safety matters. Frightening media stories about campus crimes can make the topic of safety feel overwhelming, but there are concrete ways to assess the level of safety at a college, including asking about crime statistics (federal law mandates its collection and publication), emergency communication plans, police/security presence, and safety education.

Bay Path is proud to have earned an A+ in the 2018 Safest College Campuses ranking (www.niche.com), and has 0 criminal offenses on campus over the past two years (U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security). Bay Path public safety officers patrol campus daily, respond to emergencies, and are connected to the local police and fire with an advanced E-911 system. Bay Path residence halls are secured around the clock with electronic ID access. Bay Path students receive safety alerts and emergency information immediately through the e2Campus texting system. Bay Path’s surrounding community of Longmeadow was ranked “the safest town in western Massachusetts” in 2016 by the public safety group Background Checks.

18. Are there things to do outside the classroom?

Clubs, sports, arts, and music matter not only because they offer a break from studying but because they’re a great way to connect with people of similar interests, discover new talents and passions, and build skills in communication, teamwork, leadership, time management and project management.
Studies show that students who are involved and engaged on campus are more likely to persist through graduation, so be sure that the college you’re considering offers activities of interest to you.

Bay Path offers dozens of students clubs ranging from Anime Club, to CSI Bay Path and Habitat for Humanity; seven teams competing in the New England Collegiate Conference; and an array of performing arts groups, including Chorale Singers, Bay Path Dance Company and more.

19. Are there resources to help navigate the process of paying for college?

A 2016 Forbes article cites the nation’s whopping student loan debt of $1.3 billion, blaming, in part, a lack of guidance and transparency around college financing. It reports that 62% of students with loans didn’t attend financial aid information sessions before college and that more than 90% don’t know which type of loans accumulate interest during school.
As with most things, knowledge is power. But since college financing is complex, it’s important to have the right resources and guides. Look for a strong financial aid office with approachable staff and lots of understandable information.

Bay Path offers knowledgeable financial aid counselors ready to answer “How do I pay?” A wealth of online information, including dozens of short videos for future students, current students, parents, and alumni. Each offers easy-to-understand answers to important questions, including: How and when does my student apply for financial aid? My daughter is starting college next year; what can I do to prepare for the payments? If I provide my information on the FAFSA, am I obligated to pay for my child’s education? See more, click here.

Bay Path also offers financial aid webinars on topics such as repaying student loans and getting “loan forgiveness” by working in nonprofits, underserved communities, government, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and more.

20. Is there a strong advising system?

Research shows that good advising is one of the most important factors in a student feeling connected to her college and being able to persist to graduation. Be sure the college you’re considering has an advising structure in place.

Advising at Bay Path begins even before the first semester, with summer “Advising Days” at which faculty help students choose fall courses. First-year students are counseled by a Career Coach and the professor of their first course in the Women as Empowered Learners and Leaders (WELL) program, WEL100. Later, students are guided by a faculty member in their academic major.

Also keeping students on track are Bay Path’s Graduate Planning Sheets (GPS). These checklists are a personal navigation system, helping each student keep track of university and major requirements and events, as well as the individual networking and extracurricular goals they set.

21. How are graduates regarded by employers?

Ask about alumni outcomes, such as employment and earnings, to see how graduates are faring.
Look for connections between the school and local employers, such as internship sites, employer networks, Trustee and Advisory Board members. Do local employers have long-standing relationships with the school that speak to the school’s good reputation over time?

Founded in 1897, Bay Path has been succeeding and growing for 125 years. Graduates are routinely hired by many regional employers, including Baystate Health Systems, MassMututal Financial Group, CIGNA, Proctor & Gamble, Pratt & Whitney and many more. Of 2016 graduates, 98% are employed or in graduate schools, including Columbia, Tufts, Georgetown, UMASS, and University of North Carolina.

Bay Path’s reputation among employers is so strong that the University is able to place 100% of students in an internship, field work or practicum experience each year. 25% of 2017 graduates reported getting jobs as a result of their experiential learning experiences. Local employers also acknowledge Bay Path’s excellence by providing job shadowing and networking events every year. Employers are tightly connected with Bay Path programs as members of its academic advisory boards and Board of Trustees.

Bay Path’s required ePortfolio and optional Digital Badges make it easy for even distant employers to recognize Bay Path students’ abilities.

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