What to Look for on a College Website: Nine Things to Check

1. Strong Academic Program Pages

If you already have an idea of what you want to study, academic program pages are a natural place to start.

Look beyond the name of the major and explore the details. Are there concentrations or areas of specialization? Does the program include internships, research, fieldwork, or other hands-on experiences?

It is also worth checking whether the university and/or specific program holds accreditation from a recognized professional or accrediting organization. Depending on the field, accreditation can indicate that a program meets established standards within its discipline.

For example, St. John’s University is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), and many of its programs hold additional accreditation within their respective fields.

Related blog post: How to Find a Strong Academic Program That Supports Your Goals

3. A Faculty and Staff Directory

Once you find an academic program that interests you, look at the faculty who teach in it.

Faculty profiles can give you a sense of the people you could learn from during your college experience. Look for their areas of expertise, professional backgrounds, research interests, publications, and other accomplishments.

At St. John’s University, the academic section of the website includes a faculty directory alongside information about research and academic programs. Exploring these pages together can help prospective students go beyond simply finding a major and start learning about the people they could learn from.

Pro tip: Go a step further and see if the professor has a LinkedIn or other professional profile. You may get a better sense of their professional background and the experiences they could bring into the classroom.

4. Research Centers and Institutes

Explore a university’s research centers and institute pages to see what kinds of work are happening on campus.

Depending on the college and your major, you might find opportunities to work alongside faculty members, participate in research projects, present your work at a conference, or contribute to a publication.

Pay attention to undergraduate research opportunities, too. Some universities offer grants or other funding that can help students pursue research projects, attend conferences, or take part in academic experiences beyond the classroom.

St. John’s, for example, has a dedicated Student Research Opportunities page where students can explore opportunities to work with faculty, participate in research projects, and present their work at conferences.

5. Experiential Learning and Career Pages

One of the most important things to look for on a college website is how students can gain experience outside the classroom.

Search for pages about experiential learning, career development, internships, and employer partnerships. You may find opportunities such as

• Internships;
• Clinical experiences;
• Practicums;
• Co-ops;
• Study abroad;
• Service learning;
• Fieldwork;
• Research; and/or
• Community-based projects.

At St. John’s, for example, University Career Services connects students with internship and employment opportunities through resources such as Handshake, while also offering career advising, workshops, career fairs, and other opportunities to build professional skills. The University also highlights experiential learning opportunities within individual Schools and Colleges, giving students ways to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world experiences.

7. Student Support Services

As you research colleges, don’t forget to look at the resources available to help students succeed.

Explore pages for academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, career services, writing support, libraries, and other student resources. Depending on the university, you may also find specialized support for first-generation students, international students, students with disabilities, and other communities.

These resources may not be the first thing you think about when building your college list, but they can become an important part of your college experience.

You don’t have to need every resource you find. Knowing what is available can help you understand how a university supports students throughout their college experience.

Related: 5 Essential St. John’s Resources for First-Year Students

8. Student Life and Organizations

Visit the student life section of a university website to explore clubs, organizations, campus events, athletics, traditions, leadership opportunities, and service programs.

You can often find lists of student organizations, too. Search for groups connected to your interests, major, hobbies, or career goals. You may even find opportunities to try something completely new.

This can be a good way to start imagining your life on campus and the communities you could become part of.

Pro tip: When looking for clubs you are interested in, look at their social media. There, you’ll get a sense of how active the club is and what types of activities and opportunities are available. From there, you can connect with students directly to learn more about student life on campus.

9. Alumni and Career Outcomes

Student success stories can show you what students are doing during college. Alumni pages and career outcome information can help you see what happens after graduation.

Look for alumni profiles, graduate school placements, employers that hire graduates, and information about career outcomes.

You might also explore the university’s alumni network. Seeing where graduates work, what they studied, and how they built their careers can give you ideas about the possibilities available after college.

Remember that career outcomes are influenced by many factors, including your major, experience, goals, and the opportunities you pursue while in college. Use this information as one part of your research rather than the only factor in your decision.

10. Explore Visiting Options

A college website can tell you a lot about a university, but the best way to get a genuine feel for a campus is to experience it for yourself. Look for information about upcoming Open Houses, campus tours, information sessions, and other opportunities to visit. These events can give you the chance to explore the campus, meet students and faculty, ask questions, and see whether you can picture yourself as part of the community. Your online research is a great place to start, but visiting in person can help bring what you’ve learned to life.

Related:Campus Tours at St. John's University

Dig Deeper Into Your College Search

When you’re comparing colleges, it’s easy to focus on the information that appears front and center: majors, tuition, admission requirements, and application deadlines.

Those details matter. But there is so much more to learn.

Click into the faculty directory. Explore research centers. Read student stories. Look for scholarships and grants. See how students gain real-world experience. Explore student organizations and support services. Find out where graduates go next.

At St. John’s, prospective students can explore these areas across the University’s website, from academic programs and faculty to research, experiential learning, student life, and opportunities beyond the classroom.

Knowing what to look for on a college website can help you get a better sense of what a college has to offer and, more importantly, what your experience could look like there.