College Search: The Capsule
The capsule of each Profile provides basic information about the college at a glance. An explanation of the standard capsule is shown in the accompanying box.
All toll-free phone numbers are presumed to be out-ofstate or both in-state and out-of-state, unless noted.
A former name is given if the name has been changed recently. Wherever “n/av” is used in the capsule, it means the information was not available. The abbreviation “n/app” means not applicable.
| City, State, Zip Code Phone and Fax numbers | |
| Full-time: Full-time undergraduate enrollment | Faculty: Number of full-time faculty; AAUP category of school, salary-level symbol |
| Part-time: Part-time undergraduate enrollment | Ph.D.s: Percentage of faculty holding Ph.D. |
| Graduate: Graduate enrollment | Student/Faculty: Full-time student/full-time faculty ratio |
| Year: Semesters, quarters, summer sessions | Tuition: Yearly tuition and fees (out-of-state if different) |
| Application Deadline: Fall admission deadline | Room & Board: Yearly room-and-board costs |
| Freshman Class: Number of students who applied, number accepted, number enrolled | |
| SAT Verbal/Math: Median verbal, Median math* | ACT: Median composite ACT |
| Selectivity: Admission Selector Rating | *IMPORTANT NOTE: At press time, median SAT scores were only available for classes admitted based on the SAT I, which had only verbal and math sections. |
Full-time, Part-time, Graduate
Enrollment figures are the clearest indication of the size of a college, and show whether or not it is coeducational and what the male-female ratio is. Graduate enrollment is presented to give a better idea of the size of the entire student body; some schools have far more graduate students enrolled than undergraduates.Year
Some of the more innovative college calendars include the 4-1-4, 3-2-3, 3-3-1, and 1-3-1-4-3 terms. College administrators sometimes utilize various intersessions or interims—special short terms—for projects, independent study, short courses, or travel programs. The early semester calendar, which allows students to finish spring semesters earlier than those of the traditional semester calendar, gives students a head start on finding summer jobs. A modified semester (4-1-4) system provides a January or winter term, approximately four weeks long, for special projects that usually earn the same credit as one semester-long course. The trimester calendar divides the year into three equal parts; students may attend college during all three but generally take a vacation during any one. The quarter calendar divides the year into four equal parts; students usually attend for three quarters each year. The capsule also indicates schools that offer a summer session.Application Deadline
Indicated here is the deadline for applications for admission to the fall semester. If there are no specific deadlines, it will say “open.” Application deadlines for admission to other semesters are, where available, given in the admissions section of the profile.Faculty
The first number given refers to the number of full-time faculty members at the college or university.The Roman numeral and symbol that follow represent the salary level of faculty at the entientire institution as compared with faculty salaries nationally. This information is based on the salary report* published by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). The Roman numeral refers to the AAUP category to which the particular college or university is assigned. (This allows for comparison of faculty salaries at the same types of schools.) Category I includes “institutions that offer the doctorate degree, and that conferred in the most recent three years an annual average of fifteen or more earned doctorates covering a minimum of three nonrelated disciplines.” Category IIA includes “institutions awarding degrees above the baccalaureate, but not included in Category I.” Category IIB includes “institutions awarding only the baccalaureate or equivalent degree.” Category III includes “institutions with academic ranks, mostly two-year institutions.” Category IV includes “institutions without academic ranks.” (With the exception of a few liberal arts colleges, this category includes mostly two-year institutions.)
The symbol that follows the Roman numeral indicates into which percentile range the average salary of professors, associate professors, assistant professors, and instructors at the school falls, as compared with other schools in the same AAUP category. The symbols used in this book represent the following:
- ++$ 95th percentile and above
- +$ 80th–94.9th percentile
- av$ 60th–79.9th percentile
- –$ 40th–59.9th percentile
- ––$ 39.9th percentile and below
If the school is not a member of AAUP, nothing will appear.
Ph.D.s
The figure here indicates the percentage of full-time faculty who have Ph.D.s or the highest terminal degree.
Student/ Faculty
Student/faculty ratios may be deceptive because the faculties of many large universities include scholars and scientists who do little or no teaching. Nearly every college has some large lecture classes, usually in required or popular subjects, and many small classes in advanced or specialized fields. Here, the ratio reflects full-time students and full-time faculty, and some colleges utilize the services of a large part-time faculty. Additionally, some institutions factor in an FTE component in determining this ratio. We do not, and thus the Student/Faculty ratio that we report may differ somewhat from what the college reports. In general, a student/faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is very good.
If the faculty and student body are both mostly parttime, the entry will say “n/app.”
Tuition
It is important to remember that tuition costs change continually and that in many cases, these changes are substantial. Particularly heavy increases have occurred recently and will continue to occur. On the other hand, some smaller colleges are being encouraged to lower tuitions, in order to make higher education more affordable. Students are therefore urged to contact individual colleges for the most current tuition figures.
The figure given here includes tuition and student fees for the school’s standard academic year. If costs differ for state residents and out-of-state residents, the figure for nonresidents is given in parentheses. Where tuition costs are listed per credit hour (p/c), per course (p/course), or per unit (p/unit), student fees are not included. In some university systems, tuition is the same for all schools. However, student fees, and therefore the total tuition figure, may vary from school to school.
Room and Board
It is suggested that students check with individual schools for the most current room-and-board figures because, like tuition figures, they increase continually. The room-and-board figures given here represent the annual cost of a double room and all meals. The word “none” indicates that the college does not charge for room and board; “n/app” indicates that room and board are not provided.
Freshman Class
The numbers apply to the number of students who applied, were accepted, and enrolled in the 2005–2006 freshman class or in a recent class.
SAT, ACT
Whenever available, the median SAT I scores—both Verbal and Mathematics—and the median ACT composite score for the 2005–2006 freshman class are given. If the school has not reported median SAT I or ACT scores, the capsule indicates whether the SAT or ACT is required. Note: Test scores are reported for mainstream students.
At press time, median SAT scores were only available for classes admitted based on the SAT I exam, which had only two section (Verbal and Math). This should provide a basis for estimating similar scores on the new SAT, which also includes a writing section and essay.
Admissions Selector Rating
The College Admissions Selector Rating indicates the degree of competitiveness of admission to the college. More information on the Selector Rating