BigFuture vs CollegeData
BigFuture
bigfuture.collegeboard.orgCollegeData
collegedata.comSide by side
| Figure | BigFuture | CollegeData |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · College Search Platforms | 8.2 (#4) | 8.7 (#1) |
| College search | Students can filter college searches by location, major, campus life, and other criteria, and save schools to their lists. | The search tool compares more than 2,600 colleges using factors such as location, size, cost, acceptance rate, majors, diversity and graduation rates. |
| Mobile app | BigFuture School is a free mobile app for eligible students that offers SAT Suite score access and personalized college and career guidance. | The mobile app offers college profiles, admissions estimates, scholarships, application and testing deadlines, and a personal dashboard. |
| Purpose | BigFuture helps students explore careers, plan for college, and pay for college after high school. | CollegeData is a free online college advisory service that helps students find colleges, estimate admissions chances, explore scholarships, and plan for college costs. |
| Scholarships | Students can qualify for $40,000 and $500 BigFuture Scholarships by completing six planning steps, with no essay or minimum GPA or test score requirement. | Scholarship Finder searches thousands of undergraduate scholarships, including awards from private sources and institutions. |
| Support | BigFuture School users can contact support at (866) 630-9305 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. | Support is provided through an online Help section, contact form and stated response target of up to three business days. |
Plans
In their own words
BigFuture
BigFuture is a free resource for students exploring careers, planning for college, and considering how to pay for education after high school. Its Career Quiz suggests 30 personalized career options, and more than 1,000 profiles describe salary, education, and job outlook. Students can specify preferences such as location, cost, and majors to get a personalized college list, then filter searches by criteria including campus life and save schools. Tools cover college costs and financial aid, with scholarship resources as well. Students can qualify for $40,000 and $500 BigFuture Scholarships by completing six planning steps; there is no essay or minimum GPA or test score requirement. Students may also opt in to Student Search Service, which connects them with more than 1,200 colleges and scholarship programs. BigFuture is available on Android, iOS, and the web. The separate free BigFuture School app offers SAT Suite score access and personalized college and career guidance to eligible students; access requires age 13 or older, a participating U.S. school, and an eligible in-school test or AP course, and exclusions may apply.
CollegeData
CollegeData is a free college advisory service for students researching schools, admissions, scholarships, and costs. College Search filters colleges by preferences such as location, size, cost, acceptance rate, majors, student body, sports, and graduation rates. College Chances uses a student's GPA, test scores, coursework, and other factors alongside information about enrolled freshmen to estimate admission chances; it does not guarantee an outcome. Scholarship Finder searches thousands of undergraduate awards from private sources and institutions. Admissions Tracker lets students compare applicant outcomes and shape a reach, target, and safety list. Financial resources include Student Aid Index and net price information, plus a tool for comparing aid offers. Articles cover search strategy, test preparation, essays, financial aid, budgeting, and campus life. A free app for Android and iOS includes college profiles, admissions estimates, scholarship search, and application and testing deadlines. Most profiles and resources are available without an account, but College Chances and Admissions Tracker require one.