COLLEGE PORTRAIT
A Voluntary System of Accountability
(VSA)
One of the strengths of U.S. Higher Education is the broad range of diverse institutions, each with its own distinctive mission. College students have the opportunity to select the institution that is the best match for their interests, ability, and goals. We present this information to help students and their families better understand how colleges are alike in some ways, different in others. The items in the College Portrait were selected based on recommendations from many focus groups as well as experts in Higher Education. While these items will give you valuable insight into college life, they will not capture the full range and richness of the experience. We encourage you to check out college web sites and visit campuses to get a more complete picture of the opportunities available to you.