The search for the perfect college is certainly an exciting one, but at the same time it can be extremely daunting. Colleges and universities inundate prospective students with a seemingly endless supply of letters, magazines and brochures promising the ultimate higher-education experience, making the search for the right school frustrating and overwhelming. Luckily, there are tools available to help students cut through the noise and get right to the bottom line: What is the right school for me?

Here are four great websites that deliver accurate, unbiased information and tools to help you choose, apply, and pay for your dream school:

National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator

nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator

As a division of the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences, the National Center for Education Statistics collects and analyzes data about education and institutions around the country and world. Start your search with the “College Navigator” feature which allows you to sort schools by state, programs and majors, degree type, tuition range and many other factors. Once you have narrowed down your search, you can see side-by-side comparisons of different schools to further pinpoint your choice, export results into a spreadsheet, and then apply for Federal Student Aid programs.

Sallie Mae

salliemae.com

Sallie Mae provides students and parents with loans and savings plans to encourage more people to continue their education, whether it’s through a four-year bachelor’s program or a two-year associate’s degree. The website also guides students through a college selection process in which they can identify their priorities when it comes to their dream school—location, available programs of study and degrees. It also provides answers to frequently asked questions about choosing a major, studying

The College Board

collegeboard.com

The College Board has been connecting potential students with colleges and universities since 1900. Its website emphasizes the importance of planning for college, and includes information and resources for high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. Students have access to standardized test preparation tips, application guides and information about scholarships and loans. It also features a “College Matchmaker” function, in which students indicate what they want out of their college experience, and the best matches are found based on these preferences.

The Princeton Review

theprincetonreview.com

The Princeton Review is well known for its test prep courses, as well as its yearly rankings of the top schools in the nation. And through resources on its website, it is well-equipped to not only help students prepare for college entrance exams, but can help in the college selection process as well. Their “Counselor-O-Matic” function is a fun, in-depth questionnaire that matches students to their “best fit” schools based on several different variables like academics, activities, location and preferred school size.