The College Blue Book instructional guide

A READY REFERENCE INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDE

TheCollege Blue Book

42nd Edition

(2015). The college blue book. New York : Macmillan Reference USA.

The College Blue Book is:

• a six volume print reference on higher education in the US and Canada

• updated annually and currently (in 2015) in its 42nd edition

• published by Macmillan /Gale Reference USA

• easy to navigate and full of useful information about colleges, universities and vocational schools.

The College Blue BookWhat is it?

• High school students or adults preparing to apply to college or vocational school

• College students preparing to apply to graduate school

• High School counselors

• Parents

• Students looking for scholarships and financial aid

The College Blue BookWho might use it?

The College Blue Book’s publisher, Gale / MacMillan is a well-respected publisher of library databases and reference materials. Their works are generally considered to be accurate, and The College Blue Book is no exception.

It is published and updated each January, however, so it does not reflect changes in program and personnel made mid-year.

In addition, the book itself notes that information on cost per year for colleges may vary and should be verified on the websites of the individual colleges.

The College Blue BookHow reliable is it?

The College Blue BookWhere can it be found?

It is available in print and may be found in the reference section of your local public library.

It’s also available online, but a subscription is required for access. You may have access via your local library.

The College Blue Book comprises six volumes:

Volume 1: Descriptive narratives (about colleges and universities)Volume 2: Tabular data (about colleges and universities)Volume 3: Degrees offered by college and subjectVolume 4: Occupational educationVolume 5: Scholarships, fellowships, grants and loansVolume 6: Distance learning programs

Let’s take a closer look at each volume…

The College Blue BookWhat’s in it?

Volume 1:Narrative

Descriptions

• Organized by State or Provence

• Listed alphabetically by school name

• Indexed at end of volume by school name

Volume 1 contains narrative descriptions of over 4,500 schools in the US and Canada.

It can be used to answer questions about a particular college like:

• What is the student-faculty ratio at Dominican?

• What are the entrance requirements for McGill University in Canada?

• Is Smith College co-ed?

• How many students go Truman State University?

• What degrees does College of DuPage offer?

Volume 2:Tabular

Data



• Indexed by school name

Volume 2 contains information about college costs, accreditation, enrollment figures, intercollegiate athletics, faculty and the names of the chief administrative officers.

Entries in Volume 2 are condensed versions of the entries in Volume 1.

Volume 2 can be used to answer questions about a particular college like:

• Does Dartmouth have a women’s hockey team?

• Who is the financial aid officer at U of Michigan?

• Is Harper College on a semester or quarter calendar?

Here’s a sample entry

from Volume 1 on

Duke University.

It is written in narrative form and gives detailed information about a variety of topics.

Contact Info

School Descripton• affiliation• genders• levels• setting • history• demographics• housing • calendar• special

programs

Entrance Requirements• options • required tests• selectivity • preferences• transfer credits• wait list info

Costs per Year

Collegiate Environment• orientation program• popular student

groups• student services• safety measures• library holdings

CommunityEnvironment• population• location• industry • recreation• accessibility

Here’s the same entry

from Volume 2.

Notice that much of the same information is covered as the Volume 1 entry. But this entry is compressed and the data is in tabular format.

Also, it includes some information that Volume 1 does not, like the names of the school’s officers and what intercollegiate sport teams are offered.

What percentage of applicants were accepted at Duke University last year?First, we look up Duke University in the alphabetized index at the back of the book.

Then, we go to page 775 and find the entry for Duke University. The answer is listed in the Description section.

Using Volumes 1 & 2: Example

We see that its in North Carolina, and its entry is on page 775.

Volume 3:Degrees Offered by

College and Subject

• Part I



• Part II

• Organized by Subject

Volume 3 contains lists of schools that offer degrees in various subjects.

It can be used to answer questions about what colleges offer various degrees like:

• Do any colleges in Texas offer programs in Asian Studies?

• Does UIC offer a Bacherlor’s Degree in Linguistics?

• What colleges have Civil Engineering programs?

• Where can I get a Master’s Degree in Library Science?

Where in California can I study to become a special education teacher?First, we look up “Special Education” in Part II of the volume, which is indexed by area of study.

Then we look for “California” within “Special Education and Teaching.”

Notice that there are over 40 California schools that offer programs in Special Education and Teaching.

The letter after the school’s name indicates if the program offer’s Associate Degree (A), Bachelor Degree (B), Doctorate Degree (D), Master’s Degree (M) or Other Advanced Degree (O).

.

Volume 3 Example

Volume 4:Occupational

Education

• Organized by State


and

• Organized by curricula & area of instruction

and

• Indexed by school name

Volume 4 contains descriptions of over 6,700 schools that provide occupational or technical training rather than academic degree programs.

It can be used to answer questions about what vocational programs are offered at schools like:

• Are there any culinary schools around Cambridge, Massachusetts?

• What schools have mechanical drafting programs?

• Where can I get certified to be a manicurist near Tampa, Florida?

It is organized and can be used in a similar manner as Volume 1.

Volume 5:Scholarships, Fellowships,

Grants and Loans• Organized by

subject area

• and

• Indexed by subject

• Indexed by level of education

• Indexed by sponsoring organization

• Indexed by title of award

Volume 5 provides listings for more than 5,000 different sources of financial aid.

It provides basic information about various awards, including eligibility requirements, amount of award and application deadlines.

It can be used to answer questions like:

• Does the American Dental Association sponsor any scholarships?

• Are there any scholarships or grants for undergrads majoring in Public Administration?

• What scholarships are offered to students in Illinois?

Does the University of Louisville have any scholarships for Kentucky residents?First, we check the sponsoring organization index for University of Louisville and its alumni association.

Then, go the entry numbers listed in the index and check the sections labelled “Eligibility Requirements.”

Volume 5 Example

Volume 6:Distance Learning Programs


• Indexed by degree or certificate name

• and

• Indexed by non-degree-related course subject areas

• and

• Indexed geographically

Volume 6 contains basic information about over 1,000 colleges that offer distance learning programs.

Entries provide information about the school’s history, accreditation, degrees awarded and course subject areas offered outside of degree programs.

Volume 6 can be used to answer questions like:

• What schools offer distance learning programs in anthropology?

• Do any schools offer an on-line bachelors degree program in textile design?

Do any schools offer certification programs in substance abuse counseling in a distance learning format?First, go to the Degree and Certificate Programs Index and look for Substance Abuse Counseling.

Then, go to the entry for East Carolina University.

Volume 6 Example

Any questions?

Please contact a librarian at the reference desk.

We’re happy to help you!