The College Blue Book is a six-volume reference guide that provides information on over 4,500 colleges, universities, and vocational schools in the United States and Canada. It includes descriptive profiles of schools, degrees offered, costs, admissions requirements, scholarships, and distance learning programs. The guide is intended to help students, parents, and counselors during the college search and selection process. Each volume covers different types of information in an easy-to-use layout with alphabetical and subject indexes to quickly locate details about specific schools and programs.

1. A R E A D Y R E F E R E N C E I N S T R U C T I O N A L G U I D E
The
College Blue Book
42nd Edition
(2015). The college blue book. New York : Macmillan Reference USA.

2. 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 Book
What is it?

3. • 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 Book
Who might use it?

4. 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 Book
How reliable is it?

5. The College Blue Book
Where 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.

6. 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 subject
Volume 4: Occupational education
Volume 5: Scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans
Volume 6: Distance learning programs
Let’s take a closer look at each volume…
The College Blue Book
What’s in it?

7. 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?

8. Volume 2:
Tabular Data
• Organized by State
or Provence
• Listed alphabetically
by school name
• 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?

9. 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
Community
Environment
• population
• location
• industry
• recreation
• accessibility

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Volume 3:
Degrees Offered by
College and Subject
• Part I
• Organized by State
or Provence
• Listed alphabetically
by school name
• 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?

13. 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

14. Volume 4:
Occupational
Education
• Organized by State
• Listed alphabetically
by school name
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.

15. 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?

16. 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

17. Volume 6:
Distance Learning
Programs
• Listed alphabetically by
school name
• 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?

18. 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

19. Any questions?
Please contact a librarian at the reference desk.
We’re happy to help you!