Visiting campus is one of the most important steps for students to decide what type of college or specific institution is right for them. Because of this, most colleges offer campus tours, information sessions, or open house events to showcase academic and social life. Whether these events are in-person or online, they should help students visualize themselves thriving on campus.
Many institutions would like to enroll more students from first-generation, lower-income, or minoritized racial and ethnic backgrounds, so they will host additional events focused on culture and diversity to increase representation from underrepresented student groups. These weekend or multi-day programs, often known as ‘fly-in programs,’ let students experience campus more intimately, so they can get to know the students and faculty who bring the college to life. For prospective students, fly-ins and diversity visit programs typically occur in the spring of junior year or fall of senior year before students have submitted their college applications. There are also fly-in and visit programs created to help admitted students decide where to enroll in the spring of senior year.
Traveling to campuses for multiple visit programs can be extremely expensive, especially for students looking at colleges far from home. This sortable list of fly-in and diversity programs for prospective and admitted students indicates which colleges offer travel assistance for students (and families).
