That depends on your interests and skills, your grades and how much you can or want to pay. Here are four general categories that schools can fit into. However, at some schools, like UA, have attributes from each of the categories.

PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES tend to be big on choices and big on enrollment. If you attend a public university out-of-state, the tuition can rival costs as private schools. Public universities tend to have higher student-to-teacher ratios, which can mean less personal attention. They often have lots of majors, lots of sports and other extracurricular activities, and lots of social functions.

PRIVATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES tend to be low on student enrollment and higher on costs. Lower student-to-teacher ratios mean more personal attention. Private colleges generally offer fewer majors and degrees, but still offer a variety of choices outside liberal arts like business, computer sciences and engineering. The tuition at a private college is considerably more expensive than at most public institutions.

COMMUNITY CAMPUS AND JUNIOR COLLEGES are a great way to save money and get ready to transfer to the four-year school you want to attend. But they don’t usually offer many extracurricular activities or campus living, so you have to commute.

VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL SCHOOLS are the best route for developing a specific skill or trade, and they can get you into the work force more quickly. These schools focus specifically on preparing students for the workforce, so there are no sports, social functions, or other extracurricular activities.