One great way to identify what you're looking for in a college is to ask yourself this–when you graduate from college, what do you want to be able to say about the four years you just spent there?
Yes, you'll want a degree and you'll hopefully want to be able to get a job next. But those are the rewards you earn for going. What do you want to be able to say about your college experience when you look back on it?
If you're willing to be honest with yourself, you probably won't mention things about prestige, a beautiful campus or a small student-faculty ratio. You'll want to look back on great friends, learning, living in a dorm, taking classes you want to take, discovering your talents, living independently, taking road trips, going to football games, having fun, and being proud of what you've accomplished.
Every student will have different answers. But starting your college search with the end in mind won't just help you figure out what qualities you're looking for. It will also help you realize just how many places you could find them, even if the colleges aren't famous.