A criteria we used with our D was the financial health of each prospective college. Forbes magazine’s annual college rankings provide an excellent financial financial grade. Their criteria is explained here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/schifrin/2016/07/06/forbes-2016-financial-grades-is-your-college-financially-fit/#25b1e2ef6e50.
Regardless of what final criteria you come up with and a methodology to come up with your own rankings, suggest you visit the campuses of the top choices if possible. I told our D we could visit her top three out-of-state campuses in a one week period. Nothing like an actual campus visit to solidify choices and confirm what are essentials and what are “nice to have” qualities.