It is vital that you get to know the college first. Like people, it is not always fair to judge by first impressions. Colleges have their own personalities and it takes a little time to get a feel for that personality. Only a campus visit can answer that question. Read the college newspaper, look at the yearbooks.
Most colleges have general visitation days that welcome prospective students to visit the campus.
You simply need to call the admissions office and tell them you would like to visit and they can plan for your arrival. When you visit you definitely want to schedule appointments with an admissions counselor, financial aid officer, and if you have decided on a major, a professor in that department. Ask as many questions as you can think of. Take a list of written questions with you, and ask the same questions of every person you talk to. If you get conflicting answers to the same questions, you may want to clarify something.