The Common Data Set
The Common Data Set, or CDS, should be an integral tool in your college research toolbox. The CDS is a “collaborative effort among data providers in the higher education community and publishers as represented by the College Board, Peterson’s, and U.S. News & World Report.” Almost all schools participate and use a common form to collect a set of information allowing you to compare apples to apples in an easy to use format without having to scour a college’s website to find each piece of information.
To locate a college’s CDS google “[college name] common data set” and most schools provide links to the last five years worth of reports.
Some examples of the data you can find:
Academic calendar - semester, quarter, trimester, 4-1-1 - see section A-4
Gender and racial/ethnicity data - all the data is found in sections B-1 and B-2
Retention rate - see section B-22
Admissions factors - see section C-7
Transfer credit policies - see sections D12-D17
Required areas for graduation - see section E-1
Percentage of women who join sororities - see section F-1
Overall the CDS is divided into 10 sections, the specific questions asked can be found in this download.
A — General Information: The type of college—private or public, single-gender or co-ed, degrees offered, and so on—and the college’s contact information.
B — Enrollment and Persistence: The number of students, broken down by various demographic categories, and how many of those students go on to complete their degrees.
C — First-Time, First-Year (Freshman) Admission: Applicant and admissions statistics that cover how many people applied, were accepted, and enrolled, as well as basic facts about the school’s admissions procedures, requirements, and standards.
D — Transfer Admission: Applicant and admissions statistics for students transferring to this college, including timing, requirements, and admissions rate.
E — Academic Offerings and Policies: Very brief checklist of the school’s special academic programs (such as an honors program or study abroad) as well as academic breadth required for graduation.
F — Student Life: Activity and housing options, as well as a breakdown of the student body by age, residency, and other factors.
G — Annual Expenses: How much it costs to attend each year, including figures for tuition, room and board, and required fees.
H — Financial Aid: What types of aid are available, how much students receive, student loans and debt, and the requirements for applying for and receiving aid.
I — Instructional Faculty and Class Size: The number of instructors (full- and part-time) and their characteristics, the size of the average class, and the overall ratio of students to faculty members.
J — Disciplinary Areas of Degrees Conferred: The most popular areas of study or majors, based on how many students end up graduating in each one.
Common Data Set Definitions: a very helpful list of all the terms used in the CDS and on college websites.
The CDS for a school is an extremely useful resource and one we often use as we gather information about a school.