What Is the Common Data Set?
The Common Data Set, often shortened to CDS, is a standardized set of questions about colleges that US institutions answer each year so that data can be compared across schools. It is a joint initiative of the higher education community and publishers of college guides. Many colleges publish their completed CDS on their websites, and it is one of the richest free sources of information for prospective students.
What it contains
The CDS has sections including:
- General information: type of institution, contact details.
- Enrollment and persistence: total enrollment, retention and graduation rates.
- First-time, first-year admission: applications, admits and enrolled students, with acceptance rate and yield.
- Test scores and GPA ranges: middle 50 percent ranges for admitted students, and class rank.
- Admission factors: how much weight the college gives to grades, rigor, test scores, essays, recommendations, activities, interviews, legacy status and demonstrated interest, from very important to not considered.
- Transfer admission, academic offerings and policies, such as credit for AP and IB.
- Student life: percentages living on campus and participating in Greek life.
- Annual expenses: tuition, fees, room and board.
- Financial aid: the share of students receiving aid, average awards and need met.
- Instructional faculty and class size: student-to-faculty ratio and class size distributions.
- Degrees conferred by field.
How to use it
- Check your chances realistically by comparing your grades and test scores with the middle 50 percent ranges.
- Read the factors section to see what a college values most.
- Compare financial aid: how many students receive need-based aid and how much need is typically met.
- Check graduation rates for a sense of how well students are supported.
- Look at class sizes to see what the learning experience may be.
- Compare colleges side by side using the same sections.
Limits
Data is self-reported and may be a year or more old, and not all colleges publish it. Averages hide differences by major or student group, and the data does not capture campus culture.
Related terms
See acceptance rate, yield rate, holistic admissions, test-blind admissions and demonstrated interest.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find a college's Common Data Set?
Search the college name with Common Data Set. Many colleges publish it on their institutional research or admissions pages as a PDF or spreadsheet.
What useful information does it contain?
Admit rates, test score and GPA ranges, class rank, how admissions factors are weighted, financial aid statistics, class sizes, graduation rates and student demographics.
Is the Common Data Set the same at all colleges?
The format is standardized so you can compare, but not all colleges publish it, and the data may be a year or two old.