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College Scorecard

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What College Scorecard is

College Scorecard is a free web service for exploring postsecondary education options and reviewing higher education data. Prospective students and their advocates can search for and compare colleges using graduation rates, average annual costs, loan repayment rates, and earnings after completion by field of study. The search also supports comparing student outcomes across fields of study.

Researchers and developers can use an API with more than 2,000 downloadable data elements covering schools, programs, costs, graduation rates, admissions, and related topics. The API offers institution-level and field-of-study data, though some variables are not available for every year. An API key is required; the default limit is 1,000 requests per IP address per hour, with up to 100 results per page. Downloads include institution-level data for 1996–97 through 2025–26, field-of-study files, and crosswalks. The data page lists June 10, 2026 as its latest update. Values for different metrics may refer to different years because data are published on different schedules.

Who it suits

It suits prospective students and advocates comparing colleges, as well as researchers and developers who need higher education data. API access requires a key, and some measures may have data from different years.

What it does well

  • Free to use
  • Compare costs, graduation rates, loan repayment, and earnings
  • API includes more than 2,000 data elements
  • Downloads include institution-level and field-of-study data
  • Program search and financial aid information are available

What to know first

  • API access requires a key and registration
  • Default API limit is 1,000 requests per IP per hour
  • Some variables are unavailable for certain years
  • International college search is not available

Verdict

College Scorecard combines a college comparison service with downloadable data and API access. Its main caveats are the API access and request limits, and that metrics may reflect different years.

Facts from College Scorecard's own pages

API access
Using the API requires an API key obtained through the registration form after completing a security challenge. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
API coverage
The API supports queries about schools, programs, costs, graduation rates, admissions, and other higher education data. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
API limit
The default API rate limit is 1,000 requests per IP address per hour, and users can contact the help desk to request an increase. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
API limits
API requests return at most 100 results per page, and the documentation says sorting is available only on specified fields. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Audience
Researchers and developers can access more than 2,000 downloadable data elements through an API. · ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
College comparison
Users can search and compare colleges using data such as graduation rates, average annual cost, loan repayment rates, and post-completion earnings for fields of study. · ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
College comparisons
The consumer site lets users search and compare colleges using measures including graduation rates, average annual cost, loan repayment rates, and post-completion earnings by field of study. · ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Data caveat
The latest available value for each metric may come from a different year because data are published at different times. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Data coverage
The API provides institution-level and field-of-study data about schools, programs, costs, graduation rates, and admissions. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Data documentation
The data dictionary describes metrics, their sources, API names, values, notes, and the cohorts each metric represents. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Data downloads
The download page offers institution-level data for 1996–97 through 2025–26 and field-of-study files for pooled award years through 2019–20. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Data limitation
The latest available data for different API metrics may come from different years because data are published at different times. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Data refresh
The downloadable data page says its data was last updated June 10, 2026. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Datasets
The API includes institution-level data and field-of-study data, and some variables may not be available for every year. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Data update
The downloadable data page says its data was last updated June 10, 2026. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Downloads
The data page offers a 470 MB ZIP containing institution-level data for 1996–97 through 2025–26, field-of-study data, and crosswalk files. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Download support
The data page directs users to StackExchange or [email protected] for help. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Intended users
The Department describes the consumer site as serving prospective students and advocates, and says researchers and developers can use its downloadable data and API. · ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Privacy
The API documentation instructs users to keep their API key secure because it is required for all API requests. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Purpose
College Scorecard helps prospective students and their advocates find a fit for postsecondary education. · ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Recent comparison feature
The Department says the search function was enhanced to let users compare student outcomes by field of study. · ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Security
The site identifies itself as a U.S. government website and says secure .gov sites use HTTPS. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026
Support
The data page directs users to StackExchange or the help desk at [email protected] for assistance. · collegescorecard.ed.gov, 9 Oct 2026

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