College Scorecard
A data tool and dataset published by the U.S. Department of Education providing school-level information on costs, graduation rates, employment outcomes, and student debt.
Detailed Explanation
The College Scorecard is the most comprehensive public dataset on higher education outcomes in the United States. Launched in 2013 and significantly expanded in 2015, it provides institution-level and program-level data on admissions, costs, financial aid, completion rates, student debt, and post-graduation earnings. The earnings data is derived from IRS tax records linked to federal financial aid records, making it the most reliable measure of actual graduate earnings available. The Scorecard covers more than 6,000 institutions participating in federal financial aid programs. Data is updated annually, typically with a two-year lag. CollegeROI uses College Scorecard data as its primary source for median debt, median earnings, graduation rates, retention rates, and net price figures. The dataset is freely available for download at collegescorecard.ed.gov and through an API. While the Scorecard provides unprecedented transparency, it has limitations: earnings data is only available for students who received federal financial aid, and program-level data is limited to programs with sufficient sample sizes to protect student privacy.
Related Terms
ROI Score
CollegeROI's proprietary rating from 0-100 (graded A-F) that measures how well a school's graduates' earnings justify their student debt burden.
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
The ratio of a graduate's total student loan debt to their annual earnings after graduation, used to assess whether a degree's cost is proportionate to its financial return.
Net Price
The actual cost of attending a college after subtracting all grants and scholarships, representing what a student actually pays out of pocket or borrows.
Graduation Rate
The percentage of first-time, full-time students who complete their degree within 150% of the expected time (six years for a four-year degree).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is college scorecard?
A data tool and dataset published by the U.S. Department of Education providing school-level information on costs, graduation rates, employment outcomes, and student debt.
Why does college scorecard matter for college ROI?
The College Scorecard is the most comprehensive public dataset on higher education outcomes in the United States. Launched in 2013 and significantly expanded in 2015, it provides institution-level and program-level data on admissions, costs, financial aid, completion rates, student debt, and post-graduation earnings. The earnings data is derived from IRS tax records linked to federal financial aid records, making it the most reliable measure of actual graduate earnings available.