College Scorecard

Overview

College Scorecard is ranked #27 of 28 in college search platforms on Specifiction. It runs on API, Web.

Compared on college search platforms

Free plan

Yescollegescorecard.ed.gov

Program search

Yescollegescorecard.ed.gov

College comparison

Yescollegescorecard.ed.gov

Financial aid information

Yescollegescorecard.ed.gov

International college search

Nocollegescorecard.ed.gov

Mobile access

webcollegescorecard.ed.gov

Facts

Purpose

College Scorecard helps prospective students and their advocates find a fit for postsecondary education.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

Audience

Researchers and developers can access more than 2,000 downloadable data elements through an API.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

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

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 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

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

Data refresh

The downloadable data page says its data was last updated June 10, 2026.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

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

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

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

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 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 update

The downloadable data page says its data was last updated June 10, 2026.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

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 documentation

The data dictionary describes metrics, their sources, API names, values, notes, and the cohorts each metric represents.collegescorecard.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

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

Where it ranks on Specifiction

• Best College Search Platforms in 2026#27 of 28

Sources

• ed.gov/about/ed-offices/opepd/office-of-chief-· checked 9 Oct 2026
• collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/api-documentation/· checked 9 Oct 2026
• collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/· checked 9 Oct 2026
• ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-· checked 9 Oct 2026
• collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/data-documentation/· checked 9 Oct 2026