The Common Data Set is a standard report that colleges fill out each year, using the same questions and definitions, about their applicants, students, costs and financial aid. Each college posts its own, usually on its institutional research website. Below are direct links to the 2025–26 Common Data Set for 50 colleges, with each one's fall 2025 acceptance rate, and a guide to the sections families use most.
Where this information comes from
Every link below goes to the college's own Common Data Set file or page, checked in October 2026. The 2025–26 edition reports on students who applied for and entered in fall 2025. Acceptance rates are admitted students divided by applicants, from section C1 of each report, except Clemson's, which comes from its fact guide. Out-of-state rates come from the residency table in section C1, where the college filled it in.
Common Data Set links, 2025–26
¹ Clemson's acceptance rate is from its Office of Institutional Research fact guide. A dash means the college didn't report that figure in a form we could check. Out-of-state rates exclude international applicants, except possibly Maryland's (its international column is blank). ² NC State's out-of-state and international columns appear to be swapped; this uses the figures that match its enrolled class. Acceptance rates describe all applicants as a group; they are a starting point, not a prediction.
Also often searched, with the latest report we could find:
The sections families use most
| Section | What it covers | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| B: Enrollment and persistence | Students by level, first-year retention, graduation rates | Shows how many students return for a second year and finish |
| C1: Applications | First-year applicants, admits and enrollees, plus a breakdown by in-state, out-of-state and international if the college reports it | Where acceptance rates, including out-of-state rates, come from |
| C2: Waiting list | How many were offered a place on the waitlist and how many were later admitted | Shows how often the waitlist turns into an offer |
| C7: Admission factors | How important the college says each factor is, from grades and essays to interest and residency | Shows what the college says it weighs |
| C8: Testing policy | Whether the SAT or ACT is required, considered or not used | The college's own statement of its test policy |
| C9: Test scores | The 25th and 75th percentile SAT and ACT scores of enrolled students | Where your scores fall among students who enrolled |
| C11–C12: High school GPA | The share of enrolled students in each GPA range, and the average | Context for your own grades |
| C21–C22: Early decision and early action | Whether the college offers early plans and, for early decision, how many applied and were admitted | The source of early decision acceptance rates |
| G: Annual expenses | Published tuition, fees, housing and food | The published price before any aid |
| H: Financial aid | Average aid, the share of need met, and merit aid to students without need | How generous a college's aid is likely to be |
| I: Faculty and class size | Student-to-faculty ratio and how many classes are small or large | What classes are likely to feel like |
How to use it
- Find the right year. The 2025–26 Common Data Set covers fall 2025. Colleges post it between winter and summer, so the newest edition may not be up yet.
- Calculate a rate yourself. In section C1, divide admitted by applied. For an out-of-state rate, use the out-of-state column of the residency table.
- Check what's blank. Colleges may leave optional items empty. Several large universities, including Michigan and Pittsburgh, leave the residency table blank.
- Expect small differences from federal data. IPEDS, the federal source, uses similar definitions, but counts can differ slightly from a college's own report.
FAQ
What is the Common Data Set? A standard set of questions and definitions that colleges use to report data about themselves each year, developed by colleges together with publishers including the College Board, Peterson's and U.S. News & World Report. Each college completes and publishes its own.
Where can I find a college's Common Data Set? On its institutional research or planning website, usually under "Common Data Set." Searching the college's name with "Common Data Set" usually finds it. The links above go straight to the 2025–26 report for 50 colleges.
Is the Common Data Set official? Yes. Each college prepares and publishes its own, using shared definitions.
What year does the 2025–26 Common Data Set cover? First-year applicants and students who entered in fall 2025, along with costs for the 2025–26 or 2026–27 year, depending on the section.
Does the Common Data Set show out-of-state acceptance rates? Sometimes. Section C1 now includes an optional table of applicants and admits by residency. Many public universities fill it in; some leave it blank. See out-of-state acceptance rates at public universities.
What is the difference between the Common Data Set and IPEDS? IPEDS is the federal government's required data collection from colleges. The Common Data Set is voluntary, covers more detail on admissions and aid, and is published by each college itself.
Related
- Out-of-state acceptance rates at public universities
- Early decision vs. early action
- What is a good SAT score?
- How many colleges should I apply to?
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