Common Data Set
The Common Data Set (CDS) initiative is a collaborative effort among data providers in the higher education community and publishers. As such, each CDS is a standard set of data updated annually that is shared and compared throughout the undergraduate higher education community.
Each CDS consists of ten main sections and a set of definitions. Sections include A. General Information, B. Enrollment, C. First Year Admissions, D. Transfer Admissions, E. Academic Offerings and Policies, F. Student Life, G. Annual Expenses, H. Financial Aid, I. Instructional Faculty and Class Size, and J. Degrees Conferred.