CollegeScoreCard.ed.gov

API

Free open data API for U.S. higher education institution metrics

Overview

The CollegeScoreCard.ed.gov API provides RESTful access to detailed data on U.S. colleges and universities, including tuition costs, graduation rates, student debt outcomes, admissions statistics, and employment metrics. Endpoints support filtered searches (by state, institution type, degree level) and institution-specific queries. Responses are in JSON format. Use cases include building college comparison tools for students, conducting policy research on higher education affordability, integrating institutional data into counseling platforms, and analyzing trends in post-graduation outcomes.

Example Integration (JavaScript)

script.js JS


fetch('https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/')
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

Key Features

RESTful API
JSON responses
Requires API key
Filterable searches
Comprehensive institutional metrics
Public domain data

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is CollegeScoreCard.ed.gov API free to use?

Yes, the API is completely free for public use, though an API key is required to access its endpoints.

? Does it require an API Key?

Yes, you need to register for a free API key on the CollegeScoreCard.ed.gov website to authenticate your requests.

? What is the response format?

All API responses are in JSON format, which is widely supported for integration into web, mobile, and data analysis applications.

Top Alternatives

NCES API (National Center for Education Statistics) Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Free

Category Open Data

Platform Public API

Pros

⊕ Free public access
⊕ Extensive dataset coverage
⊕ Regular government updates
⊕ Structured JSON format for easy integration

Cons

⊖ Rate limits apply
⊖ API key registration required
⊖ Complex query parameters for advanced filters
⊖ Limited historical data depth for some metrics