Colleges and Universities Work to Develop Common Stats Formats

For Prospective Students

Angela Januzzi

July 6, 2007 

In a market of ever-growing college tuition costs, Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings has suggested that Congress work towards legislation that would create a financial aid costs. Rather than be legally bound to do so, however, associations representing many state universities, mid-sized universities, and colleges are working together to create such a format on a voluntary basis.

A common website has been proposed in order for the commonly calibrated information to be displayed, with permission from the 1,600 colleges and universities involved. The website format is being reviewed by members of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the Council of Independent Colleges, the associations representing the schools participating.

Data will include the number of students who applied to each school, the number accepted, and the number enrolled. The website will deliver the numbers of undergraduates broken-down by ethnicity, sex, and offer graduation rates within four, five and six years of enrollment. Information will also include the average amount of loans carried by graduation, and average net tuition (full price of schooling once financial aid and scholarships are deducted.)

Daniel H. Weiss, president of Lafayette College and a member of the Annapolis Group, said of the initiative: “Institutions are ready to act. We’re finding collective courage.” The website is scheduled for posting by September.

Source: Finder, Alan. “Colleges Join Forces on a Web Presence to Let Prospective Students Research and Compare.” <www.nytimes.com> Published: July 4, 2007.