What's new with the Common Data Set for Fall 2025 Admissions?

If you’re navigating the college admissions process for Fall 2025—whether as a student, parent, counselor, or researcher—you’re likely wondering when the latest Common Data Set (CDS) will be available and what it means for you. Here's what you need to know.

📘 What Is the Common Data Set?

The Common Data Set is a standardized set of data points that colleges and universities report each year. It includes key information like:

• Acceptance rates

• Average test scores

• Class sizes

• Financial aid statistics

• Graduation and retention rates

It’s a goldmine for comparing colleges objectively and making informed decisions.

🗓️ Where We Are Now: Summer 2025

As of June 2025, the Fall 2025 Common Data Sets have not yet been released by most institutions. While the 2024–2025 CDS template is publicly available (defining what schools will report), finalized data is still in progress across campuses. Colleges typically release this information after fall enrollment numbers stabilize, so the finalized Fall 2025 CDS reports are expected to be published between late summer and early fall 2025.

🛠️ What You Can Do in the Meantime

• Download the 2024–2025 CDS Template to see what will be reported. This helps you understand the categories and terminology before new data is released.

• Bookmark the CDS page for your target colleges and check back in July–September.

• Reach out to a college’s Institutional Research Office if the CDS hasn’t been updated by early fall. Some are slow to post but will share data upon request.

• Use past years’ CDS data (Fall 2023 or Fall 2024) as a rough reference for trends in admissions and aid.

  
  

🔍 Why the CDS Still Matters in Test-Optional Times

Even as standardized testing becomes optional at many institutions, the CDS remains a reliable tool to:

• Compare admit rates and yield

• Analyze institutional priorities

• Gauge class size and faculty engagement

• Understand real cost through aid reporting

Whether you're comparing a public university in the Midwest or a private college on the East Coast, the CDS offers a transparent window into what colleges actually deliver.

🧭 Final Thoughts

The Common Data Set for Fall 2025 isn’t fully available just yet—but it’s coming soon. Expect major updates to roll out from late summer into early fall 2025, with earlier access at some proactive schools.

If you want to make strategic college decisions, now is the time to prepare: learn how to read the CDS, track your top schools, and watch for updates.

Want help interpreting a college’s Common Data Set once it’s released? I’d be happy to help! Reach out to me here.

Settling into college life and your upcoming sophomore year

As summer approaches, the excitement of college life and the anticipation of your first break as a college student become real. This summer, sandwiched between your freshman and sophomore years, offers a unique chance to reflect on past experiences while gearing up for new adventures. Perhaps you will work over the summer or maybe take a well-deserved break? Regardless, this first summer "back home" offers unique opportunities for personal growth and career exploration.

Reflection on Freshman Year

Your first year of college is often a whirlwind of new experiences—friendships, late-night study sessions, and a taste of independence. As summer rolls in, take a moment to reflect on what you learned during this transformative year. What or who shaped your college journey the most?

Think back to those late-night discussions with roommates that solidified your friendships. Remember the stress of finals that taught you resilience? Even minor events, like discovering a favorite study spot, can serve as important lessons. Consider the details that made your first year experience positive and those moments that maybe weren't so great...what will you take into your sophomore year?

Reassessing Academic Goals

For many students, sophomore year is when decisions about career paths or academic majors are finalized. This can be stressful! Consider the classes you took during your first year and if they inspired you to continue. Or, did some classes help you realize that career or academic path is not for you? Use the summer months to connect with academic advisors or classmates to discuss your future options. Engaging in conversations can provide insights into new opportunities or realign your focus.

Consider enrolling in a summer course, either online or at a local community college. According to a study from the National Center for Education Statistics, students who take summer classes tend to have higher GPAs. This could reinforce your commitment to your current major or introduce you to academic fields that intrigue you, like psychology if you’re interested in understanding human behavior.

Exploring Summer Opportunities

Summer break isn’t just a pause from classes - it’s a prime opportunity to explore hands-on experiences. Seek internships, volunteer positions, or part-time jobs that relate to your interests and career goals. Gaining practical experience can be invaluable. Research shows that 70% of internships lead to full-time job offers, making this an excellent time to gain skills and make connections.

Networking in these roles can help you meet industry professionals and gather insights that will shape your long-term career trajectory. For instance, if you're studying marketing, working with a local business can provide real-world knowledge and a chance to apply classroom concepts.

Building Relationships

Don’t overlook the importance of building and maintaining relationships this summer. Strengthening bonds with college friends and nurturing connections with family can provide emotional support when times get tough. Consider hosting a barbecue or heading out for a fun day with friends from your freshman year.

Prioritizing Personal Development

Summer is also a perfect time for personal growth. Returning home to see "old friends" may also reignite interest in sports or hobbies. Whether it’s joining a local club, attending workshops, or indulging in fun novels, personal development plays a key role in enhancing your college experience. With any luck, you'll return to campus in the fall ready to succeed academically!

Preparing Financially

As you gear up for sophomore year, assessing your financial health is no small task. Create a budget that aligns with your lifestyle needs for the upcoming school year. Consider expenses like tuition, textbooks, housing, and social outings. Perhaps you'll need to renew or re-apply for scholarships during the summer months. Be sure to review any institutional aid offered freshman year and complete renewal packages by deadlines. The average college student spends about $1,240 on textbooks and supplies each year, so plan accordingly - summer is an excellent time to work, apply and save money!

Looking to the Future

As summer draws to a close, it’s time to anticipate what your sophomore year holds. Prepare to face new challenges and embrace more responsibilities in your academic and personal life.

Start gathering necessary textbooks and organizing your supplies to avoid the chaotic back-to-school rush in the fall. Set specific goals for what you want to achieve academically and socially. Write these down and keep them visible to remind yourself of your ambitions.

Need assistance with college planning? Feel free to contact me to discuss how Aspen Ed can support your student's goals after high school.

Is this American education system in crisis?

Buckle up folks, it's going to be a bumpy ride! Yesterday, hundreds of Department of Education employees received noticed to stay home and many, will likely be laid off before March 21, 2025.

For consultants AND educators like myself, the future is unknown and the state of education is unstable - to say the least. I am sharing an podcast from NPR (2025) which I know is "left leaning" and I am also sharing an article from The Hill (2023) which tends to lean "right." Regardless of your political persuasion, I hope every student and parents of current students or future students will take some time to consider the impact of dismantling the Department of Education.

First, many believe there is duplicity in job focus or goals between the Department of Education's protection of civil rights (Title I) and the Department of Justice's investigation & prosecution of civil rights violations. Removing the Department of Education could result in a single agency handling all claims, investigations and case resolution - to include guidance on punishment, policy changes or other federal regulatory processes. Will personnel at the Department of Justice have the time, expertise and resources to carry-out the newly assigned duties?

Second, with half of the Department of Education's federal arm laid off, what national guidance remains to standardize education policy? While there have been controversial ideas and themes taught at various levels of K-12 education, this is NOT NEW. Prior to the Department of Education being created, many women in the 1950s and 1960s were discouraged from attending post-secondary education and while in high school, assigned to tracts in shorthand, typewriting, filing and other secretarial-type work. During the same time, men who returned from military service used GI Bills to attend college, enter the work force in manufacturing and industry; however, the gender-based education was questioned for discriminatory practices, finally being removed. Brown v. Board of Education (1954) ended segregation in public schools and Perez v. Sturgis (2023) allowed students with special needs to seek redress when their rights to free public education had been violated. Will these landmark cases remain without strong federal support?

Some claim the Department of Education has overstepped and infringed upon parental rights regarding content taught in public schools. Yet, history about racial violence, discrimination, religious conflict, science of evolution versus creation and many more topics have more than one viewpoint. Science-backed research with data & facts exist for every conversation on these topics and more than one view exists. This is not infringment of parental rights. Instead, teaching students to think critically about the information they receive and interpret data from their own perspective is the foundation of a strong citizenship. Without any regulation or standardization of education expectations, states and local governments will be left to determine curriculum, hiring practices, use of student test scores (if testing even remains) and other means to evaluate the progress and even future employment opportunities for graduates. Do you know who is on your school board? Do you know what policies your school board may implement that may help or hinder your student?

Finally, the push for manufacturing jobs. will not be as swift and within the old-style, assembly line context as many may envision. Instead, I am sharing links to a recent report/article from Jasmine Cui (2025) at MSNBC analyzing the challenges facing the new American manufacturing revoluation. There is an international landscape based on trade, manufacturing and consumerism that left unchecked to a free-market, can self-correct. I am not an economist, however, I do understand the basics of supply and demand related to pay and ability to purchase. When those concepts are connected to a shaky education system, I am fearful for the future. Having an uneducated electorate does not serve the future success of a nation - history tells us that.

This Forbes article (2025) details the level of education and makes future predictions for what manufacturing will look like under the new administration. We may have supply chain issues for components needed to manufacture goods in the United States. We may have a demand for tech saavy and forward-thinking business managers - both require formal training and certifications linked to post-secondary education. What will be the determining factors for who gets higher paying jobs and who fills the assembly line vacancies?

The bottom line: the national conversation and debate on higher tariffs, increased manufacturing, inflation and gutting several federal agencies, not just the Department of Education, will have monumental impacts to every American - regardless of your political persuasion. Without an informed citizenry taught to question authority and think critically, the American education system is in crisis.