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.