| kathiep-- yes, perhaps if one wanted only a quick overview of a limited set of data fields. Appears to me that the NCES database uses the latest CDS as their source for their summary data. The CDS has MUCH more info (on undergrad), including the raw numbers and other fields not reported in NCES (e.g., early admit stats), however NCES does have some nice graphs not presented in the CDS (but the numbers are), as well as searchable query function, which is nice.
One area that NCES reports more info than the CDS as it appears to me: Graduate areas, such as grad fields of study. The NCES ties together nicely the undergrad & grad fields of study, particularly if one wants to search out programs.
Also, many of the CDS web sites that are reported on this thread contain a history of CDS submissions, allowing a reader to do some trending, for instance on minority enrollment; I found only the current year in the NCES (perhaps old years are in an archive somewhere?)
Finally, the limited amount of information available on the NCES may be handy if the school does not make public their CDS, as is the case documented through this thread for Harvard, WUSTL, Fordham, and many more. Of course this info may be largely the same as reported on the US News electronic database, but NCES is free.
Last edited by Papa Chicken : 09-19-2006 at 04:40 PM.
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