Common Data Set

The Common Data Set (CDS) is a collaborative effort among higher education institutions and publishers to provide consistent and accurate data about colleges and universities. Howard University’s CDS offers a detailed snapshot of institutional data, ensuring transparency and supporting informed decision-making for prospective students, families, researchers, and policymakers.

Our CDS includes a wide range of data points that reflect key aspects of Howard University’s academic, demographic, and financial landscape. These include:

• General Information: An overview of the university’s mission, type, and structure.
• Enrollment and Persistence: Data on student enrollment by level, retention rates, and graduation outcomes.
• Admissions: Comprehensive insights into first-time, first-year student admissions, including acceptance rates, standardized test scores, and application trends.
• Academic Offerings and Policies: Details on the programs, degrees, and policies that define Howard University’s academic environment.
• Student Life: Information about the student body’s diversity, housing options, and extracurricular opportunities.
• Annual Expenses: A breakdown of tuition, fees, and financial aid resources available to students.
• Instructional Faculty and Class Size: Metrics on faculty composition, student-to-faculty ratio, and class sizes.

The CDS provides a reliable resource for understanding Howard University’s institutional characteristics and trends over time. By adhering to standardized definitions and formats, we ensure that our data aligns with the needs of various audiences and contributes to broader research and benchmarking efforts. The (CDS) provides answers to many frequently asked questions. To find out more information about the Common Data Set Initiative, including definitions of data elements, please visit their website.