The Common Data Set (CDS) publishers are meeting to determine what needs to change on the upcoming common data set. They have asked NASFAA to help them make the financial aid survey segment of the survey more user-friendly to complete and more relevant for students and the public. If you have any suggestions for improving the CDS, or have any comments or questions about the CDS please email them to zhaim@nasfaa.org by Friday, Feb. 8.

The CDS initiative is a collaborative effort of data providers in the higher education community and publishers represented by the College Board, Peterson's, and U.S. News & World Report. The collaboration aims to create consistent data, improve data quality and accuracy, and reduce the reporting burden on data providers.

The CDS provides information on annual expenses, total aid, the number of aid recipients, average awards, and student debt. Some schools report estimated financial aid for the current year and others report actual financial aid for the prior year. Aid figures may reflect offered or accepted aid. The type of aid may be based on the source of funds (e.g. need-based or merit-based aid) or on the use of funds (e.g. merit funds applied to need). Few comparable data points exist.

NASFAA urges interested parties to help CDS publishers improve the financial aid section of the CDS by submitting suggestions to NASFAA. Please email your suggestions, comments or questions about the financial aid section in CDS to zhaim@nasfaa.org. NASFAA staff will ensure your input is conveyed to CDS publishers.

By Meihua Zhai
NASFAA Director of Research and Policy Analysis

Posted 01/31/08 to www.NASFAA.org. Redistribution to non-NASFAA institutions is prohibited. Please submit Web Site questions or comments to Web@NASFAA.org.