Google launches college stat search box for prospective students
Google launched a new feature today that’ll let users view all the information they might want about a college directly in Search. Prospective students typically have to scour a college’s website to figure out student body demographics, tuition costs, and aid possibilities. Now, Google pulls all that data to provide stats on the average cost of schooling after student aid is applied, including how that breaks down by income, as well as graduation rates and students’ typical annual income 10 years out of school. Potential students can also explore enrollment rates, notable alumni, and similar colleges. This only applies to four-year colleges in the US.
Part of the Search data comes from the US Department of Education’s College Scorecard and Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Google says. But it also worked with “education researchers and nonprofit organizations, high school counselors, and admissions professionals” to build the feature. It’s rolling out on mobile today with some features on desktop.