The “Statista for education.”
EDsmart Data is an independent source for educational outcomes data. We bridge complex federal datasets and the journalists, researchers, policymakers, and families who need clear, evidence-based figures—not marketing claims.
What we do
Data pages
Charts and tables on earnings, ROI, costs, and outcomes by degree, field, state, and institution—always with the federal release named on the page.
Institution rankings
Formula-driven leaderboards based on Scorecard and IPEDS fields—outcomes and price context, not prestige or endowment size.
Deep-dive reports
Original analysis on systemic trends—debt burdens, credential payoff, and workforce alignment—built so a reader can move from a figure to the source line.
Our approach
Data-first philosophy
Every page is anchored in verifiable federal sources: College Scorecard, IPEDS, BLS, O*NET, and others named on the page. We publish numbers—not opinions dressed as rankings.
Methodology you can reproduce
Every dataset, ranking, and report includes notes on how data was filtered, computed, and dated. Methods are meant to be checkable—not a black box.
Implication: Cite the page metric and vintage; treat our tables as transparent cuts of public files, not proprietary “scores” without definition.
Relationship to EDsmart.org
EDsmart Data is an independent research and reporting platform affiliated with EDsmart.org. The roles stay distinct so data reporting remains citation-worthy while EDsmart.org focuses on consumer guidance.
EDsmart.org — Consumer guidance, rankings, and decision support for students and parents.
EDsmart Data — Data authority, research, and citation source for journalists, policymakers, and analysts.
Editorial independence
We maintain strict editorial independence. Sponsored research may fund questions—not answers. Methodology and findings stay independent; sponsored content is labeled.
- No paid ranking placements in core data modules
- Clear labeling for sponsored work
- Prompt, transparent corrections
Read the full Editorial Policy and Sponsorship Disclosure.
Primary data sources
| Source | What we use it for |
|---|---|
| College Scorecard | Costs, debt, completion, earnings |
| IPEDS (NCES) | Institutional characteristics, enrollment, completions |
| Bureau of Labor Statistics | Occupational wages and employment |
| O*NET | Skills, job requirements, related mappings |
See Sources and Methodology for the full picture.