CDS 2025-2026 Templates

[Ashley Robinson-Spann]

Hello,

The new Excel and Word CDS 2025–2026 Templates have been completed and are attached to this email.

Here's what's new:

• CDS 2025–26 Template (Word) – is as accessible as we were able to make it in this release. It includes structured tagging and labeling improvements to support screen-reader navigation. Tags can be exported using ChatGPT, VBA Macro, Python among other programs. 

• CDS 2025–26 Template (Excel) – the answer sheet has been enhanced with matching for the available PDF tags and Word tags to better support importing and exporting between formats and into local systems.

• Cross-Template Matching – Provides separate Excel to PDF to Word matching and Word to PDF Matching along with additional guidance. There are several caveats identified, such as categorical questions that can be selected singularly in PDF and Excel but cannot be mapped directly in Word. Therefore, there are some tags that are redindant in Word. So be sure to review the guindance and map your correct response if creating CSV files.

• Summary of Changes: No major changes this year. Sex data has been matched to IPEDS. Some totals were added to B and the retention rate calculation was split into 3 separate questions. There are a few others outlined in the doc and AI pointed out spelling inconsistencies that have been corrected.

Website timing: We expect these templates to be posted on the CDS website the week of October 20, 2025. We’ll follow up with links once they’re live.

If you have questions or spot anything that would improve accessibility or interoperability, please reply to this list so others can benefit from the discussion.

Have a good weekend,

Ashley

[Brenda Murray]

Hi there,

Last year there were two versions of the Excel template: a "legacy" version and a "new" version. The format of the Excel template for this year is like that of the "legacy" version. Can you please confirm that the general format of the Excel template is reverting back to original and the "new" version from last year is no longer going to be used?

Thank you,

Brenda Murray

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

[Robinson-Spann, Ashley]

Hello,

The Excel template has been enhanced so that it maintains its legacy format, which was preferred, while integrating an answer sheet that also provides tag matching across the PDF and Word templates. There is no need for two templates when one does the job. If you preferred the single layout look of the other template, the streamlined questions and answers for each tab start in column AA. Feel free to reformat the view to suit your needs. All formulas can be updated so that your answer sheet still works. 

Thank you,

Ashley

Ashley Robinson-Spann, Ph.D.

Senior Director, Higher Education

 

College Board

1919 M St., Washington, DC 20036

T 202.741.4755

arobins...@collegeboard.org

 

---

From: Brenda Murray <brenda.l...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 5:33 PM
To: Common Data Set (CDS) <common...@cbcommondataset.org>
Cc: Robinson-Spann, Ashley <arobins...@collegeboard.org>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: CDS 2025-2026 Templates

 

[Ramon Moncada]

Hi,

Will there be a fillable PDF format?

Thank you,

Ramon Moncada-Nunez

York College - CUNY

[Robinson-Spann, Ashley]

It is an error. Feel free to update it or find it attached. 

Ashley Robinson-Spann, Ph.D.

Senior Director, Higher Education

 

College Board

1919 M St., Washington, DC 20036

T 202.741.4755

arobins...@collegeboard.org

 

---

From: Erdman, Brian <Ber...@luc.edu>
Sent: Monday, November 3, 2025 3:26 PM
To: Common Data Set (CDS) <common...@cbcommondataset.org>; Robinson-Spann, Ashley <arobins...@collegeboard.org>

Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: CDS 2025-2026 Templates

 

Hi Ashley, The 'Annual Expenses' section of the current CDS says the following: Undergraduate full-time tuition, required fees, food and housing List the typical tuition, required fees, and food and housing for a full-time undergraduate student

Hi Ashley,

The 'Annual Expenses' section of the current CDS says the following:

Undergraduate full-time tuition, required fees, food and housing

List the typical tuition, required fees, and food and housing for a full-time undergraduate student for the FULL 2025-2026 academic year. (30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours for institutions that derive annual tuition by multiplying credit hour cost by number of credits).  Last year's CDS asked for tuition and fees for the same AY - 2025-26. Is this an error or is there a reason for asking for the same information across 2 years? Also, item B22 reads:

'Calculate the percentage of the Fall 2025 entering cohort who remained enrolled on the official census date.' Since this is retention it should read:      ...percentage of the Fall 2024 entering cohort...     correct? Brian

Brian Erdman, Ph. D.

Senior Research Associate

Office of Institutional Research & Analyses

Loyola University Chicago

Lewis Towers

111 E. Pearson

Room 506

Chicago, IL 60611 

773.508.7592 (o)

ber...@LUC.edu

 

 

For data requests and other requests for OIRA support, please fill out this form:  

Submit Request | Office of Institutional Research and Analysis (OIRA): Loyola University Chicago

 

---

From: 'Ashley Robinson-Spann' via Common Data Set (CDS) <common...@cbcommondataset.org>
Sent: Friday, October 17, 2025 5:42 PM

To: Common Data Set (CDS) <common...@cbcommondataset.org>

Subject: CDS 2025-2026 Templates

 

To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to commondatase...@cbcommondataset.org.

[Robinson-Spann, Ashley]

CDS Community,

In regard to the fillable PDF — I don’t create that version and don’t have information on its release timeline. Peterson’s and U.S. News are currently working on it, and they will update the listserv when it is available. 

Thank you,

Ashley Robinson-Spann, Ph.D.

Senior Director, Higher Education

 

College Board

1919 M St., Washington, DC 20036

T 202.741.4755

arobins...@collegeboard.org

 

---

From: Pack, Kris <kp...@MHU.EDU>
Sent: Monday, November 3, 2025 4:11 PM
To: Robinson-Spann, Ashley <arobins...@collegeboard.org>
Subject: Re: [ext] Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: CDS 2025-2026 Templates

 

Is there a fillable pdf going to be release? From: 'Robinson-Spann, Ashley' via Common Data Set (CDS) <commondataset@ cbcommondataset. org> Sent: Monday, November 3, 2025 3: 29 PM To: Erdman, Brian <Berdman@ luc. edu>; Common Data Set

Is there a fillable pdf going to be release?

---

From: 'Robinson-Spann, Ashley' via Common Data Set (CDS) <common...@cbcommondataset.org>
Sent: Monday, November 3, 2025 3:29 PM
To: Erdman, Brian <Ber...@luc.edu>; Common Data Set (CDS) <common...@cbcommondataset.org>
Subject: [ext] Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: CDS 2025-2026 Templates

 

[external]

This is an external email. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. [mhuextwarning]