Hello, I am looking for a source for a comprehensive database of four
year colleges and universities located in the United States. This
database would have as much detailed information about each school as
possible (location, size, majors, selectivity, etc). I am not
interested in solely a list of schools. Ideally, this might be
available for free somewhere on the web. If not, I am interested in
finding out a source for licensing this type of database.

Hi gw20044002,

The following is the result of my research for a comprehensive
database of colleges and universities located in the United States. I
have located for you three such databases. Below each of the three
databases, I will describe the information provided and the procedure
to arrive at the specific criteria you request.



1.  CollegeNET
    ========== 


At the following page, enter ?4-Year or More? and click the state you desire. 

http://cnsearch.collegenet.com/cgibin/CN/ZDispatch?pageName=.cnsearch.custom.index_html

As an example I will search for universities located in Louisiana:

A list of 25 universities fitting the criteria results. Clicking on
Louisiana State University/A&M-Baton Rouge (as an example), the
following information appears:

SCHOOL SUMMARY 

School Address: 
311 Thomas Boyd Hall 
Baton Rouge LA 70803 
(225) 578-1175 
http://www.lsu.edu 

Tuition & Fees:    
Full time UG enroll: 23,958 
In-State Tuition: $3,500 
Out-of-State Tuition: $8,800 
  
Online Apps Deadline:   
Graduate - None 
 
ADMISSIONS 
CAMPUS LIFE 
ACADEMICS 
FINANCIAL AID 

http://cnsearch.collegenet.com/cgibin/CN/ZDispatch?pageName=.cnsearch.school_summary.results&inst=1590


1.1. In the menu at the left, when you click on ADMISSIONS, this
information is available:

? Deadlines 
? Most Recent Freshman Class 
? Admission Test 
? H.S. Credits Required 
? Other Admissions Requirements 

Clicking on each provides you with the respective relevant information.

http://cnsearch.collegenet.com/cgibin/CN/ZDispatch?pageName=.cnsearch.admissions.deadlines.results&inst=1590


1.2. Now click on CAMPUS LIFE at the left and the following results: 

? Student Body Profile 
? Sports 
? Other Extracurricular Activities 
? Housing 

Again, clicking on each, gives you more information.

http://cnsearch.collegenet.com/cgibin/CN/ZDispatch?pageName=.cnsearch.campus_life.student_body_profile.results&inst=1590


1.3. When you click on ACADEMICS at the left, the following results are obtained:

? Programs/Degrees Offered 
? Majors/Career Oriented Programs 
? Special Programs & Services 

The information provided when clicking on each of the above is quite detailed.

http://cnsearch.collegenet.com/cgibin/CN/ZDispatch?
pageName=.cnsearch.academics.programs.results&inst=1590


1.4. When you click on FINANCIAL AID at the left, the information
below is provided:

? Cost 
? Financial Aid Deadlines 
? Financial Aid Sources 

Again, clicking on each, gives you more information.

http://cnsearch.collegenet.com/cgibin/CN/ZDispatch?pageName=.cnsearch.financial_aid.cost.results&inst=1590


==========================================================


2.  Peterson's
    ==========


At the following page, search by Location:

http://www.petersons.com/ugchannel/code/searches/srchCrit1.asp?sponsor=2162

You arrive at this page:

http://www.petersons.com/ugchannel/code/searches/srchCrit2.asp?sponsor=2162

Location-
?Select states or territories from the list on the left and click the
"Add" button to put them in the "Selected Locations" box on the right.
To remove items from the "Selected Locations" box, select those
locations and click the "Remove" button.?

Again, as an example, I will add the state of Louisiana:

84 universities result. 

Clicking on Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical
College - Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the following page comes up:

http://www.petersons.com/ugchannel/code/IDD.asp?orderLineNum=570865-1&inunId=7230&typeVC=InstVC&sponsor=2162

Located here is the description of the College which includes the
following categories:

? The University
? Location
? Majors and Degrees
? Academic Program
? Off-Campus Arrangements
? Academic Facilities
? Costs
? Financial Aid
? Faculty
? Student Government
? Admission Requirements
? Application and Information

In the navigation bar on the right, clicking on ?College Overview?
leads you to this page:

http://www.petersons.com/ugchannel/code/instvc.asp?inunid=7230&sponsor=2162

This page gives detailed information for these categories:

? Undergraduates
? Freshmen
? Faculty
? Majors
? Academic Programs
? Library
? Computers on Campus
? Student Life
? Athletics
? Costs (2003-04)
? Financial Aid
? Applying
? Admissions Contact


At the Peterson's website, you can also search for universities and
colleges by ?Graduate Universities and Colleges?:

http://www.petersons.com/GradChannel/code/search.asp?sponsor=2162

Entering the requested criteria, will give you detailed information
for selected universities.


==========================================================


3.  CollegeView
    ===========


This site allows you to enter specific criteria in the following categories:

? Areas of Study
? Public/Private
? Ethnicity 
? Location
? School Type
? Athletics 
? Student Body Size
? Religious Affiliation
? Special Services 
? City Size
? Student Body Type
? Disabilities 

http://www.collegeview.com/college/collegesearch/

As an example, entering the following criteria:

? Location- Louisiana
? School Type- College/University

the search results in 65 schools. 

http://www.collegeview.com/college/collegesearch/ViewResults.jsp?domain=two_four_year&two_four_year=3

Clicking on the ?Key Facts? for Louisiana State University (LA) leads
to the following page:

http://www.collegeview.com/college/collegesearch/keyfacts/index.jsp?scid=1100811&name=General%20Information

Here information for the following categories is found: 

? General Information
? Student Body
? Majors and Degrees   
? Student Life
? Athletics
? Special Services 
? Admissions and Foreign Student Info
? Financial Info
? Scholarships
   
Clicking on each gives the detailed information for the respective categories.


==========================================================
==========================================================


Search criteria:
?comprehensive database? universities AND colleges US
?comprehensive database? contact universities colleges US


I hope the information provided is helpful. If you have any questions
regarding my answer please don't hesitate to ask before rating it.

Best regards,
Rainbow-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by gw20044002-ga on 02 Mar 2004 12:50 PST

Thanks for the prompt reply. I am looking to work with the results in
a database rather than as a report. Did you see any sites that would
allow me to export into a delimited file to allow for easy sorting and
analysis? thanks

---

Clarification of Answer by rainbow-ga on 02 Mar 2004 13:44 PST

Hi gw20044002,

Thank you for your clarification.

During my search for the databases I've provided you, I did not find
any that could be exported into a delimited file.

In answering your question, I have concentrated my research upon my
understanding of your question to provide databases detailing the
information that you have requested. I have been careful not to
provide just a list as you specified. Had you specified that you had
in mind to export this information, I would have focused my attention
towards that requirement.

If you are not satisfied with what I have provided, I will contact the
editors to have my answer removed.

Please let me know your views.

Best regards,
Rainbow~

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Request for Answer Clarification by gw20044002-ga on 02 Mar 2004 23:14 PST

The answer is not of much use to me. I understand that my question may
have not been clear to you, however.

I don't know how these matters are resolved for billing purposes.
Please use your judgement. My goal is to find a source for the
database so that I can do analysis locally. If you think that you can
find the answer, that would be the best. Thanks.

---

Clarification of Answer by rainbow-ga on 03 Mar 2004 15:01 PST

Hi gw20044002,

I am confident that I understand your requirement.

It is possible that the information you require may be available, and
can be found. However, this represents a deviation from my initial
understanding of your requirement, and would entail considerable time
and effort to find.

Please accept my apologies for not being able to assist you further.
My suggestion is perhaps considering posting a new question specifying
your exact requirements.

Best regards,
Rainbow-ga