About Us
We Were the First to Collect College Data.
Since 1966, Peterson’s has been the trusted foundation for education data, validating, maintaining, and delivering the information that powers student-facing tools across the industry.
Our Beginnings
A 60-Year Head Start on Everyone Else
Peterson’s started collecting and publishing comprehensive college data before any government database existed. That head start built deep institutional relationships, a multi-step QA methodology refined over two decades, and a team that understands education data from the inside out.
Today, Peterson’s Data powers college search tools, financial calculators, advising platforms, think tanks, and financial institutions. Any product that needs education data clients can actually trust.
Our Methodology
How We Keep Data Current and Defensible
Our data collection process is annual, multi-step, and independently maintained. It is not reliant on government reporting cycles or unverified institutional self-reporting.
01
Annual Surveys
Direct institutional surveys at the undergraduate and graduate levels, with program-level collection for fields that matter most to student decisions.
02
Multi-Step QA
20+ years of quality assurance rigor, including historical trend analysis to flag anomalies and definitions governance to ensure comparability over time.
03
Structured Delivery
Production-ready datasets. Versioned definitions and comparable metrics. API and flat-file delivery options.
Our Outcomes
What You Can Build with Peterson’s Data
Student-Facing Decision Tools
Cost comparison, college search, financial aid calculators, and advising platforms built on data accurate enough for high-stakes decisions.
Reusable Datasets Across Products
One trusted data source that powers multiple tools without reconciliation overhead.
Reduced Reporting Risk
A consistent refresh cadence and versioned definitions reduce the rework that comes from data that surprises you mid-cycle.
Our Outcomes
Schedule a Meeting with Our Team
Talk directly with the people who manage the data. We will walk through your use case and identify the right product and delivery schedule.