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The Cost Study Discontinuation FAQ

Why is the study being discontinued?

Unfortunately, over the past decade, due to multiple factors in higher education, the number of participants in The Cost Study has slowly declined to unsustainable levels. The study will be discontinued after the conclusion of the 2024 cycle. Please read our full statement about the discontinuation of The Cost Study for additional information.

 

Can I still submit requests for new reports?

No, the deadline for requesting new reports—for both the 2024 cycle and prior cycles—was September 15, 2025. If you have requested a new report (peer analysis, dashboard, or special data request), but you have not received either the final report or a status update, please contact ire-cost@udel.edu as soon as possible.

 

Do I need to make a special request for data submissions and comparative data?

No, accessing and downloading raw data submissions, institution reports, National Norms, and approved peer analyses for cycles 2017-2024 do not require special data requests. These reports are actively available in the web portal.

 

How long will I be able to download data from the web portal?

The web portal will be available to HEC members until December 15, 2025. At that time, The Cost Study team will archive all data and shut down the portal. If you would like to retain data/reports for your records, they must be downloaded from the portal before that date. Data/reports include:

  • Institution Data (cycles 2015-2024)
    • Data submission files (Excel)
    • Data entry forms (PDF)
    • Programs notes (Excel)
    • Red Flag Reports (copy and paste)
    • Approved Institution Report (PDF or Excel)
    • Approved Institution Report w/3-yr-avgs (copy and paste)
    • Year-over-Year Cost and Productivity Charts (Excel)
    • Snapshot Reports (PDF) [2022-2024 cycles only]
  • Comparative Data (2017-2024)
    • National Norms (Excel)
    • Institution lists (copy and paste, Excel)
    • Peer Analyses (Excel)

Note: Dashboards (Excel and Tableau) are delivered via Dropbox. You will receive an email notification with instructions on how to download your Dashboards.

 

What will happen to the data in the web portal after December 15, 2025?

After December 15, 2025, The Cost Study team will initiate a complete shut down of the web portal. All data in the portal, including both institution and comparative data, will be removed from the portal and archived on the University of Delaware’s secure servers in accordance with the university’s data retention policy. The archived data will only be accessible by essential individuals at UD. The web portal will be permanently moved offline. 

Please contact ire-cost@udel.edu if you are a current or former participant (since 2015) and you are unable to access the web portal.