# College Scorecard API MCP for AI Agents AI Agent Connect > College Scorecard API lets your AI client pull official US higher education data. You can query school costs, student demographics, and program details from the Department of Education's records to build accurate reports or plan your next educational move. It handles the heavy lifting of searching government portals so you can focus on the analysis instead of manual data entry. ## Overview - **Category:** data-analytics - **Price:** Free - **Endpoint:** https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_Ais6261NuKu7n0Wq0B6MXFxqW6QudnVZyF3yo3Lb/ai-agent-connect - **Tags:** higher-education, school-performance, enrollment-data, cost-analysis, public-records ## Description College Scorecard API lets you pull official US higher education data directly into your AI agent's workflow. Usually, mapping out the best colleges for a specific major while balancing tuition costs across different states means opening dozens of tabs, digging through government websites, and copying data into a spreadsheet. This Connector changes that by letting your agent do the heavy lifting. You just tell it what you're looking for, and it pulls the actual records for you, giving you a clear picture of enrollment trends, geographic hubs, and specific program offerings. You're getting data straight from the source, so you don't have to worry about outdated blogs or biased reviews. This Connector is part of the Vinkius catalog, making it easy to plug into your existing workflow so you can move from searching to analyzing in seconds. Your agent acts like a real-time education consultant that never sleeps and always has the latest numbers on hand. It handles the tedious parts of data retrieval so you can focus on making decisions. Instead of manually searching for school IDs or trying to find the right page for a specific city, your agent can handle the navigation for you. You can ask it to find every school in a particular state or identify which institutions near a specific ZIP code offer a certain major. It provides a clear view of student body demographics, allowing you to see the scale and diversity of a campus at a glance. Whether you're looking for specific fields of study or trying to get a handle on the financial reality of tuition, this connection provides the raw data you need to make informed choices. It turns a mountain of government data into a conversational experience where you get the facts you need without the friction of manual searching. ## Tools ### get_college_details The get_college_details tool pulls the full metadata and official records for a specific college ID. It retrieves the complete data for a single institution. ### get_fields_of_study The get_fields_of_study tool looks up specific programs or academic fields for different schools. It lets you see exactly what majors or certifications a school provides. ### list_colleges_by_state The list_colleges_by_state tool retrieves every school listed in a specific state. This gives you a full overview of the higher education landscape in a region. ### search_colleges The search_colleges tool finds colleges and universities across the United States. It helps your agent identify specific institutions by name quickly. ### list_colleges_by_zip The list_colleges_by_zip tool identifies schools near a specific ZIP code. Use it to find local academic options in a specific neighborhood. ### list_colleges_by_city The list_colleges_by_city tool identifies all academic institutions within a specific city. It helps you see all the educational options in an urban area. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Find colleges in Texas that offer engineering programs. ``` **Response:** ``` I've identified several institutions in Texas offering engineering programs. Here are a few notable options: | Institution | Program | Location | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | **University of Texas at Austin** | Civil Engineering | Austin | | **Texas A&M University** | Aerospace Engineering | College Station | | **University of Houston** | Mechanical Engineering | Houston | Would you like to see the tuition costs for any of these specific programs? ``` **Prompt:** ``` What are the student demographics for a school in Chicago? ``` **Response:** ``` I've pulled the enrollment data for several universities in Chicago. For example, **University of Illinois Chicago** currently has: * **Total Enrollment:** ~32,000 students * **Demographics:** Diverse mix of undergraduate and graduate students. I can pull more specific demographic markers if you'd like. ``` **Prompt:** ``` List schools near zip code 60601. ``` **Response:** ``` I've found the following schools near ZIP code 60601 in Chicago: * **University of Illinois Chicago** * **DePaul University** * **Loyola University Chicago** Would you like the official website links or tuition details for any of these? ``` ## Capabilities ### Find schools by name or location Search for specific colleges and universities across the United States using the College Scorecard API. ### Get student demographic data Retrieve the latest student body size and demographic data for any school. ### Identify regional academic hubs List schools near a specific ZIP code to see which institutions are in your area. ### Query specific fields of study Look up specific programs or academic fields to see what different schools offer. ### Retrieve tuition and cost data Get data on costs and tuition to help with financial planning for higher education. ## Use Cases ### The Budget-Conscious Parent A parent asks the agent to find all schools in Ohio with nursing programs that cost under $15k a year. ### The Regional Researcher A researcher asks the agent to list every college in New York and show their student body size for a study. ### The Local Counselor A counselor asks the agent to find schools within 10 miles of a specific ZIP code that offer engineering. ### The Data Analyst An analyst asks the agent to pull the fields of study for all schools in California to identify regional trends. ## Benefits - Get official data from the Department of Education. No more relying on third-party blogs or outdated websites. - Compare tuition costs across states using get_fields_of_study and get_college_details for accurate budgeting. - Map out regional hubs using list_colleges_by_zip to find schools near specific neighborhoods or cities. - Audit student body demographics to understand campus scale and diversity with verified records. - Identify specific academic programs quickly to see what majors a school actually provides. - Save hours of manual searching by letting your agent handle the data retrieval for you. ## How It Works The bottom line is you get official government school data without the manual research. 1. Subscribe to the College Scorecard API on Vinkius. 2. Enter your Data.gov API Key in your agent's configuration. 3. Ask your agent to find schools, costs, or programs in plain English. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Can the College Scorecard API show me how much a specific degree costs?** Yes, it pulls tuition and cost data for specific fields of study. This helps you see the actual price tag for different majors at various schools. **Does this work for schools outside of the United States?** No, this Connector is specifically for US higher education data. It pulls records from the Department of Education's database. **Can I use the College Scorecard API to find schools near my house?** Yes, you can provide a ZIP code and the agent will list nearby institutions. It's a fast way to see what's in your local area. **Is the data from the College Scorecard API official?** Yes, the data comes directly from the Department of Education. It's one of the most authoritative sources for school performance and costs. **How can I use this for academic research?** You can use it to audit enrollment trends and program distributions across entire states or cities. It helps you gather verified data for large-scale studies. **Can I see what majors a specific college offers?** Yes, you can query specific fields of study for any institution. This lets you quickly see the range of academic programs available. **How do I find my College Scorecard API Key?** Register for a free API Key at [**Data.gov**](https://api.data.gov/signup/). Your key will be displayed instantly and sent via email. Copy and paste it below. **Can the agent filter by school state?** Yes. Use the `list_colleges_by_state` tool providing the 2-letter ISO state code (e.g., 'CA' for California). Your agent will return all matching schools in that state instantly. **Is student body size data provided?** Yes. The school records retrieved by your agent include the latest official student size (enrollment) for undergraduate programs where available.