Google has introduced a new type of Knowledge Graph card in search results, which will appear when users search for US colleges.
When searching for a 4-year US college, like UCLA or Hamilton College, Google will return a Knowledge Graph card with information about admissions, cost, student life, and more.
Google says these new cards have been designed to make it easier to find a college that meets a person’s individual needs, which is something many are struggling with right now.
“The process to find the right school for you, however, can be confusing. Information is scattered across the internet, and it’s not always clear what factors to consider and which pieces of information will be most useful for your decision. In fact, 63 percent of recently-enrolled and prospective students say they have often felt lost when researching college or financial aid options.”
Rather than showing the average cost of tuition, Google has opted to show the average cost after financial aid is applied.
To give people an idea about the return on their college investment, Google will also show data about graduation rates and typical annual income 10 years after enrollment.
Further information includes stats about the student body, notable alumni, and similar colleges to provide a more comprehensive view of the schools a person may want to look into in the future.
Information contained in these Knowledge Graph cards is sourced using public information from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
Google also worked directly with education researchers, nonprofit organizations, high school counselors, and admissions professionals when putting together these new cards.
The new college search experience is available now. It’s primarily designed for mobile, but there are also some new features on desktop.
