diff --git a/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.module.css b/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.module.css
index c945f05..cd388d9 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.module.css
+++ b/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.module.css
@@ -215,6 +215,13 @@
   position: relative;
 }
 
+.loadingMessage {
+  text-align: center;
+  padding: 3rem;
+  color: var(--text-secondary);
+  font-size: 1rem;
+}
+
 /* Table Section */
 .tableSection {
   background: white;
diff --git a/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.tsx b/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.tsx
index c4a4cb4..88d7513 100644
--- a/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.tsx
+++ b/nextjs-app/components/ComparisonView.tsx
@@ -56,10 +56,20 @@ export function ComparisonView({
     // Fetch comparison data
     if (selectedSchools.length > 0) {
       const apiBaseUrl = process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_API_URL || '/api';
+      console.log('Fetching comparison data for URNs:', urns);
       fetch(`${apiBaseUrl}/compare?urns=${urns}`)
-        .then((res) => res.json())
-        .then((data) => setComparisonData(data.comparison))
-        .catch((err) => console.error('Failed to fetch comparison:', err));
+        .then((res) => {
+          console.log('Comparison API response status:', res.status);
+          return res.json();
+        })
+        .then((data) => {
+          console.log('Comparison data received:', data);
+          setComparisonData(data.comparison);
+        })
+        .catch((err) => {
+          console.error('Failed to fetch comparison:', err);
+          setComparisonData(null);
+        });
     } else {
       setComparisonData(null);
     }
@@ -198,7 +208,7 @@ export function ComparisonView({
       </section>
 
       {/* Comparison Chart */}
-      {comparisonData && Object.keys(comparisonData).length > 0 && (
+      {comparisonData && Object.keys(comparisonData).length > 0 ? (
         <section className={styles.chartSection}>
           <h2 className={styles.sectionTitle}>Performance Over Time</h2>
           <div className={styles.chartContainer}>
@@ -209,7 +219,11 @@ export function ComparisonView({
             />
           </div>
         </section>
-      )}
+      ) : selectedSchools.length > 0 ? (
+        <section className={styles.chartSection}>
+          <div className={styles.loadingMessage}>Loading comparison data...</div>
+        </section>
+      ) : null}
 
       {/* Comparison Table */}
       {comparisonData && Object.keys(comparisonData).length > 0 && years.length > 0 && (