When was IPEDS established and when did it begin collecting data?

The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) was established in 1992 and commenced its data collection activities in 1993.

Which U.S. government entities are responsible for IPEDS?

IPEDS is conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), which is a part of the Institute for Education Sciences, itself situated within the United States Department of Education.

What is the official website for the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)?

The official website for IPEDS is nces.ed.gov/ipeds.

What does the IPEDS logo represent?

The IPEDS logo is a graphic identifier used for the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.

Which institutions are required to participate in IPEDS data collection?

Participation in all IPEDS surveys is mandatory for institutions that are involved in, or are applying to participate in, any federal financial assistance program authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended.

What is the role of Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 concerning IPEDS?

Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, mandates that institutions participating in federal financial aid programs must complete IPEDS surveys. This ensures accountability and provides essential data for policy and analysis.

What are the main categories of data collected by IPEDS?

IPEDS collects data in several key areas, including institutional characteristics, institutional prices, admissions, enrollment, student financial aid, degrees and certificates conferred (completions), student persistence and success, institutional human resources, fiscal resources, and academic libraries.

What specific details are included in the 'Institutional characteristics' data collected by IPEDS?

Institutional characteristics data encompass fundamental information such as basic contact details, tuition and fees, room and board charges, the institution's control or affiliation (e.g., public, private), its academic calendar system, the levels of awards offered, types of programs, and admissions requirements.

How does IPEDS gather information on institutional prices?

IPEDS collects institutional pricing data from institutions specifically for full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students. This includes tuition and fee data, along with estimated student budgets for both on-campus and off-campus living situations.

What admissions-related data does IPEDS collect from institutions without open admissions?

For institutions that do not have an open-admissions policy, IPEDS collects basic information about their undergraduate selection process for first-time, degree/certificate-seeking students. This includes data on admissions considerations, admissions yields, and standardized test scores like SAT and ACT.

What are the different types of enrollment data collected by IPEDS?

IPEDS collects various enrollment-related data, including Fall enrollment figures, the residence of first-time students, age distribution of enrolled students, an unduplicated 12-month head count, instructional activity (measured in credit or contact hours), and data on the total entering class.

How is Fall enrollment data categorized within IPEDS?

Fall enrollment data, which serves as a traditional measure of student access, is broken down by race/ethnicity, gender, enrollment status (part-time or full-time), and level of study (undergraduate or graduate).

What is the purpose of collecting data on the residence of first-time students in IPEDS, and how often is it gathered?

Data on the state of residence for first-time freshmen, along with information on their recent high school graduation, helps monitor student flow across state lines and calculate college-going rates by state. This data is collected in even-numbered years.

What insights can be derived from the age distribution data collected by IPEDS?

The age distribution of enrolled students helps in understanding the relationship between changing demographics and enrollment patterns across different types of postsecondary institutions. It also facilitates enrollment projections by institutional type and age group, and can be used to estimate the number of independent versus dependent students.

Why is the unduplicated 12-month head count an important enrollment measure in IPEDS?

The unduplicated 12-month head count provides a more complete picture of the total number of students served by an institution over an entire year, which is particularly valuable for institutions using non-traditional academic calendars or offering short-term programs.

How is instructional activity measured in the IPEDS enrollment data?

Instructional activity is measured by collecting data on the total credit and/or contact hours delivered by institutions during a 12-month period.

What does the 'Total entering class' data collected by IPEDS allow institutions to calculate?

Data on the total entering class, which includes both new students and transfers, enables institutions to calculate the graduation rate cohort as a proportion of the total student body that entered the institution.

What types of student financial aid information does IPEDS collect?

IPEDS collects data on the number of full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students receiving various types of financial aid, such as grants and loans, from different sources. It also gathers data on the average dollar amounts of aid received and calculates the average net price for specific student groups.

Who uses the data on degrees and certificates conferred, and why?

Business and industry, the military, and other groups that recruit individuals with specific skills extensively use this data. It also helps satisfy reporting mandates for postsecondary career and technical education programs under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act.

What are the primary metrics IPEDS uses to track student persistence and success?

IPEDS tracks student persistence and success using First-Year Retention Rates, Graduation Rates, and Outcome Measures.

What does the First-Year Retention Rate measure, and since when has it been collected?

The first-year retention rate measures the percentage of first-year students who continued their enrollment or completed their program one year later. This data has been collected by IPEDS since 2003.

What is the purpose of collecting Graduation Rate data in IPEDS?

Graduation rate data collected by IPEDS provides information on institutional productivity and helps institutions comply with the reporting requirements of the Student Right-to-Know Act.

What new 'Outcome Measures' data has IPEDS been collecting since the 2015-16 collection period?

Since the 2015-16 collection, IPEDS collects information on the number of awards conferred and the enrollment status of four degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate student cohorts (full-time/first-time, part-time/first-time, full-time/non-first-time, and part-time/non-first-time) at six and eight years after initial enrollment.

What are the two main categories under 'Institutional resources' that IPEDS collects data on?

The 'Institutional resources' category in IPEDS covers data on human resources (staffing) and finances (revenues, expenditures, assets, and liabilities).

How does IPEDS collect data regarding institutional human resources?

IPEDS measures human resources by classifying employees by assigned position (full-time/part-time, faculty status, occupational activity), collecting salary data for full-time instructional faculty, and gathering demographic and occupational characteristics for all staff.

What financial information does IPEDS collect, and what is its significance?

IPEDS collects data on institutional revenues by source, expenditures by category, and assets and liabilities. This information helps in understanding the cost of providing postsecondary education and is used in calculating postsecondary education's contribution to the gross national product.

What accounting standards do public and private institutions generally follow for IPEDS finance data?

Public institutions typically follow standards set by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), while private institutions generally adhere to standards established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) when reporting finance data to IPEDS.

What information does IPEDS collect about academic libraries?

IPEDS collects data on academic libraries at degree-granting institutions concerning their collection access, expenditures, and services provided.

What is the future plan for the Academic Libraries survey within IPEDS?

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) announced in March 2024 that the Academic Libraries survey component of IPEDS will be retired after the 2024-2025 data collection period.

What is College Navigator and what is its purpose?

College Navigator is a free online tool designed to provide consumers, such as students and parents, with information about postsecondary institutions. It helps users find details on programs offered, retention and graduation rates, prices, financial aid, degrees awarded, campus safety, and accreditation.

When was College Navigator launched, and what service did it replace?

College Navigator was launched in September 2007 and replaced the previous online resource known as College Opportunities On-line (COOL).

What recognition did College Navigator receive in 2007?

In December 2007, Money magazine named College Navigator as 'the best first screen' for researching colleges.

What controversy surrounded the proposed 'unit record' data reporting system for IPEDS?

In March 2005, the U.S. Department of Education's proposal for a student unit record system within IPEDS faced strong opposition from congressional leaders and higher education institutions due to privacy and data management concerns.

What was the Department of Education's justification for proposing a national student unit record tracking system?

The Department of Education argued that a national system for collecting and analyzing longitudinal student progression data, with appropriate privacy safeguards, was a vital tool for accountability and effective policy-making in higher education.

How would 'unit record' reporting differ from the existing IPEDS data submission process?

Unit record reporting, as initially proposed, would require institutions to upload individual student records rather than aggregated summary data. This would involve submitting files containing detailed information on each student.

What sensitive personal information was initially proposed for inclusion in unit record data, and what concerns did this raise?

The initial proposal included students' Social Security Numbers (SSNs) in the unit record files. This raised significant privacy concerns, with worries that it could lead to lifelong federal tracking of individuals who attended even a single course.

How was the issue of Social Security Numbers addressed in later reports concerning the IPEDS Unit Record system?

A March 2006 Department of Education report stated that Social Security Numbers would be excluded from the Unit Record upload data. However, it was suggested that SSNs might still be collected by a third party before being uploaded to the IPEDS Unit Record Database.

What is the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) and its relation to IPEDS?

The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) is a detailed coding system used by IPEDS to categorize postsecondary instructional programs. This standardization is crucial for analyzing data on degrees and certificates conferred by specific fields of study.

How does IPEDS assist institutions in complying with the Student Right-to-Know Act?

IPEDS collects graduation rate data, which provides institutions with the necessary information to meet their reporting obligations under the Student Right-to-Know Act, ensuring transparency about student completion rates.

What is the role of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) concerning IPEDS?

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is the research arm of the U.S. Department of Education. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), which operates IPEDS, is part of the IES, meaning IES oversees the agency responsible for this data collection.

How does IPEDS contribute to understanding the financial aspects of postsecondary education?

By collecting detailed finance data, including institutional revenues by source and expenditures by category, IPEDS provides essential information that helps stakeholders understand the costs associated with providing postsecondary education.

What is the purpose of collecting data on 'Employees by assigned position' within IPEDS?

This data classification helps IPEDS provide a detailed overview of the postsecondary education workforce by categorizing all employees based on their full-time or part-time status, faculty status, and the nature of their occupational activity.

What specific salary and benefits information is collected by IPEDS for full-time instructional faculty?

IPEDS collects data on the number of full-time instructional faculty, broken down by academic rank, gender, and contract length. It also gathers information on the total salary outlays and fringe benefits associated with these faculty members.

What does the 'Data Collection and Dissemination Cycle' refer to in the context of IPEDS?

The Data Collection and Dissemination Cycle refers to the structured schedule and process by which IPEDS surveys are administered throughout the year. These surveys are collected across three distinct periods: fall, winter, and spring.

What is the main objective of collecting data on student persistence and success through IPEDS?

The primary objective is to monitor and evaluate how effectively students progress through and complete their postsecondary education programs, offering insights into institutional performance and overall student outcomes.

How does IPEDS help in tracking student mobility across state lines?

By collecting data on the state of residence for first-time freshmen and correlating it with high school graduation data, IPEDS assists in monitoring inter-state student migration patterns and calculating college-going rates specific to each state.

What information does IPEDS collect regarding institutional admissions requirements?

As part of its 'Institutional characteristics' data collection, IPEDS gathers information on the specific admissions requirements that postsecondary institutions have in place, offering insight into the criteria prospective students must meet for enrollment.

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Institutional Data

Institutional Characteristics

The cornerstone of the IPEDS system, this data provides fundamental information about each institution. It encompasses essential contact details, tuition and fee structures, room and board costs, institutional control (public, private non-profit, private for-profit), academic calendar systems, degree and award levels offered, program types, and admission prerequisites.¹ This foundational data serves as the primary identifier and context for all other IPEDS information.

Data Collection Mandate

Participation in IPEDS surveys is compulsory for all institutions engaged in, or seeking to engage in, federal financial assistance programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. This mandate ensures a comprehensive and consistent dataset across the U.S. postsecondary landscape.¹

Annual & Periodic Surveys

IPEDS employs a structured annual data collection cycle, divided into fall, winter, and spring periods. This systematic approach allows for the continuous updating and maintenance of critical institutional information, ensuring the data remains relevant for policy analysis and institutional comparison.¹

Institutional Pricing

Tuition and Fees

IPEDS meticulously collects pricing data specifically for full-time, first-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students. This includes detailed tuition and fee information, providing transparency into the cost of attendance.

Student Budget Estimates

Beyond tuition, IPEDS gathers data on estimated student budgets. These budgets account for living expenses, differentiating between on-campus and off-campus arrangements, offering a more holistic view of the total cost of higher education for students and their families.¹

Admissions Data

Selection Process Insights

For institutions that do not operate under an open-admissions policy, IPEDS collects specific data regarding their undergraduate selection processes for first-time, degree-seeking students. This includes information on the factors considered during admissions, yield rates (the percentage of admitted students who enroll), and standardized test score data (SAT/ACT).

Enrollment Metrics

Fall Enrollment

This traditional metric captures student enrollment figures as of the fall term. Data is disaggregated by race/ethnicity, gender, enrollment status (full-time/part-time), and level of study (undergraduate/graduate), providing a snapshot of the student body composition.¹

Residence and Age Demographics

IPEDS tracks the state of residence for first-time freshmen, aiding in the analysis of interstate student mobility and state-level college-going rates (collected biennially). Additionally, age distribution data (collected annually) offers insights into the demographics of the student population and allows for projections based on age cohorts.¹

12-Month Headcount & Instructional Activity

To accommodate institutions with non-traditional calendars and short-term programs, IPEDS collects an unduplicated 12-month headcount. Instructional activity is measured via total credit and/or contact hours delivered over a 12-month period.¹

Entering Class & Cohorts

Data on the total entering class, distinguishing between new and transfer students, is collected. This is crucial for calculating graduation rate cohorts accurately as a proportion of the total incoming student body.¹

Student Financial Aid

Grant and Loan Data

IPEDS collects comprehensive data on the number of full-time, first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates receiving various forms of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and loans, from diverse sources. It also captures the average amounts awarded per student.

Net Price Calculation

In compliance with federal mandates, IPEDS calculates the average net price for two key student groups: those receiving grant/scholarship aid and those receiving any Title IV federal student aid. This provides a clearer picture of the actual cost of attendance after financial assistance.

Degrees & Completions

Programmatic Outcomes

This survey component tracks the number of students completing postsecondary programs, categorized by award level (certificate or degree) and program type using the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) system. These data are vital for workforce development, recruitment planning, and fulfilling requirements of legislation like the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act.¹

Student Success Metrics

First-Year Retention

Measuring the percentage of first-year students who continue their studies or complete their program within one year, retention rates offer an early indicator of student engagement and institutional support effectiveness. Data collection began in 2003.¹

Graduation Rates

These rates provide critical insights into institutional productivity and fulfill the reporting requirements of the Student Right-to-Know Act. They measure the success of students in completing their programs within specified timeframes.

Outcome Measures

Since the 2015-16 academic year, IPEDS collects more detailed outcome measures. This includes data on awards conferred and the enrollment status of four distinct undergraduate cohorts (full-time/part-time, first-time/non-first-time) tracked over 6 and 8 years, offering a longitudinal perspective on student success.¹

Institutional Resources

Human Resources

IPEDS quantifies the workforce supporting postsecondary education. Data includes employees by assigned position (full/part-time, faculty status), faculty salaries (rank, contract length, total outlay, fringe benefits), and demographic/occupational characteristics for all staff.¹

Financial Data

Financial surveys capture institutional revenues by source and expenditures by category, alongside assets and liabilities. This data, collected according to FASB (private) or GASB (public) standards, provides context for the cost of education and its economic impact.¹

Academic Libraries

Collection, Expenditures, Services

Information regarding library collections, expenditures, and services offered by degree-granting institutions is collected. Note: The NCES announced the retirement of the Academic Libraries survey after the 2024-2025 collection period, integrating its function into IPEDS.²

College Navigator Tool

Consumer Information Hub

College Navigator is a public-facing tool designed to provide accessible information on over 7,500 U.S. postsecondary institutions. It draws primarily from IPEDS data, supplemented by other Department of Education sources. Key areas covered include programs offered, retention and graduation rates, costs, financial aid availability, degrees awarded, campus safety, and accreditation status.³ Launched in 2007, it replaced the earlier College Opportunities On-line (COOL) resource.

Unit Record Data Controversy

The Unit Record Proposal

In 2005, the Department of Education proposed a shift within IPEDS from summary data to a "unit record" system, requiring institutions to upload individual student records, potentially including Social Security Numbers (SSNs). Proponents argued this longitudinal tracking was vital for accountability and policy-making.⁴⁵

This proposal faced significant opposition from educational institutions and policymakers concerned about privacy implications, including the creation of a lifelong federal database of student educational activities. While initial proposals included SSNs, subsequent reports indicated their exclusion from direct upload to the IPEDS database, though collection by third parties was suggested.⁵ The debate highlighted the tension between data-driven policy needs and individual privacy rights in higher education.

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References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System Wikipedia page

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Important Notice Regarding Data and AI Generation

This page has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence model utilizing information sourced from Wikipedia. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and adherence to the provided source material, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It may not reflect the most current data or nuances of the subject matter.

This content does not constitute professional advice. The information presented herein is not a substitute for consultation with qualified education policy analysts, researchers, or data scientists. Users should independently verify critical information and consult official sources, such as the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the IPEDS website, for definitive data and guidance.

The creators of this page assume no liability for any errors, omissions, or actions taken based on the information provided. Always consult official documentation and expert advice for critical decision-making.

The IPEDS Framework

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Institutional Data 🏫

foundational Institutional Characteristics

📊 Data Collection Mandate

🗓️ Annual & Periodic Surveys

Institutional Pricing 💰

💲 Tuition and Fees

🏠 Student Budget Estimates

Admissions Data 📝

🎯 Selection Process Insights

Enrollment Metrics 🧑‍🎓

🍂 Fall Enrollment

🗺️ Residence and Age Demographics

⏳ 12-Month Headcount & Instructional Activity

➡️ Entering Class & Cohorts

Student Financial Aid 💸

🤝 Grant and Loan Data

⚖️ Net Price Calculation

Degrees & Completions 📜

🎓 Programmatic Outcomes

Student Success Metrics ⭐

🔄 First-Year Retention

🏆 Graduation Rates

📈 Outcome Measures

Institutional Resources 📁

🧑‍🏫 Human Resources

🏦 Financial Data

Academic Libraries 📚

📖 Collection, Expenditures, Services

College Navigator Tool 🧭

🔍 Consumer Information Hub

Unit Record Data Controversy ❓

📜 The Unit Record Proposal

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📜 References

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Institutional Data

Institutional Characteristics

Data Collection Mandate

Annual & Periodic Surveys

Institutional Pricing

Tuition and Fees

Student Budget Estimates

Admissions Data

Selection Process Insights

Enrollment Metrics

Fall Enrollment

Residence and Age Demographics

12-Month Headcount & Instructional Activity

Entering Class & Cohorts

Student Financial Aid

Grant and Loan Data

Net Price Calculation

Degrees & Completions

Programmatic Outcomes

Student Success Metrics

First-Year Retention

Graduation Rates

Outcome Measures

Institutional Resources

Human Resources

Financial Data

Academic Libraries

Collection, Expenditures, Services

College Navigator Tool

Consumer Information Hub

Unit Record Data Controversy

The Unit Record Proposal

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice Regarding Data and AI Generation