The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is a Skygeneration.ca system of surveys conducted annually by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to collect data on degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the United States. The IPEDS surveys collect data on a wide range of topics, including:
- Institutional characteristics
- Enrollment
- Degrees conferred
- Graduation rates
- Faculty and staff
- Finances
- Student outcomes
IPEDS data is used by a variety of stakeholders, including:
- Federal and state governments to make policy decisions
- Colleges and universities to assess their performance and improve their programs
- Researchers to study higher education trends
- Students and families to make informed decisions about college
Benefits of IPEDS
IPEDS provides a number of benefits, including:
- Accountability: IPEDS data is used to hold colleges and universities accountable for their performance.
- Transparency: IPEDS data is publicly available, which allows students and families to compare colleges and universities.
- Evidence-based decision-making: IPEDS data is used by policymakers, researchers, and colleges and universities to make informed decisions about higher education.
How IPEDS Works
IPEDS data is collected through a series of surveys that are sent to colleges and universities each year. The surveys are designed to collect data on a wide range of topics, including institutional characteristics, enrollment, degrees conferred, graduation rates, faculty and staff, finances, and student outcomes.
Once the surveys are collected, the NCES processes the data and makes it publicly available on the IPEDS website. The NCES also publishes a variety of reports and analyses that use IPEDS data.
How to Use IPEDS Data
IPEDS data can be used in a variety of ways, including:
- To compare colleges and universities: IPEDS data can be used to compare colleges and universities on a variety of factors, such as enrollment, graduation rates, and student outcomes.
- To assess institutional performance: IPEDS data can be used by colleges and universities to assess their performance and to identify areas where they can improve.
- To study higher education trends: IPEDS data can be used by researchers to study higher education trends, such as changes in enrollment, graduation rates, and student outcomes over time.
- To make informed decisions about college: IPEDS data can be used by students and families to make informed decisions about college, such as which schools to apply to and which school to attend.
Conclusion
IPEDS is a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, colleges and universities, and students and families. IPEDS data is used to hold colleges and universities accountable for their performance, to inform decision-making, and to study higher education trends.
Here are some examples of how IPEDS data is used:
- The US Department of Education uses IPEDS data to calculate the College Affordability Index, which is used to determine which colleges and universities are eligible for federal financial aid programs.
- Colleges and universities use IPEDS data to benchmark their performance against other institutions and to identify areas where they can improve.
- Researchers use IPEDS data to study higher education trends, such as the impact of tuition increases on enrollment and the relationship between student debt and student outcomes.
- Students and families use IPEDS data to compare colleges and universities and to make informed decisions about college.
IPEDS is an essential tool for understanding and improving higher education in the United States.