Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2017-18 through 2019-20

Outcome Measures 
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018‐19 

This IPEDS Outcome Measures data collection instrument was used 
during the 2017‐18 data collection. Changes to the IPEDS Outcome 
Measures component starting with the 2018‐19 data collection are 
reflected on the next 3 pages. 

Changes to IPEDS Outcome Measures component, 2018-19

Changed instruction/FAQ/screen (where applicable; additions in red, deletions 
with strikethrough, rewording in blue) 

2

Change 
type (e.g., 
addition/ 
deletion/ 
rewording) 

Combine FAQ #10 and FAQ #11 into one FAQ #10 and renumber subsequent FAQs.  
FAQ #10) As an academic year reporting institution, I have a group of degree‐
seeking undergraduate students who took a summer session in 2009. designed for 
entering students to earn college credit before enrolling in the next immediate full 
term (i.e., Fall semester or quarter). However, the start date of the summer session 
was prior to Outcome Measures coverage cohort year start date of July 1, which 
cohort year should these students be reported? 


For the 2009‐10 cohort(s), institutions should include students who entered 
between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010. 
 Students who start in the summer, and if summer is NOT a “full” term, should 
be treated based on guidance in the FAQs.  OM cohorts should be accurate 
based on a student’s “normal” attendance intensity and not based on a partial 
summer term which is not a full term.  
a) If a student starts in the summer of 2009 (prior to July 1), and they do NOT 
enroll in any additional terms in 2009‐10, they do NOT get included 
(because they would be included in the 2008‐09 cohort year). 
b) If a student starts in the summer of 2009 (prior to July OR after July 1), and 
summer is not a “full term,” and the student continues enrollment beyond 
the summer, the institution should wait until the next “full” term (e.g. Fall) 
to determine if the student is full‐time or part‐time, and the student should 
be included in the 2009‐10 cohort.  
c) If a student starts in the summer of 2009 (after July 1), and they do NOT 
enroll in any additional terms in 2009‐10, they are still included in the 2009‐
10 cohort, at the enrollment level (FT/PT) in which they were enrolled 
during the summer. 

For the 2017‐18 collection year, these summer session students would be 
included in the 2009‐10 OM cohort year because it is the first full term (i.e., Fall 
semester or quarter), which should be used to determine their inclusion. 
Back to top 
FAQ #11) 
If the entering students were part‐time students during a summer 
session, how should these students be included in OM? 

To determine the attendance level (i.e., full‐time or part‐time) for these 
students, identify the next immediate full term (i.e., Fall semester or quarter) that 
these students enrolled in during the July 1 to June 30 period. For example, if a 
part‐time summer‐session student enrolled in the immediate fall as a full‐time 
student, that student would enter in one of the full‐time student OM cohorts (i.e., 
first‐time or non‐first‐time). If a student skipped the Fall term, but enrolled as full‐
time in the following winter quarter or spring terms as full‐time, that student would 
also enter in OM as full‐time. 
Do not change a student’s OM cohort designation should the student’s attendance 
level change after the immediate full term during the OM coverage period. 

3

Combining/r
ewording. 
For 
clarification. 

If a student does not enroll in any full terms during the OM coverage period, the 
student is still counted in the 2009‐10 OM cohort year and should be entered in one 
of the part‐time OM cohorts (i.e., first‐time or non‐first‐time). 

Add to instructions of each status point screen (4‐year, 6‐year, and 8‐year):  
Report the highest award earned for each degree/certificate‐seeking student for 
each status point (i.e., report each student’s highest award for each status point). 

Screen label update for the last column on the 8‐year status point screen: 
 Percent of adjusted cohort that did not receive an award, but are still enrolled at 
your institution and or enrolled at another institution after leaving your institution. 

Addition. To 
remind 
institutions 
of 
requirement
. 
Rewording. 
For 
clarification. 

Delete the phrase “Awards are mutually exclusive within each OM status points.” 
which appear three times in section II., III., and IV. of instructions because “mutually 
exclusive” as a phrase is confusing. 
II. Award Status at Four Years 
For each subcohort of degree/certificate‐seeking undergraduate students, report 
the number of students that received an award by four years after entering your 
institution. Awards are mutually exclusive within each OM status points. 
III. Award Status at Six Years 
For each subcohort of degree/certificate‐seeking undergraduate students, report 
the number of students that received an award by six years after entering your 
institution. Awards are mutually exclusive within each OM status points. 
IV. Award and Enrollment Status at Eight Years 
A. Award Status at Eight Years After Entry 
For each subcohort of degree/certificate‐seeking undergraduate students, report 
the number of students that received an award by eight years after entering your 
institution. Awards are mutually exclusive within each OM status points. 

4

Deletion. To 
reduce 
confusion. 

IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org
NCES National Center for Education Statistics

date: 11/14/2017

2017-18 Survey Materials > Form

Outcome Measures

Overview
Outcome Measures Overview
Welcome to the IPEDS Outcome Measures (OM) survey component. The OM component collects award and enrollment data from degree-granting institutions on four
undergraduate cohorts and eight undergraduate subcohorts at three status points: four-years, six-years, and eight-years after entry.
The four cohorts of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates are:
First-time, full-time entering (FTFT)
First-time, part-time entering (FTPT)
Non-first-time, full-time entering (NFTFT)
Non-first-time, part-time entering (NFTPT)

For each cohort, two subcohort groups have been added to the OM component - Pell Grant recipients and Non-Pell Grant recipients - resulting in eight new undergraduate
subcohorts.

Major Updates:
Starting with the 2017-18 collection, all institutions must report on a FULL-YEAR cohort. The OM cohort year is 2009-10. The full-year cohort coverage period is July
1, 2009 - June 30, 2010.
Institutions will establish their OM cohorts based on their subcohorts of entering Pell Grant recipients and Non-Pell Grant recipients. Institutions should first identify
their entering degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates during July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010 and place each student in the appropriate subcohort. Each student
should be reported only once.
A new, third status point of four years after entry has been added to OM component.

For each status point, institutions will report the highest type of award conferred to a student for each subcohort. The three award categories are certificates,
associate's degree, and bachelor's degree. The awards are mutually exclusive within each status point.
Institutions should report exclusions for the entire eight year period only on the "Establishing Cohorts" screen. Additional exclusions cannot be reported on the
status point screens (i.e., four-years, six-years, or eight-years after entry).
IPEDS will ask for an estimated time it took to complete the OM component. Include in that estimate the time to review instructions, research data sources (i.e.,
coordinate with IT and Student Aid offices), complete and review the component, and submit the data.

Data Reporting Reminders:
All reporting institutions will report on the entering cohort year: 2009-10 (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010).
Four-year status point was as of August 31, 2013
Six-year status point was as of August 31, 2015
Eight-year status point was as of August 31, 2017

Reporting Tips:
Carefully read each OM FAQ before reporting your institution's data. There are new FAQs regarding the major updates to OM 2017-18 collection, such as academic
reporters now reporting on a full-year cohort, summer sessions starting prior July 1, reporting awards at different status points, and Pell Grant and Non-Pell Grant
recipient subcohorts.
Remember: All institutions are required to report transfer-out student data. Refer to FAQ #33 for more information.
Resources:
To download the survey materials for this component: Survey Materials
To access your prior year data submission for this component: Reported Data
If you have questions about completing this survey, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568.

5

Establishing Cohorts
Establishing Cohorts
2009-10 Entering Undergraduate Cohort
(July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010: Full Year)
Directions: Begin by identifying your entering degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates for the full year of July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010. Then report each student under
one of the eight subcohorts (Pell or Non-Pell Grant recipients FTFT, FTPT, NFTFT, NFTPT). Each entering student should be reported only once. The four cohorts and total
entering students will be calculated based on your subcohort reporting.
NOTE: Once a student is in the cohort, the student remains in the cohort, even if the student's attendance status changes (i.e., full-time to part-time, or vice versa) or if the
student drops out, transfers out, or transfers back into the institution during the eight-year period. However, adjustments can be made to the cohort for allowable exclusions,
which include the death of a student, permanent disability, military deployment, or service on an official church mission or with a foreign aid service of the Federal government.
Exclusions are for the ENTIRE eight years for the entering 2009-10 cohort.
Degree/Certificate-Seeking Undergraduate Students

2009-10 cohort

First-time entering
Full-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Part-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Non-First-time entering
Full-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Part-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients

Total Entering
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients

6

Exclusions
to 2009-10 cohort

Adjusted
2009-10 cohort

Award Status at Four Years
Award Status at Four Years After Entry
2009-10 Entering Undergraduate Cohort
(July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010: Full Year)
Directions: From the adjusted 2009-10 cohort, report the number of students who earned an award by four years after entry for each subcohort. If a student earns
multiple awards, report only the highest award conferred to the student by the status point (August 31, 2013).

Undergraduate Students

Adjusted
2009-10 cohort

Number of students conferred an award
by your institution
(Highest Award by August 31, 2013)
Certificates

Associate's

First-time entering
Full-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Part-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Non-First-time entering
Full-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Part-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients

Total Entering
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients

7

Bachelor's

Total number of
adjusted cohort
that received an award
from your institution

Percent of adjusted
cohort that received
an award from your
institution

Award Status at Six Years
Award Status at Six Years After Entry
2009-10 Entering Undergraduate Cohort
(July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010: Full Year)
Directions: From the adjusted 2009-10 cohort, report the number of students who earned an award by six years after entry for each subcohort. If a student earns
multiple awards, report only the highest award conferred to the student by the status point (August 31, 2015).

Undergraduate Students

Adjusted
2009-10 cohort

Number of students conferred an award
by your institution
(Highest Award through August 31, 2015)
Certificates

Associate's

First-time entering
Full-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Part-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Non-First-time entering
Full-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Part-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients

Total Entering
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients

8

Bachelor's

Total number of
adjusted cohort
that received an award
from your institution

Percent of adjusted
cohort that received
an award from your
institution

Award and Enrollment Status at Eight Years
Award and Enrollment Status at Eight Years After Entry
2009-10 Entering Undergraduate Cohort
(July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010: Full Year)
Directions: From the adjusted 2009-10 cohort, report the number of students who earned an award by eight years after entry for each subcohort. If a student earns
multiple awards, report only the highest award conferred to the student by the status point (August 31, 2017).
For students that did not receive an award from your institution, report the number of students who are still enrolled at your institution, and then report the number of
students who had enrolled at another institution over the eight year period.
Award Status at Eight Years After Entry
Number of students conferred an
award by your institution
(From Entry through August 31, 2017)

Undergraduate Students

Enrollment Status at Eight Years After Entry
Number of students who did not receive an
award from your institution
(From entry through August 31, 2017)

Total
Percent
number of
of
Number
adjusted
adjusted
Adjusted
who
Total
Number of
cohort
cohort
2009-10
enrolled
number
Number
students
that
that
cohort
at
who did
still
whose
received
received
another
not
Certificates Associate's Bachelor's an award an award enrolled
subsequent
institution
receive
at
your
enrollment
from your from your
after
an award
status is
institution institution institution leaving
from your
unknown
your
institution
institution

Percent of
adjusted cohort
that did not
receive an
award, but are
still enrolled at
your institution
and enrolled at
another
institution after
leaving your
institution

First-time entering
Full-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Part-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Non-First-time entering
Full-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Part-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients

Total Entering
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients

You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should
be written to be understood by students and parents.

9

Prepared by
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will
be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in
your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions, query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data
Collection System.
Thank you for your assistance.

This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder

SFA Contact

HR Contact

Finance Contact

Academic Library Contact

Other

Name:
Email:

How many staff from your institution only were involved in the data collection and reporting process of this survey component?
Number of Staff (including yourself)

How many hours did you and others from your institution only spend on each of the steps below when responding to this survey component?
Exclude the hours spent collecting data for state and other reporting purposes.
Staff member

Collecting Data Needed

Revising Data to Match
IPEDS Requirements

Entering Data

Revising and Locking Data

Your office

hours

hours

hours

hours

Other offices

hours

hours

hours

hours

U.S. Department of Education

Software Provider Resources

Use of Cookies

Section 508 Compliance

Browsers Supported

Troubleshooting

NCES Privacy Policy

10

IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org
NCES National Center for Education Statistics

date: 11/14/2017

2017-18 Survey Materials > Instructions

Outcome Measures

Purpose of Survey
Changes in Reporting
General Instructions
Reporting Period Covered
Context Boxes

Coverage
Where to Get Help
Where the Data Will Appear
Reporting Instructions
I. Establishing Cohorts
II. Award Status at Four Years
III. Award Status at Six Years
IV. Award and Enrollment Status at Eight Years

Purpose of Survey
The purpose of the IPEDS Outcome Measures (OM) survey component is to provide the award and enrollment statuses of four
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate student cohorts and eight subcohorts at degree-granting institutions. Student completion awarded
by the reporting institution are collected at the four-years, six-years, and eight-years status points after they entered the reporting
institution. The enrollment status of students who did not earn an award is also collected at the eight-years status point.

Changes in Reporting
For all degree-granting institutions, there are four new reporting changes to the 2017-18 Outcome Measure data collection. All
institutions will report:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

on a full-year cohorts (e.g., July 1, 2009-June 30,2010),
a Pell Grant and Non-Pell Grant recipients subcohort for each of the four OM cohorts (FTFT, FTPT, NFTFT, and NFTPT),
a new 4-year status point; thus, there is a total of three status points (4-, 6-, and 8-years), and
on the highest undergraduate award (i.e., certificate, associate’s or bachelor’s) for each status point.

General Instructions
Reporting Period Covered
This OM component requests data on four cohorts of entering degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates enrolled in your institution during
the cohort coverage period between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010. To report data on the four cohorts, institutions will report on eight
subcohorts of undergraduates who either received a Pell Grant or did not during the OM coverage cohort period. Institutions are to report
the award status of these students as of August 31, 2013 (Four-Years Status) and August 31, 2015 (Six-Years Status), and the award and
enrollment status of these students as of August 31, 2017 (Eight-Years Status).

Context Boxes
Context boxes are provided to allow institutions to provide more information regarding survey component items. Note that some context
boxes are posted on the College Navigator Website, which is the college search tool offered by NCES. NCES will review entries in these
context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting them on the College Navigator Website; institutions should check
grammar and spelling of their entries.

Coverage
The Outcome Measures component collects data from degree-granting institutions on the following degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate
student cohorts and subcohorts:
First-time, full-time entering students
Pell Grant recipients
Non-Pell Grant recipients
First-time, part-time entering students
Pell Grant recipients
Non-Pell Grant recipients
Non-first-time, full-time entering students
Pell Grant recipients

11

Non-Pell Grant recipients
Non-first-time, part-time entering students
Pell Grant recipients
Non-Pell Grant recipients
Each of the four cohorts will be calculated from the reported Pell Grant and Non-Pell Grant recipient subcohorts.

Who to Include in the Cohorts
All degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students entering the institution (during the 12-month period as described in the "Reporting
Period Covered" section above) should be reported in one of the subcohorts. All institutions will report using a full-year cohort, which
counts all students who entered the institution between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010 (i.e., the coverage cohort year). For academic
reporting institutions, report students who were enrolled through the term's Census Date for enrollment purposes. For program/hybrid
reporting institutions, report students who were enrolled for at least 15 days in a program of up to, and including, one year in length, or
30 days in a program of greater than one year in length.
Students must be enrolled in courses creditable toward a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award. Include students enrolled in
courses that are part of a vocational or occupational program, INCLUDING those enrolled in off-campus centers and those enrolled in
distance learning/home study programs.
Be sure to include students taking remedial courses if the student is considered degree-seeking for the purpose of student financial aid
determination.
A student who is designated as a member of a cohort remains in that cohort, even if the student:
Started as either a full-time or part-time student and later changes enrollment intensity.
Transfers to another institution.
Drops out of the institution.
Stops out of the institution.
Has not fulfilled the institution's requirements to receive a degree or certificate.
Went on a study abroad program the first year upon entering the institution.

Who to Exclude from the Cohort
DO NOT include students in the cohort who are:
Enrolled exclusively in courses not creditable toward a formal award or the completion of a vocational program.
Exclusively taking Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
Exclusively auditing classes.
Foreign students who are only taking coursework at a host institution (e.g., an American institution overseas), if these students are
not enrolled at a U.S. institution.

Where to Get Help with Reporting
IPEDS Help Desk
Phone: 1-877-225-2568
Email: ipedshelp@rti.org

Web Tutorials
You can also consult the IPEDS Website Trainings & Outreach page which contains several tutorials on IPEDS data collection, a self-paced
overview of IPEDS tools, and other valuable resources.

IPEDS Resource Page
The IPEDS Website Reporting Tools page contains frequently asked questions, a link to data tip sheets, tutorials, taxonomies, information
centers (e.g., academic libraries, average net price, human resources, race/ethnicity, etc.), and other valuable information.

Where the Reported Data Will Appear
Data collected through IPEDS will be accessible at the institution- and aggregate-levels.
At the institution-level, data will appear in the:
College Navigator Website
IPEDS Data Center
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
College Affordability and Transparency Center Website

At the aggregate-level, data will appear in:
IPEDS First Looks
IPEDS Table Library
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
The Digest of Education Statistics
The Condition of Education

Reporting Instructions
I. Establishing Cohorts
OM has four cohorts: First-time, full-time (FTFT), First-time, part-time (FTPT), Non-first-time, full-time (NFTFT), and Non-first-time,
part-time (NFTPT). OM has also eight subcohorts based on a student's Pell Grant recipient status. Students are reported only once in
one of the subcohorts.

12

A. Report on a Full Year Cohort
1. Regardless of reporting type (i.e., academic, program, or hybrid), all institutions will report to OM using a full-year cohort of students.
Do not use a fall cohort. Entering students are identified as those students who entered the institution between July 1, 2009 and
June 30, 2010 - the coverage cohort year.
2. Determine if a student enters the OM cohort year based on official enrollment procedures. For academic reporters, include
undergraduate students who were enrolled in your institution's official census date for their entering term (i.e., semester or quarter).
For program/hybrid reporters, report students who were enrolled for at least 15 days in a program of up to, and including, one year in
length, or 30 days in a program of greater than one year in length.
B. Determining Attendance Level
1. The cohort attendance level of students is determined on the first full term (i.e., semester or quarter) at entry. For example, if a
transfer-in student entered an institution in the Spring term of the coverage cohort year as part-time, this student should be in
OM's part-time, non-first-time cohort.
2. Degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who take a summer session preceding the start of OM coverage cohort year (July
1, 2009 and June 30, 2010) should be reported in the full year 2009-10 cohort. The cohort attendance level of a summer session
student is determined by that student's immediate full-term enrollment. For example, a first-time student takes a summer session
that starts May 31, 2009 and enrolls the following fall term as a full-time student. This student should be in OM's full-time, first-time
cohort.
C. Pell Grant and Non-Pell Grant Recipient Subcohorts
1. Each OM cohort (FTFT, FTPT, NFTFT, and NFTPT) has two subcohorts of Pell Grant and Non-Pell Grant recipients. For each subcohort,
report the number of students that received a Pell Grant and those that did not receive a Pell Grant (i.e., Non-Pell Grant recipients).
2. Students with disbursed Pell Grants during the OM coverage cohort year of July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010 are reported in a Pell
Grant subcohort.
3. Students who did not receive a disbursed Pell Grant during the cohort coverage period, but received a Pell Grant AFTER the coverage
cohort year (i.e., July 1, 2010 to August 31, 2017) are excluded from a Pell Grant subcohort. Rather, report these students in a NonPell Grant subcohort.
4. Students, who were awarded but not disbursed a Pell Grant during the coverage cohort year, should be excluded from a Pell Grant
subcohort, and reported in a Non-Pell Grant subcohort.
5. Students, who receive any other forms of student aid, but no Pell Grant during the coverage cohort year, should be reported in the
Non-Pell Grant subcohort.
D. Exclusions to the 2009-10 Cohort (from entry through August 31, 2017)

Institutions may choose to exclude students who left your institution after the point of entry through August 31, 2017 for one of the
following allowable reasons:
1. The student is deceased or is totally permanently disabled and thus unable to return to school.
2. The student left school to serve in the armed forces or was called to active duty. (DO NOT include students already in the military who
transfer to another duty station.)
3. The student left school to serve with a foreign aid service of the Federal Government, such as Peace Corps.
4. The student left school to serve on an official church mission.

NOTE: Students who leave the institution for one of the reasons noted in 2, 3, or 4 above, but return prior to the status date of
August 31, 2017, may be subtracted from the cohort.
E. Adjusted 2009-10 Cohort
For each cohort and subcohort, the adjusted cohort is calculated by subtracting the "Exclusions to 2009-10 cohort" from the "200910 cohort".

II. Award Status at Four Years
For each subcohort of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students, report the number of students that received an award by four
years after entering your institution. Awards are mutually exclusive within each OM status points.
All students entering in the 2009-10 full-year cohort should be reported in one of the eight subcohorts. Report each student only once.
The adjusted 2009-10 Cohort has been brought forward to this screen from the "Establishing Cohorts" screen. The adjusted cohort is
calculated by subtracting the 8-year exclusions from the 2009-10 cohort.
Number of students conferred an award by your institution (highest award through August 31, 2013): From the adjusted 2009-10
cohort, report the number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who earned an award (i.e., certificates, associate's or
bachelor's) by four years after entry for each subcohort. If a student earned multiple awards, count the student once and report
the highest award conferred to the student by the status point (August 31, 2013).
Include non-degree awards in the "certificates" column. Report the highest award conferred by your institution at the 4-year status point
even if the students are still enrolled at your institution or have transferred to another institution. DO NOT include graduate awards
conferred to undergraduate students.
Total number of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution: This column will calculate total number of highest awards
conferred by your institution by the 4-year status point (August 31, 2013).
Percent of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution by August 31, 2013: This column will calculate the proportion
of entering students who received an award from your institution for each adjusted subcohort. This four-year award rate is derived from
the Total number of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution divided by Adjusted 2009-10 Cohort.

III. Award Status at Six Years
For each subcohort of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students, report the number of students that received an award by six
years after entering your institution. Awards are mutually exclusive within each OM status points.

13

All students entering in the 2009-10 full-year cohort should be reported in one of the eight subcohorts. Report each student only once.
The adjusted 2009-10 Cohort has been brought forward to this screen from the "Establishing Cohorts" screen. The adjusted cohort is
calculated by subtracting the 8-year exclusions from the 2009-10 cohort.
Number of students conferred an award by your institution (highest award through August 31, 2015): From the adjusted 2009-10
cohort, report the number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who earned an award (i.e., certificates, associate's or
bachelor's) by six years after entry for each subcohort. If a student earned multiple awards, count the student once and report the
highest award conferred to the student by the status point (August 31, 2015).
Include non-degree awards in the "certificates" column. Report the highest award conferred by your institution at the 6-year status point
even if the students are still enrolled at your institution or have transferred to another institution. DO NOT include graduate awards
conferred to undergraduate students.
Total number of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution: This column will calculate total number of highest awards
conferred by your institution by the 6-year status point (August 31, 2015).
Percent of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution by August 31, 2015: This column will calculate the proportion
of entering students who received an award from your institution for each adjusted subcohort. This six-year award rate is derived from
the Total number of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution divided by Adjusted 2009-10 Cohort.

IV. Award and Enrollment Status at Eight Years
A. Award Status at Eight Years After Entry
For each subcohort of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students, report the number of students that received an award by eight
years after entering your institution. Awards are mutually exclusive within each OM status points.
All students entering in 2009-10 full-year cohort should be reported in one of the eight subcohorts. Report each student only once.
The adjusted 2009-10 Cohort has been brought forward to this screen from the "Establishing Cohorts" screen. The adjusted cohort is
calculated by subtracting the 8-year exclusions from the 2009-10 cohort.
Number of students conferred an award by your institution (highest award through August 31, 2017): From the adjusted 2009-10
cohort, report the number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who earned an award (i.e., certificates, associate's or
bachelor's) by eight years after entry for each subcohort. If a student earned multiple awards, count the student once and report
the highest award conferred to the student by the status point (August 31, 2017).
Include non-degree awards in the "certificates" column. Report the highest award conferred by your institution at the 8-year status point
even if the students are still enrolled at your institution or have transferred to another institution. DO NOT include graduate awards
conferred to undergraduate students.
Total number of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution: This column will calculate total number of highest awards
conferred by your institution by the 8-year status point (August 31, 2017).
Percent of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution by August 31, 2017: This column will calculate the proportion
of entering students who received an award from your institution for each adjusted subcohort. This eight-year award rate is derived from
the Total number of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution divided by Adjusted 2009-10 Cohort.

B. Enrollment Status at Eight Years After Entry
For the remaining students in your adjusted subcohorts who have not earned an award from your institution by August 31, 2017, report
each of these students in the one of the enrollment status columns.
Number of students who did not receive an award from your institution (from entry through August 31, 2017):
Number still enrolled at your institution: Report the number of students still enrolled at your institution as of August 31, 2017. Do not
include any students who have received an award by August 31, 2017. You may include students who you know are enrolling at your
institution in the fall term immediately following August 31, 2017.
Number who enrolled at another institution after leaving your institution: Report the total number of students who transferred out
of your institution without an award (i.e., a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award) and enrolled in another institution at
any time from point of entry through August 31, 2017. You may include students who you know are enrolling at the other institution in
the fall term immediately following August 31, 2017. Only include students for whom you have confirmed subsequent enrollment.
Number of students whose subsequent enrollment status is unknown: This column will be calculated by subtracting the sum of the
Number still enrolled at your institution, the Number who enrolled at another institution after leaving your institution, and the Total number
of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution (through August 31, 2017) from the Adjusted 2009-10 cohort.
Total number of students who did not receive an award from your institution: The total number of students who did not receive an
award by August 31, 2017 will be calculated by summing three columns: Number still enrolled at your institution, Number who enrolled at
another institution after leaving your institution, and Number of students whose subsequent enrollment status is unknown.
Percent of adjusted cohort that did not receive an ward, but are still enrolled at your institution and enrolled at another institution
after leaving your institution: This column will calculate the proportion of students who are still enrolled at your institution as of August
31, 2017, or left your institution and subsequently became enrolled at another institution. The sum of the values from the Number still
enrolled at your institution and Number who enrolled at another institution after leaving your institution are divided by Adjusted 2009-10
Cohort.

14

Glossary

date: 11/14/2017

Term

Definition

Adjusted cohort

The result of removing any allowable exclusions from a cohort (or subcohort). For the Fall Enrollment component, it is the cohort for
calculating retention rate; for the Graduation Rates component, this is the cohort from which graduation and transfer-out rates are
calculated; and for the Outcome Measures component, these are the four cohorts (first-time, full-time; first-time, part-time; non-firsttime, full-time; or non-first-time, part-time) for which outcomes rates are calculated at 4, 6, and 8 years.

Associate's degree

An award that normally requires at least 2 but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college work.

Bachelor's degree

An award (baccalaureate or equivalent degree, as determined by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education) that normally requires at
least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes all bachelor's degrees conferred in a 5-year
cooperative (work-study) program. A cooperative plan provides for alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or
government; thus, it allows students to combine actual work experience with their college studies. Also includes bachelor's degrees in
which the normal 4 years of work are completed in 3 years.

Calculated value (CV)

Calculated value (CV) is used to designate fields that are generated (or calculated) based on data provided on other lines within the
same part of a survey component. For example, a "balance" line or "other (detail)" line will be calculated as the difference between the
total line and the sum of the remaining detail.

Certificate

A formal award certifying the satisfactory completion of a postsecondary education program.

Cohort

A specific group of students established for tracking purposes.

Degree

An award conferred by a college, university, or other postsecondary education institution as official recognition for the successful
completion of a program of studies.

Degree/certificate-seeking
students

Students enrolled in courses for credit who are seeking a degree, certificate, or other formal award. This includes students who:
- received any type of federal financial aid, regardless of what courses they took at any time;
- received any state or locally based financial aid with an eligibility requirement that the student be enrolled in a degree, certificate,
or transfer-seeking program; or
- obtained a student visa to study at a U.S. postsecondary institution
High school students also enrolled in postsecondary courses for credit are not considered degree/certificate-seeking.

Exclusions

Those students who may be removed (deleted) from a cohort (or subcohort). For the Graduation Rates, Outcome Measures, and Fall
Enrollment retention rate reporting, students may be removed from a cohort if they left the institution for one of the following reasons:
death or total and permanent disability; service in the armed forces (including those called to active duty); service with a foreign aid
service of the federal government, such as the Peace Corps; or service on official church missions.

First-time student
(undergraduate)

A student who has no prior postsecondary experience (except as noted below) attending any institution for the first time at the
undergraduate level. This includes students enrolled in academic or occupational programs. It also includes students enrolled in the
fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and students who entered with advanced standing (college
credits or postsecondary formal award earned before graduation from high school).

Full-time student

Undergraduate: A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, or 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more contact hours a week
each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for 9 or more semester credits, or 9 or more quarter credits, or a student involved in thesis or
dissertation preparation that is considered full-time by the institution. Doctor's degree - Professional practice - as defined by the
institution.

Full-year cohort

This is a group of students entering at any time during the 12-month period for tracking and reporting. For Graduation Rate (GR), a
full-year cohort is from September 1 through August 31 and is used primarily by institutions that offer occupational programs of varying
lengths. Students must be full-time and first-time to be considered in the cohort. For Outcome Measures (OM) component, all degreegranting institutions report on a full-year cohort from July 1 through June 30. Students are reported once in one of the four
OM cohorts: first-time, full-time; first-time, part-time: non-first-time, full-time; or non-first-time, part-time.

Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System (IPEDS)

The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), conducted by the NCES, began in 1986 and involves annual institutionlevel data collections. All postsecondary institutions that have a Program Participation Agreement with the Office of Postsecondary
Education (OPE), U.S. Department of Education (throughout IPEDS referred to as "Title IV") are required to report data using a webbased data collection system. IPEDS currently consists of the following components: Institutional Characteristics (IC); 12-month
Enrollment (E12);Completions (C); Admissions (ADM); Student Financial Aid (SFA); Human Resources (HR) composed of Employees by
Assigned Position, Fall Staff, and Salaries; Fall Enrollment (EF); Graduation Rates (GR); Outcome Measures (OM); Finance (F); and
Academic Libraries (AL).

Outcome Measures (OM)

This annual component aims to improve the collection of student progression and completion data on a more diverse group of
undergraduate students at degree-granting institutions. Award and enrollment statuses are collected on four cohorts (first-time, fulltime; first-time, part-time; non-first-time, full-time; and non-first-time, part-time) and on eight subcohorts (based on Pell Grant
recipient status) of degree/certificate-seeking students at three points of time (four-, six-, and eight-years after entering the
institution).

Part-time student

Undergraduate: A student enrolled for either less than 12 semester or quarter credits, or less than 24 contact hours a week each term.
Graduate: A student enrolled for less than 9 semester or quarter credits.

Pell Grant program

(Higher Education Act of 1965, Title IV, Part A, Subpart I, as amended.) Provides grant assistance to eligible undergraduate
postsecondary students with demonstrated financial need to help meet education expenses.

Postsecondary award, certificate,
or diploma (at least 1 but less
than 2 academic years)

An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in at
least 1 but less than 2 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion in at least 30 but less than 60 semester or
trimester credit hours, or in at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit hours, or in at least 900 but less than 1,800 contact or clock
hours.

Postsecondary award, certificate,
or diploma (at least 2 but less
than 4 academic years)

An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in at
least 2 but less than 4 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion in at least 60 but less than 120 semester or
trimester credit hours, or in at least 90 but less than 180 quarter credit hours, or in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact or clock
hours.

Postsecondary award, certificate,
or diploma (less than 1
academic year)

An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate degree) in
less than 1 academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters), or designed for completion in less than 30 semester or trimester credit hours,
or in less than 45 quarter credit hours, or in less than 900 contact or clock hours.

Subcohort

A predefined subset of the initial cohort or the revised cohort established for tracking purposes. Degree/certificate-seeking students in
the bachelor's degree-seeking group in the Graduation Rates (GR) component and Pell-Grant, non-first-time, part-time students in the
Outcome Measures (OM) component are examples of subcohorts.

Title IV institution

An institution that has a written agreement with the Secretary of Education that allows the institution to participate in any of the Title IV
federal student financial assistance programs (other than the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) and the National Early Intervention
Scholarship and Partnership (NEISP) programs).

Transfer-in student

A student entering the reporting institution for the first time but known to have previously attended a postsecondary institution at the
same level (e.g., undergraduate, graduate). This includes new students enrolled in the fall term who transferred into the institution the
prior summer term. The student may transfer with or without credit.

Transfer-out student

A student that leaves the reporting institution and enrolls at another institution.

Transfer-preparatory program

A program designed specifically to provide a student with the basic knowledge needed to transfer into a higher level program. For
example, this may be the first 2 years of a baccalaureate level program for which the institution does not offer an award, or 2 years of
undergraduate study needed for entrance into a first-professional program, or 1 or more years of undergraduate study needed for
entrance into health services fields.

Undergraduate

A student enrolled in a 4- or 5-year bachelor's degree program, an associate's degree program, or a vocational or technical program
below the baccalaureate.

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IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or ipedshelp@rti.org
NCES National Center for Education Statistics

date: 11/14/2017

2017-18 Survey Materials > FAQ

Outcome Measures
Click one of the following questions to view the answer.
General
1)

Who is the best institutional representative to complete the Outcome Measures (OM) survey?

2)

Will race/ethnicity and gender be required in future years?

3)

Is the Outcome Measures survey component similar to the Student Achievement Measure (SAM)
project?

OM Terminology Clarified
4)

What is a “still enrolled” degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate student?

5)

What is a “non-first-time” degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate student?

6)

Are the Outcome Measures 4-years, 6-years and 8-years status points the same as Graduation Rates’ 150% and
200% of normal time?

Cohorts
7)

Does OM have two different cohort years for 4-year and 2-year institutions in the same fashion as Graduation
Rates cohort years?

8)

Should students who enter in the spring term (semester system) or winter and spring terms (quarter system) be
included in the full-year cohort?

9)

If we are reporting on a full-year cohort that enters between July 1 and June 30 (OM coverage cohort year), what
happens if a student switches their attendance levels (e.g., full-time or part-time) during the OM coverage cohort
year?

10)

As an academic year reporting institution, I have a group of degree-seeking undergraduate students who took a
summer session designed for entering students to earn college credit before enrolling in the next immediate full
term (i.e., Fall semester or quarter). However, the start date of the summer session was prior to Outcome
Measures coverage cohort year start date of July 1, which cohort year should these students be reported?

11)

If the entering students were part-time students during a summer session, how should these students be included
in OM?

12)

I have a student that attended class for a day or a short portion of the term, should this student be included in the
OM cohorts?

13)

A student qualified as an exclusion during the 8 year time period, but received an award prior to the student’s
qualification, do I exclude this student from the cohort?

Degree-granting Status
14)

If an institution was not a degree-granting institution in 2009-10, but later became a degree-granting institution, will
that institution be required to complete the Outcome Measures survey component?

Degree-seeking and Non-degree-seeking Students
15)

Should students be included in Outcome Measures cohorts if degree/certificate-seeking intent is not explicitly
stated?

16)

If I am an academic year reporter, how do I report students who enter my institution as non-degree/certificateseeking students in the fall, but in the following spring term enroll as degree/certificate-seeking students?

17)

If I am a program or hybrid reporter, how do I report students who begin at my institution as nondegree/certificate-seeking students, but the following year they become degree/certificate-seeking?

18)

How do I report students who were non-degree-seeking at another institution and subsequently enrolled at my
institution as degree/certificate-seeking students?

Award Related Questions
19)

What does “award” mean?

20)

How would a student who transfers from a 4-year institution to a 2-year institution and then completes a lowerlevel degree/certificate be counted?

21)

If a student earns multiple awards at my institution, do I count the higher award?

22)

If a student transfers-in with an award from another institution, and then earns an award at my institution, which
award do I count?

23)

How do I count students seeking a second baccalaureate degree?

24)

How should I report a student who left my institution and is known to have received an award at a subsequent
institution?

25)

Does transfer-prep count as an award?

26)

Can stackable credentials count as an award?

27)

Can institutions report graduate levels awards in OM?

28)

Which award is higher between a certificate that is more than 2 years, but less than 4 years or an Associate’s
degree?

Counting Transfer-in and Transfer-out Students
29)

How should I count transfer-in students?

30)

Won’t there be double counting of a student if two institutions are counting the same student who earned an award?

31)

Are first-time or non-first-time students who transfer-out to another institution included in the non-first-time
entering cohort of the transfer-in institution?

32)

How do I report a degree-seeking student who starts out at my institution, transfers to another institution, but then
returns to my institution within the 8-year timeframe?

33)

Are institutions required to report transfer-out undergraduate students?

Students Without a High School Diploma or Equivalent
34)

How do I count students in a dual enrollment program? What about students who received early admissions to my
institution?

35)

How do I count adult learners who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent, but are certificate-seeking
students taking credit-bearing undergraduate courses?

17

Tracking Subsequent Enrollment
36)

Are institutions required to subscribe to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) in order to obtain data needed
to report the number of students that subsequently enrolled at another institution?

37)

Can social media be used to confirm the enrollment at subsequent institutions?

38)

What other resources are available to help me report on subsequent enrollment?

Subcohorts: Pell-Grant and Non-Pell Grant Recipients
39)

Who is considered a “recipient” of a Pell Grant?

40)

How are Pell Grant recipients reported in OM subcohorts?

41)

What is a Non-Pell Grant recipient? What if I have students that did not get a Pell Grant, but received other forms
of student aid?

42)

Should my institution, which is participating as an experimental site, report high school students who have received
a Pell Grant while taking college coursework?

43)

For transfer-in students, do I need to track their Pell Grant awards prior to entering my institution (i.e., the Pell
Grant was awarded by another institution)?

Answers:
General
1)

Who is the best institutional representative to complete the Outcome Measures (OM) survey?
The individual who completes the Graduation Rates (GR), Graduation Rates 200 (GR200), Completions (C), and
Student Financial Aid (SFA) survey components may be the best person to complete the Outcome Measures
survey. This individual will most likely have to work closely with the registrar, enrollment managers, and student
financial aid administrators.
Back to top

2)

Will race/ethnicity and gender be required in future years?
There are currently no plans to collect race/ethnicity and gender for Outcome Measures because of the
institutional burden and the federal need to obtain the data as soon as possible.
Back to top

3)

Is the Outcome Measures survey component similar to the Student Achievement Measure (SAM)
project?
OM is similar to SAM in that both have the same goal of measuring postsecondary success and progression of
undergraduate students. However, the methodologies used to measure the outcomes are different. First, OM is
part of the mandatory IPEDS collection compared to SAM’s voluntary participation. Second, OM has 4 cohorts
with 8 subcohorts and SAM has up to 7 cohorts. Lastly, the time points for SAM varies depending on the cohorts
compared to OM’s use of a standard 4-year, 6-year and 8-year time points for all cohorts. For more information
on SAM, see http://www.studentachievementmeasure.org/resources.
Back to top

OM Terminology Clarified
4)

What is a “still enrolled” degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate student?
For academic year reporters, a degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate student who is actively enrolled for
credit at the institution during the most recent term (spring or summer) is considered still enrolled. For program
and hybrid reporters, a still enrolled degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate is an undergraduate student who
was enrolled for credit during the previous year.
Back to top

5)

What is a “non-first-time” degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate student?
A non-first-time degree/certificate undergraduate student is new to your institution, but has prior postsecondary
experience. This term will most likely refer to students who transferred-in during the entry year of the cohort.
Transfer-in students may enter with or without credit.
Back to top

6)

Are the Outcome Measures 4-years, 6-years and 8-years status points the same as Graduation
Rates’ 150% and 200% of normal time?
No, these are not the same. Graduation rates of 100%, 150%, and 200% of normal time are accumulated
progress of time-to-degree. The 4-years, 6-years, and 8-years up-to-the-specified date snapshots used in OM
provide the status of awards and enrollment at 4-, 6-, and 8-years after a cohort enters the institution. More
specifically, OM counts the highest award conferred regardless of the length of time it took the student to
complete the program relative to the “normal” time to complete. OM requires institutions to report the
award/enrollment status for the student cohorts, and there are no specific reporting requirements as to how
quickly an award must be earned. Do not equate or use Graduation Rates’ “normal time to degree” as the same
period of time for Outcome Measures’ 4-, 6-, and 8-years status points.
Back to top

Cohorts
7)

Does OM have two different cohort years for 4-year and 2-year institutions in the same fashion as
Graduation Rates cohort years?
No. OM has only one cohort year for both 2-year and 4-year institutions. Furthermore, the OM survey forms for
2-year and 4-year institutions are the same. For the 2017-18 collection year, all degree-granting institutions,
regardless of institution level, will report on undergraduate students who entered their institutions during the full
year of July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010. All institutions will report on a full-year cohort.
Back to top

8)

Should students who enter in the spring term (semester system) or winter and spring terms
(quarter system) be included in the full-year cohort?
Yes, these students must be included in a full-year cohort reporting if they entered anytime between the July 1,
2009 - June 30, 2010 cohort year.
Back to top

9)

If we are reporting on a full-year cohort that enters between July 1 and June 30 (OM coverage
cohort year), what happens if a student switches their attendance levels (e.g., full-time or parttime) during the OM coverage cohort year?
The attendance level is determined upon entering the institution. The student remains in the cohort even if
there is a change in attendance levels in subsequent terms or years.
Back to top

10)

As an academic year reporting institution, I have a group of degree-seeking undergraduate
students who took a summer session designed for entering students to earn college credit before
enrolling in the next immediate full term (i.e., Fall semester or quarter). However, the start date
of the summer session was prior to Outcome Measures coverage cohort year start date of July 1,
which cohort year should these students be reported?
For the 2017-18 collection year, these summer session students would be included in the 2009-10 OM cohort
year because it is the first full term (i.e., Fall semester or quarter), which should be used to determine their
inclusion.
Back to top

11)

If the entering students were part-time students during a summer session, how should these

18

students be included in OM?
To determine the attendance level (i.e., full-time or part-time) for these students, identify the next immediate
full term (i.e., Fall semester or quarter) that these students enrolled in during the July 1 to June 30 period. For
example, if a part-time summer-session student enrolled in the immediate fall as a full-time student, that
student would enter in one of the full-time student OM cohorts (i.e., first-time or non-first-time). If a student
skipped the Fall term, but enrolled as full-time in the following winter quarter or spring terms as full-time, that
student would also enter in OM as full-time.
Do not change a student’s OM cohort designation should the student’s attendance level change after the
immediate full term during the OM coverage period.
If a student does not enroll in any full terms during the OM coverage period, the student is still counted in the
2009-10 OM cohort year and should be entered in one of the part-time OM cohorts (i.e., first-time or non-firsttime).
Back to top
12)

I have a student that attended class for a day or a short portion of the term, should this student
be included in the OM cohorts?
At entry of the first full term (i.e., Fall semester or quarter), report these students if they have met your
institution’s official Census Date for being counted in enrollment, otherwise they should be excluded.
Back to top

13)

A student qualified as an exclusion during the 8 year time period, but received an award prior to
the student’s qualification, do I exclude this student from the cohort?
Per the OM instructions on exclusions, institutions may choose to exclude students if they meet one of the
allowable reasons: student is deceased or permanently and totally disabled, student left to serve in the armed
forces or was called to active duty, student left to serve in a foreign aid service, or student left to serve on an
official church mission. NCES recommends that institutions do NOT exclude students who had already earned an
award because such information could better inform the public of an institution’s completion rate. However, an
institution may choose to exclude such a student.
Back to top

Degree-granting Status
14)

If an institution was not a degree-granting institution in 2009-10, but later became a degreegranting institution, will that institution be required to complete the Outcome Measures survey
component?
Yes. All degree-granting institutions are required to complete the OM survey component, including those that
were non-degree-granting in 2009-10.
Back to top

Degree-seeking and Non-degree-seeking Students
15)

Should students be included in Outcome Measures cohorts if degree/certificate-seeking intent is
not explicitly stated?
The institution should try to determine, to the greatest extent possible, whether the student is
degree/certificate-seeking. For example, students must be degree/certificate-seeking to receive federal student
aid. Students who are eligible for federal student aid but decide not to receive aid are still considered
degree/certificate-seeking and should be included in the appropriate Outcome Measures cohort. Students who
are not eligible for federal student aid and who have not clearly stated their degree/certificate-seeking intent
should be excluded from OM.
Back to top

16)

If I am an academic year reporter, how do I report students who enter my institution as nondegree/certificate-seeking students in the fall, but in the following spring term enroll as
degree/certificate-seeking students?
Include these students in your OM cohort because these students became degree/certificate-seeking at some
point during the full-year cohort of July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010.
Back to top

17)

If I am a program or hybrid reporter, how do I report students who begin at my institution as nondegree/certificate-seeking students, but the following year they become degree/certificateseeking?
For program or hybrid reporters, if during the OM coverage cohort year (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010) these
students become degree/certificate-seeking students, include these students in the OM cohorts. If the students
become degree/certificate-seeking after June 30, 2010, they should not be included in the 2009-10 cohort.
Instead, include these students in the next OM cohort year for the next IPEDS collection cycle.
Back to top

18)

How do I report students who were non-degree-seeking at another institution and subsequently
enrolled at my institution as degree/certificate-seeking students?
Because these students entered your institution as degree/certificate-seeking, these students should be
included in your institution’s OM reporting in one of the non-first-time cohorts.
Back to top

Award Related Questions
19)

What does “award” mean?
An award can be a degree (e.g., Associate's or Bachelor's), diploma, certificate or other formal award conferred
by the reporting institution that would be included on the IPEDS Completions Survey. For OM reporting
purposes, an award does not mean financial aid award.
Back to top

20)

How would a student who transfers from a 4-year institution to a 2-year institution and then
completes a lower-level degree/certificate be counted?
The 4-year institution would report this student from the appropriate OM subcohort as having left their
institution without an award and subsequently enrolled at another institution. The 2-year institution would place
this student in one of the non-first-time entering subcohorts and report the student’s highest award conferred
by the institution over the three status points.
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21)

If a student earns multiple awards at my institution, do I count the higher award?
Yes, count the highest award received for each status point (4-yr, 6-yr, and 8-yr). Regardless of whether the
student earns multiple awards at your institution, only one award is reported per student, per status point. For
example, if a student earned a certificate and associate’s degree by the end of 4 years, the institution would
report only the associate’s degree. If the same student continues enrollment at the institution and earns a
bachelor’s degree by year 7, the institution would report the associate’s degree at the 6 year status point, but
the bachelor’s degree at the 8 year status point. The certificate award is never reported to OM in this example
because it was not the highest award earned at any status point.
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22)

If a student transfers-in with an award from another institution, and then earns an award at my
institution, which award do I count?
Do not count awards conferred from another institution. Institutions should only report the awards conferred by
their own institution.

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23)

How do I count students seeking a second baccalaureate degree?
The answer depends on whether the student is seeking the second baccalaureate at the same institution or a
different institution.
If the student is seeking a second baccalaureate at the same institution (Fall Enrollment counts these students
as “continuing students”), do not reset the time period for this student or place him/her in a new cohort. OM
wants to know when these students received their highest award (degree/certificate) at the same institution
over a span of 8 years; therefore, the first baccalaureate would be reported, but not the second
baccalaureate. Read another FAQ in "Award Related Questions" section regarding students earning multiple
awards at the same institution.
If the student is seeking a second baccalaureate at a different institution from where the student received
his/her first baccalaureate (Fall Enrollment counts these students as “transfer-in students”), then report these
students as degree/certificate-seeking, non-first-time entering students (either full-time or part-time by Pell
Grant status). These students have prior postsecondary experience, but are seeking a degree/certificate at the
different institution.
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24)

How should I report a student who left my institution and is known to have received an award at a
subsequent institution?
At the 8-year status point, report such students in the “did not receive an award from your institution, but
enrolled at another institution after leaving your institution" column. If your institution did not confer the award,
your institution cannot report the award.
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25)

Does transfer-prep count as an award?
Yes. As is also the case with the Graduation Rates component, the OM component has a provision that allows
institutions to count students who have successfully completed a transfer-preparatory program as having
received an award.
SPECIAL NOTE: In order to resolve a potential conflict between transfers-out and the mission of particular
programs to prepare students for transfer to other institutions, institutions may count as completers those
students who have successfully completed a transfer-preparatory program.
A transfer-preparatory program is defined in 34 CFR Student Assistance General Provisions, Section 668.8(b)
(1)(ii), as “the successful completion of at least a 2-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward a
bachelor’s degree and qualifies a student for admission into the third year of a bachelor’s degree program.” The
Secretary considers transfer-prep the equivalent of an associate’s degree, thus completers of transferpreparatory programs (although these students do not receive a “formal award”) should be counted as having
received an associate's degree for purposes of OM.
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26)

Can stackable credentials count as an award?
Yes, stackable credentials can be counted, as long as the credentials meet the definition of an award. According
to the Department of Labor, stackable credentials are “a sequence of credentials that can be accumulated over
time to build up an individual’s qualifications and help them to move along a career pathway or up a career
ladder to different and potentially higher-payer jobs” (Source: TEGL 15-10, www.doleta.gov). Educause (Jan 27,
2014) explains these credentials as an institution-designed “pathway for students to acquire credentials along a
trajectory that can lead to a baccalaureate and beyond but that has exit and entry points designed in a way to
allow students to pick up wherever they left off en route to the next level of achievement.”
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27)

Can institutions report graduate levels awards in OM?
No. Institutions shall not report graduate level awards, including post-baccalaureate certificates, in OM.
However, institutions that enroll undergraduates in a graduate program that requires 2 or 3 years of
undergraduate work at their institution before being accepted into the graduate program (e.g., a Pharm.D.
program) can count the 2 or 3 years of undergraduate work, which is seen as operating similarly to a transferprep program, but is the equivalent to an undergraduate certificate award.
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28)

Which award is higher between a certificate that is more than 2 years, but less than 4 years or an
Associate’s degree?
In this example, Associate’s degree is the higher award. The hierarchy of awards (from lowest to highest) is
certificates, associate’s degree, and bachelor’s degree. For purposes of OM reporting, all certificates levels (i.e.,
less than 1 year; at least 1 year but less than 2 years; and at least 2 years, but less than 4 years) are
aggregated together into the certificates reporting column.
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Counting Transfer-in and Transfer-out Students
29)

How should I count transfer-in students?
At your institution, transfer-in students should be counted as non-first-time entering students in either a fulltime or part-time cohort. The progress of transfer-in students should be tracked at the 4-, 6-, and 8-years after
entering your institution.
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30)

Won’t there be double counting of a student if two institutions are counting the same student who
earned an award?
Not necessarily. Institutions should report only awards conferred by their institution. Students who transfer into
your institution and receive an award from your institution within the reporting period should be reported only
by your institution. While there could be double counting, the institution sending the student to your institution
would report the student only as a “student who enrolled at another institution after leaving your institution.”
Thus, the same student should not appear in the same cohort and outcome category for both institutions.
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31)

Are first-time or non-first-time students who transfer-out to another institution included in the
non-first-time entering cohort of the transfer-in institution?
Yes. If first-time or non-first-time students transfer into your institution and have never been previously
enrolled in your institution, you should report them in the appropriate non-first-time entering subcohort.
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32)

How do I report a degree-seeking student who starts out at my institution, transfers to another
institution, but then returns to my institution within the 8-year timeframe?
Students should be counted in their original cohort only. If the student subsequently enrolls in another institution
and returns to your institution within the reporting 8-year timeframe, the student should remain in their original
cohort and should be reported in one of the two categories: 1) did not receive an award and still enrolled at
your institution or 2) received an award from your institution.
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33)

Are institutions required to report transfer-out undergraduate students?
Yes. Institutions are required to report transfer-out undergraduate students to the OM survey component,
regardless if the institution has transfer-preparation as part of its mission. Unlike the Graduation Rates (GR)
survey component, which is governed by the Student-Right-to-Know-Act, OM does not differentiate between
institutions that do, or do not, have a transfer-preparation in their mission.

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Students Without a High School Diploma or Equivalent
34)

How do I count students in a dual enrollment program? What about students who received early
admissions to my institution?
Students who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent, but are enrolled in a high school diploma or
equivalent program while taking college-credit coursework, are considered “non-degree-seeking” students.
After the students have earned their high school diploma or equivalent, and subsequently enroll at a
postsecondary, they are then considered “first-time” students. This guidance is the same for early-admission
students. Until the high school student has received a high school diploma or equivalent, the student is not
considered degree-seeking and is not included in any of the OM cohorts. In other words, these students do not
enter an Outcome Measures cohort until after earning their high school diploma or equivalent.
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35)

How do I count adult learners who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent, but are
certificate-seeking students taking credit-bearing undergraduate courses?
Students, who are enrolled in college-credit coursework, but have not earned a high school diploma or its
equivalent and do not plan on earning a high school diploma or its equivalent, should be included in OM if they
are degree/certificate-seeking students.
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Tracking Subsequent Enrollment
36)

Are institutions required to subscribe to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) in order to
obtain data needed to report the number of students that subsequently enrolled at another
institution?
IPEDS neither requires nor endorses institutions to subscribe to the NSC or any other third-party organization
to help with reporting. However, IPEDS realizes that fee-based services can facilitate an institution’s reporting of
the Outcome Measures survey component.
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37)

Can social media be used to confirm the enrollment at subsequent institutions?
Yes, however IPEDS neither requires nor endorses the use of social media (e.g., LinkedIn), which may help with
OM reporting of enrollment at subsequent institutions. IPEDS strongly encourages institutions to use additional
methods, such as alumni surveys, to verify and confirm subsequent enrollment.
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38)

What other resources are available to help me report on subsequent enrollment?
For institutions that report student unit-record data to a coordinated-system office (e.g., coordinating board,
system office, state department of higher education, board of regents/trustees, etc.), those offices may be a
resource to help identify subsequent enrollment at another institution within that coordinated system.
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Subcohorts: Pell-Grant and Non-Pell Grant Recipients
39)

Who is considered a “recipient” of a Pell Grant?
For the purposes of OM reporting, a Pell Grant recipient is a student who received a Pell which was also partially
or fully disbursed upon entry (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010).
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40)

How are Pell Grant recipients reported in OM subcohorts?
Noting that the OM cohort coverage period is July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010, if at any time during the OM 2009-10
cohort year a student received a disbursed Pell Grant, this student should be counted in a Pell Grant subcohort.
Do not include students in the Pell Grant subcohort if the student did not receive a Pell Grant during the OM
cohort year, but received a Pell Grant subsequent to the OM 2009-10 cohort year. If a Pell Grant recipient does
not continue to receive disbursed Pell Grants after the OM cohort year, the student remains in the OM Pell Grant
subcohort because the student had a Pell Grant disbursed during the OM cohort year.
If a student received a Pell Grant as well as additional forms of student aid (i.e., Stafford/Direct loans, state or
institutional loans/grant aid, scholarships, third party loans etc.) during the OM cohort year, this student should
still be included in OM’s Pell Grant recipient subcohort.
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41)

What is a Non-Pell Grant recipient? What if I have students that did not get a Pell Grant, but
received other forms of student aid?
For purposes of OM reporting, Non-Pell Grant recipients are students that did not receive a disbursed Pell Grant
during the OM 2009-10 cohort year. Also, students that did not receive a Pell Grant during the OM cohort year,
but received other types of student aid (i.e., Stafford loans, state loans or grants, institutional grants,
scholarships, or third-party loans) would be reported in one of the Non-Pell Grant recipient subcohorts.
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42)

Should my institution, which is participating as an experimental site, report high school students
who have received a Pell Grant while taking college coursework?
If your institution is participating in the Pell Grant for high school students experimental site program, exclude
these students from the OM reporting.
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43)

For transfer-in students, do I need to track their Pell Grant awards prior to entering my institution
(i.e., the Pell Grant was awarded by another institution)?
No. Tracking of the Pell Grant awards prior to entry at your institution is not necessary for OM reporting
purposes.
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