Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2019-20 to 2021-22
Supporting Statement Part B
OMB No. 1850-0582 v.24
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Institute of Education Sciences
U.S. Department of Education
SECTION B. Description of Statistical Methodology
B.1. Respondent Universe
In 2017-18, IPEDS collected data from 6,642 postsecondary institutions in the United States and the other jurisdictions that are eligible to participate in Title IV Federal financial aid programs. By law, all Title IV institutions are required to respond to IPEDS (Section 490 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1992 [P.L. 102-325]). IPEDS allows other (non-title IV) institutions to participate on a voluntary basis; approximately 200 non-title IV institutions elect to respond each year. Institution closures and mergers have led to a decrease in the number of institutions in the IPEDS universe over the past few years. Due to these fluctuations, combined with the addition of new institutions, NCES uses rounded estimates for the number of institutions in the respondent burden calculations for the upcoming years (estimated 6,400 Title IV institutions plus 200 non-title IV institutions for a total of 6,600 institutions estimated to submit IPEDS data during the 2019-20 through 2021-22 IPEDS data collections).
Table 1 provides the number of institutions that submitted data during the 2017-18 IPEDS data collection and the number of institutions estimated to submit data during the 2019-20 through 2021-22 IPEDS data collections, disaggregated by the type of institution (Title IV institutions are disaggregated by highest level of offering: 4-year award or above, 2-year award, less than 2-year award). Note that based on yet unpublished numbers from the 2018-19 data collection, NCES has decreased the estimates for the number of institutions that are expected to report to IPEDS in the 2019-20 through 2021-22 data collections.
Table 1. Actual 2017-18 and Estimated 2019-20 through 2021-22 Number of Institutions Submitting IPEDS Data
Institution Type |
2017-18 Institution Counts* |
Estimates Used in Burden Calculations for the 2019-20 to 2021-22 Collections |
Total |
6,842 |
6,600 |
Title IV institutions |
6,642 |
6,400 |
4-year |
2,902 |
2,800 |
2-year |
1,932 |
1,800 |
Less than 2-yr |
1,808 |
1,800 |
Non-Title IV institutions |
200 |
* For Title IV institutions: Ginder, S.A., Kelly-Reid, J.E., and Mann, F.B. (2018). Postsecondary Institutions and Cost of Attendance in 2017–18; Degrees and Other Awards Conferred, 2016–17; and 12-Month Enrollment, 2016–17: First Look (Provisional Data) (NCES 2018-060rev). U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics.
Table 2 provides the number of experienced and new keyholders that submitted data for a given IPEDS component during the 2017-18 IPEDS data collection, disaggregated by the type of institution. These experienced vs. new keyholder designation is drawn directly from self-reported data in the data collection system, where users indicate whether they are submitting data for the first time when they register.
Table 2. 2017-18 Counts of Experienced and New Keyholders Submitting IPEDS Data, by Institution Type and IPEDS Component
Survey component |
Total |
4-year institutions |
2-year institutions |
Less than 2-year institutions |
||||
|
Experienced |
New |
Experienced |
New |
Experienced |
New |
Experienced |
New |
IC |
5,474 |
1,368 |
2,382 |
595 |
1,569 |
392 |
1,523 |
381 |
C |
5,474 |
1,368 |
2,382 |
595 |
1,569 |
392 |
1,523 |
381 |
E12 |
5,474 |
1,368 |
2,382 |
595 |
1,569 |
392 |
1,523 |
381 |
SFA |
5,474 |
1,368 |
2,382 |
595 |
1,569 |
392 |
1,523 |
381 |
OM |
3,166 |
792 |
2,016 |
505 |
1,150 |
287 |
0 |
0 |
GR |
4,727 |
1,182 |
1,893 |
473 |
1,487 |
372 |
1,347 |
337 |
GR200 |
4,398 |
1,099 |
1,642 |
411 |
1,461 |
365 |
1,295 |
323 |
ADM |
1,656 |
414 |
1,430 |
357 |
138 |
34 |
88 |
23 |
EF |
5,474 |
1,368 |
2,382 |
595 |
1,569 |
392 |
1,523 |
381 |
F |
5,474 |
1,368 |
2,382 |
595 |
1,569 |
392 |
1,523 |
381 |
HR |
5,474 |
1,368 |
2,382 |
595 |
1,569 |
392 |
1,523 |
381 |
AL |
3,239 |
810 |
2,099 |
525 |
1,139 |
285 |
0 |
0 |
* Note: These counts do not match any published numbers because they include the non-Title IV institutions that voluntarily submit data to IPEDS.
Table 3 provides the actual response rates, by survey component and the type of institution, for the 2017-18 IPEDS data collection. Because IPEDS is a mandated federal data collection, and institutions can be fined for non-response, all response rates approximate 100%.
Table 3. IPEDS 2017-18 Title IV Institutions Response Rates, by Institution Type and IPEDS Component
Survey component |
4-year institutions |
2-year institutions |
Less than 2-year institutions |
IC |
100.00% |
99.95% |
99.94% |
C |
100.00% |
99.90% |
99.94% |
E12 |
99.97% |
99.90% |
99.89% |
SFA |
99.36% |
99.84% |
99.61% |
OM |
99.33% |
99.79% |
N/A |
GR |
99.28% |
99.89% |
99.58% |
GR200 |
99.42% |
99.84% |
99.57% |
ADM |
99.89% |
100.00% |
100.00% |
EF |
99.34% |
99.84% |
99.39% |
F |
99.18% |
99.64% |
99.11% |
HR |
99.35% |
99.90% |
99.44% |
AL |
99.34% |
99.80% |
N/A |
B.2. Statistical Methodology
No sampling is utilized for any of the IPEDS survey components. Because of the institutional compliance requirements outlined in Part A sections A.1 and A.2 of this submission, and per extensive discussions at the IPEDS Technical Review Panel meetings, with other areas of the Department of Education, including the Office for Civil Rights, the Office of Postsecondary Education, the office of Federal Student Aid, and the Office of Vocational and Adult Education, and with other Federal Agencies such as Census, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), IPEDS must collect data from the universe of Title IV institutions.
B.3. Methods to Maximize Response Rates
IPEDS response rates for institutions receiving federal financial aid are consistently 99.8% and higher. IPEDS targets the Title IV institutions (others may respond, but no follow-up is done) and the web-based survey system incorporates an automated e-mail module that automatically generates follow-up e-mail to “keyholders” (individuals appointed by the CEOs as responsible for IPEDS data submission). As shown in Table 19 of Part A section A.16 of this submission, frequent communications occur with the institutions over the course of the data collection to ensure compliance with this statutorily mandated collection. Follow-up e-mails are generated if an institution does not attempt to enter data or if, at two weeks and one week before closeout, the components are not locked. The CEOs of non-responding institutions are also contacted by standard mail and with follow up phone calls if, two weeks prior to closeout, the school has not entered any data. New institutions and institutions with new keyholders receive additional telephone and email prompts. This has proven to be very successful in past years. In addition, the names of institutions that do not respond to the IPEDS surveys, and a history of all regular contact with these institutions, is provided to the Federal Student Aid office for appropriate action.
B.4. Tests of Procedures and Methods
The data collection procedures and data items described in this submission have been tested in a number of ways. Most of the data elements requested have already been collected in previous IPEDS surveys and prior to that, similar data elements had been collected for over 20 years in the Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS), the predecessor to IPEDS.
However, data quality is an overriding concern that NCES must continue to assess and evaluate. One approach is to assess relevant data from different IPEDS components and from different survey years to evaluate the consistency and reliability of reported data. These interrelationships among surveys and over time were used to develop the automated tests used to edit each IPEDS data submission. Edit checks currently help to identify potential problems and provide opportunities to correct them early in the data collection. As the number of institutions that automate their responses to IPEDS increases, it becomes increasingly difficult to fully validate their responses. However, by implementing a web-based data collection effort that requires error resolution and correction prior to data submission, NCES has been gathering cleaner data in a more timely fashion. The web-based system still accommodates intermediate reporting units such as community college boards, state university systems offices, and corporate offices.
The web-based data collection method was tested in a successful pilot collection of Institutional Price and Student Financial Aid information in August 1999, and has been in full-scale implementation since the fall of 2000. Throughout the implementation of the web-based system, as a result of discussions with data providers and associations that use the data, NCES has revised the data collection items, definitions, and instructions based on the recommendations of IPEDS constituents, and following appropriate public comment periods.
B.5. Reviewing Individuals
Listed below are individuals who have reviewed, in whole or in part, the IPEDS surveys, and/or participated in Technical Review Panel meetings charged with revising and refining the surveys and data items collected.
Representatives from the National Center for Education Statistics
Aida Ali Akreyi, Survey Director1
Samuel Barbett, Mathematical Statistician1
Peggy Carr, Associate Commissioner, NCES1
Elise Christopher, Project Officer, High School Longitudinal Studies1
Christopher Cody, Survey Director1
Michelle Coon, Technical Adviser1
Amanda Dean, American Institutes for Research1
Moussa Ezzeddine, Statistician1
Tracy Hunt-White, Education Statistician1
Gigi Jones, Education Research Scientist1
Kashka Kubzdela, OMB Liaison1
Tara Lawley, Team Lead, IPEDS Operations1
Bao Le, Associate Education Research Scientist1
Marie Marcum, Program Director, Administrative Data Division: Elementary and Secondary Branch
Andrew Mary, Statistician1
Stefanie McDonald, IC/SFA Survey Director1
Richard Reeves, IPEDS Program Director1
David Richards, Education Statistician1
Ross Santy, Associate Commissioner, Administrative Data Division, NCES1
Marilyn Seastrom, Chief Statistician and Staff Director1
Thomas Snyder, Director, Annual Reports and Information Staff1
Ted Socha, Mathematical Statistician
Imani Stutely, Survey Director1
Jie Sun, SAS Programmer1
James L. Woodworth, Commissioner
Kelly Worthington, Administrative Data Division: Elementary and Secondary Branch
Representatives from Associations, Postsecondary Institutions/Systems, and Other Federal Offices
Seth Allen, Pomona College2
LaJanis Allen, Douglas J Aveda Institute2
Michelle Appel, University of Maryland2
Eric Atchison, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning2
Frank Balz, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU)2
Dianne Barker, Technical College System of Georgia
Sandy Baum, Urban Institute2
Angela Bell, Board of Regents of University System of Georgia2
Alexandra Bernadotte, Beyond 12
Jon Boeckenstedt, DePaul University
Sharon Boivin, Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking
Rachel Boon, Iowa Board of Regents
Victor Borden, Indiana University2
Eileen Brennan, Henry Ford College2
Camille Brown, SC Commission on Higher Education2
Julia Carpenter-Hubin, Ohio State University2
Meghan Carr, University of Missouri
E. Ann Carson, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 2
Benjamin Castleman , University of Virginia
Andrés Castro Samayoa, Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions
Stephanie Cellini, George Washington University2
Diane Cheng, The Institute for College Access & Success2
Henry Childers, University of Arizona
Matthew Chingos, Urban Institute
Marin Clarkberg, Cornell University
Cory Clasemann-Ryan, Ivy Tech Community College
John Clayton, Johnson County Community College
Melissa Clinedinst, National Association for College Admission Counseling2
Elizabeth Clune-Kneuer, Prince George's Community College2
William Congdon, Social and Behavioral Sciences Team
Bryan Cook, The Association of Public and Land-grant Universities2
Kim Cook, National College Access Network2
Mary Ann Coughlin, Springfield College2
Gloria Crisp, Oregon State University
Alicia Crouch, Kentucky Community and Technical College System
Archie Cubarrubia, Miami Dade College2
Alisa Cunningham, rpkGroup2
Cassandria Dortch, Congressional Research Service (CRS) 2
Rebecca Drennen, Berkeley College2
Julie Edmunds, SERVE Center at University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Marne Einarson, Cornell University
Gillian Emmons, Boston University2
Jaquelina Falkenheim, National Science Foundation
Gayle Fink, Bowie State University2
John Fink, Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University2
Nancy Floyd, North Carolina State University
Dan Foley, National Science Foundation
Marissa Fox, Career Education Corporation2
Donyell Francis, Technical College System of GA2
Khadish Franklin, The Pell Institute
Doug Franklin, University of Illinois Springfield2
Pam Frugoli, Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration
Brian Fu, U.S. Department of Education2
Chris Furgiuele, University of California Office of the President2
Tanya Garcia, Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce2
Marybeth Gasman, Penn Center for Minority-Serving Institutions2
Michael Gass, University of North Carolina at Asheville
Luke Gentala, Liberty University2
Eric Godin, Division of Florida Colleges
Carlos Gonzalez, Education Management Corporation (EDMC) 2
Mary Goodhue Lynch, Massasoit Community College2
Kurt Gunnell, Western Governors University2
Lou Guthrie, LED Fast Start - Louisiana Community & Technical College System
Lakia Hairston, P&A Scholars Beauty School2
Mark Hamburg, U.S. Department of Education (FSA)2
Eric Hardy, U.S. Department of Education, FSA
Thomas Harnisch, American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) 2
Stephen Haworth, Adtalem Global Education2
Heidi Hedegard, University System of New Hampshire System Office
Dennis Hengstler, University of Tennessee System Office
Nicholas Hillman, University of Wisconsin-Madison2
Teri Hinds, Student Affairs Administrators in higher Education (NASPA) 2
Braden Hosch, Stony Brook University2
Lisa Hudson, Sample Surveys Division: Cross-Sectional Surveys Branch, NCES2
John Ingram, Community College of Allegheny County
Michael Itzkowitz, Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE)2
Manju Iyer , Lincoln Tech2
Matt Jans, Abt Associates
Carrie Jones, Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
Jolanta Juszkiewicz, American Association of Community Colleges
Darby Kaikkonen, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges2
James Karangu, U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid2
Robert Kelchen, Department of Education Leadership, Management and Policy2
Jonathan Keller, Massachusetts Department of Higher Education2
Heather Kelly, University of Delaware2
Patrick Kelly, National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) 2
Dawn Kenney, Central New Mexico Community College2
Wendy Kilgore, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO)
Stephen Kimata, University of Virginia2
Sandra Kinney, Georgia Institute of Technology2
Jeremy Kintzel, Missouri Department of Higher Education2
Kimberly Kirkpatrick, Louisiana Board of Regents2
Duane Knudson, Texas State University
Laurie Koehler, George Washington University
Tammy Kolbe, University of Vermont2
Sophia Laderman, SHEEO
Erez Lenchner, CUNY John Jay College2
Eric Lichtenberger, Illinois Board of Higher Education
Marc LoGrasso, Bryant & Stratton College2
Adam Looney, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Susan Lounsbury, Southern Regional Education Board (SREB)2
Mona Lucas, University of Connecticut2
Jennifer Ma, The College Board2
Marta Maldonado, Education Corporation of America2
Noah Mann, Office of Management and Budget (OMB)2
Tod Massa, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia2
Carolyn Mata, Georgia Independent College Association2
Michael Matier, Academic Analytics (AcA).2
Jordan Matsudaira, Cornell University
Lisa Mazure, Lansing Community College
Clare McCann, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development (OPEPD)2
Deborah McNeal, Coahoma Community College2
Allan Medwick, Urisdae Analytics2
Patrick Meldrim, Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA)2
Susan Menditto, National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)2
Soon Merz, Austin Community College2
Ivan Metzger, U.S. Department of Education
Erie Meyer, The White House
John Milam, Lord Fairfax Community College2
Abby Miller, Coffey Consulting, LLC2
Ben Miller, Center for American Progress2
Jack Miner, The Ohio State University
Ted Mitchell, U.S. Department of Education2
Julie Morgan, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation2
Christopher Mullin, Strong Start to Finish2
Denise Nadasen, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities2
Amanda Nagle , Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Ayushi Narayan, Council of Economic Advisers
Christopher Nellum, The Education Trust–West (ETW)2
Andrew Nichols, The Education Trust
Danyelle Norman, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU)
Jon O'Bergh, Office of the Under Secretary (OUS) 2
Karen O'Brien, Penn State University, University Budget Office2
Martha Oburn, Houston Community College2
Peter Oldershaw, American Institutes for Research/NCES2
Iris Palmer, New America
Anthony Parandi, Indiana Wesleyan University
Emily Parker, American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)2
Amelia Parnell, Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education
Audrey Peek, American Institutes for Research2
Patrick Perry, California State University2
Kent Phillippe, American Association of Community Colleges2
Shawn Potter, Tulane University
Kristina Powers, K Powers Consulting Inc2
Brian Prescott, The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) 2
David Price, Ancora Education Inc. 2
Sam Quinney, U.S. Department of Education
Jason Ramirez, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities2
Kenneth Redd, National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO) 2
Nerissa Rivera, Duke University2
Jamey Rorison, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
D'Juana Scarborough, Centura/AIM/Tidewater Tech Corporate2
Oliver Schak, Department of Education / OPEPD / PPSS2
Abigail Seldin, America Forward2
Rajat Shah, Lincoln Tech2
Jessica Sharkness, Tufts University
Learty Shaw, Georgia Institute of Technology
Daniel Shephard, U.S. General Services Administration
Lena Shi, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development (OPEPD)2
Christy Siegerdt, State University System of Florida - Board of Governors2
Donna Silber, Maricopa Community College District2
Sean Simone, NJ Longitudinal Data System2
Robert Sivinski, Office of Management and Budget (OMB)2
Sharon Snyder, Department of Homeland Security - ICE
Matthew Soldner, Institute of Education Sciences2
Mike Sperko, Kent State University2
Shafali Srivastava, National Center for Health Workforce Analysis
Jamienne Studley, Deputy Under Secretary of Education2
Jennifer Sutton, National Institutes of Health
David Tandberg, State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO)
Jason Taylor, University of Utah
Jessica Teal, The White House
Charles Tegen, Clemson University2
Dawn Terkla, Tufts University2
Kimberly Thompson, University of Phoenix-Central Office2
Jessica Thompson, Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS)
Philip Tizzani, Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Amelia Topper, Coffey Consulting, LLC
Christine Tracy, American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)2
Red Tremmel, Tulane University
Jill Triplett, Spelman College
David Troutman, University of Texas System2
Jonathan Turk, American Council on Education (ACE)2
Laura Uerling, Roxbury Community College2
Mamie Voight, Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP)2
Lindsay Wayt, National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)2
Jeffrey West, University of Utah2
Christina Whitfield, State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO)2
Sabrina Williams, The White House
Michael Williams, Ruffalo Noel Levitz
Nathan Wilson, Illinois Community College Board2
Jennifer Zinth, Education Commission of the States
1 Individual attended multiple Technical Review Panels at different times and in differing capacities, as an NCES representative and as a representative for another organization.
2 Individual attended multiple Technical Review Panels at different times and in differing capacities, as a representative from more than one organization.
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File Title | SECTION B |
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File Created | 2021-01-14 |