IPEDS Completions Survey
The IPEDS completions Survey is a component of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Which is an integrated system of surveys conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The IPEDS completions survey collects information on the number and types of degrees and certificates awarded by U.S. postsecondary institutions and the characteristics of degree recipients. Such as field of study, level of award, race/ethnicity, and gender.
The survey is completed by institutional representatives and covers all accredited 2- and 4-year postsecondary educational institutions in the United States and its outlying areas. The survey is part of the fall collection of IPEDS surveys. Which opens in early September and closes in mid-October. The data are used by NCES and other researchers to analyze trends in higher education and science and engineering degrees. For more information, you can visit the [IPEDS website] or read the [overview of the IPEDS completions survey].
What is the difference between IPEDS and College Scorecard?
IPEDS and College Scorecard are two different sources of data on U.S. postsecondary institutions. But they have some similarities and differences. Here are some of the main points:
1:- IPEDS stands for Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, and it is a system of surveys conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). That collects data from all accredited 2- and 4-year postsecondary institutions in the U.S. and its outlying areas. IPEDS covers a wide range of topics. Such as institutional characteristics, enrollment, student aid, costs, graduation rates, faculty, and finance.
IPEDS data are publicly available on the [IPEDS website] and can be accessed through various tools. Such as [Data Center], [Trend Generator], and [Use the Data]. IPEDS data are also used to produce reports and publications by NCES and other researchers.
2:- College Scorecard is a consumer information tool created by the U.S. Department of Education. That provides data on college costs, graduation rates, debt, repayment, and earnings for undergraduate students at U.S. postsecondary institutions. College Scorecard data are derived from various sources.
Such as IPEDS, Federal Student Aid, Treasury Department, and Social Security Administration. College Scorecard data are publicly available on the [College Scorecard website] and can be accessed through an interactive web tool or downloaded as data files. College Scorecard data are also used to inform policy and research by the Department of Education and other stakeholders.
Some of the similarities between IPEDS and College Scorecard are:
- They both collect and provide data on U.S. postsecondary institutions.
- They both have annual data collection cycles that open in the fall and close in the spring.
- They both use the same unique identifier for institutions. Which is the Office of Postsecondary Education Identification Number (OPEID).
- They both have crosswalk files that link the OPEID with the IPEDS UnitID for each institution.
- They both have some overlapping variables. Such as enrollment, graduation rates, costs, and student aid.
Some of the differences between IPEDS and College Scorecard are:
- IPEDS collects data from institutions through surveys. While College Scorecard collects data from various administrative sources.
- IPEDS covers a broader range of topics and variables than the College Scorecard. Which focuses mainly on student outcomes and equity measures.
- IPEDS provides data at the institutional level only. While College Scorecard provides data at both the institutional level and the field of study level (for some variables).
- IPEDS provides data for all types of students (undergraduate, graduate, first-time, transfer, etc.). College Scorecard provides data for undergraduate students only.
- IPEDS provides data for all types of awards (degrees and certificates). While College Scorecard provides data for degrees only (associate’s and bachelor’s).
- IPEDS provides data for multiple years (from 1996-97 to 2020-21). While College Scorecard provides data for the most recent year available (usually 2018-19 or 2019-20).
- IPEDS provides data for all accredited 2- and 4-year postsecondary institutions in the U.S. and its outlying areas (about 7,000 institutions), while College Scorecard provides data for a subset of those institutions that meet certain criteria (such as having more than 500 undergraduate students) (about 3,000 institutions).