IPEDS Data Collection/Dissemination Life Cycle
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS),
established as the core postsecondary education
data collection program for NCES, is a single, comprehensive
system designed to encompass all institutions and educational
organizations whose primary purpose is to provide postsecondary
education. IPEDS is built around a series
of interrelated surveys that collect institution-level
data in areas including enrollments, program completions,
faculty, staff, and finances.
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| Step 1 : Data Entry by Respondents |
For each of the three survey collection periods throughout
the year, respondents from institutions use the IPEDS
data collection system to enter data for each survey via either
direct data entry or by uploading a file into the system.
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| Step 2 : Editing of Survey Data |
Once the data have been entered into the data collection system, the respondents process the survey through
a series of edit checks.
These checks result in an edit failure list, which must be resolved by the respondent before
the survey can be locked.
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| Step 3 : Locking of Survey Data |
Once all of the edits have been resolved, the survey is ready to be locked by the keyholder.
Locking the survey indicates that the data for that survey component are complete and correct.
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| Step 4 : Migration to PAS Collection Level |
After data are locked for a particular survey, the data are copied over from the data
collection system to the Peer Analysis System, at the Collection level.
At the Collection level, any respondent whose data have already been migrated can use their
username and password to login and see their
own data, as well as the data for all of the other institutions that have already been migrated.
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| Step 5 : Move to PAS Institution Level |
Data are moved from collection level access to institution level access when results from the quality
control (QC) procedures on the migrated data have been reviewed and accepted.
These QC procedures are designed to check that internal edits within the IPEDS Data Collection System are
working properly so that data are being migrated correctly, and that institutions that have data anomalies
have provided valid explanations to verify such anomalies.
This process is generally completed about 2 months after all institutions' data have been migrated.
Institution level data are early release data, which are provided for peer analysis only, and should not
be used to provide aggregate estimates.
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| Step 6 : Public Release of IPEDS Data |
The public release of IPEDS data is the final step for each survey cycle. The data come in two forms.
Tables are produced as part of an online publication called "First Look" and the data are moved from the
Institution Level to the Guest level of the Peer Analysis System, which can be
accessed by the general public without the need for a username or password.
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