Data Sources: Postsecondary/College

NCES does not have a regular data collection that focuses specifically on CTE. Instead, the CTE Statistics program derives information about CTE primarily from existing NCES data collections that examine students, schools, teachers, and adults in general. Listed below are the main NCES data collections that are used for the analysis of CTE issues at the postsecondary/college level.

Postsecondary/College Studies

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data from the Completions, Institutional Characteristics, and Fall Enrollment components are used to provide counts of postsecondary educational institutions that confer credentials in occupational fields of study and counts of postsecondary credentials awarded in those fields.

Read more about the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS). Data from the student record data collections and student interviews are used to provide counts and descriptions of undergraduates majoring in occupational fields of study and the credentials that they seek.

Read more about the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS)

Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS). Data from the base-year NPSAS and its BPS follow-up surveys are used to describe students' postsecondary persistence, credential attainment, and labor market outcomes.

Read more about the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS)