Archived Changes

The change to the Completions survey component for the 2024-25 is minor revision to the Gender Unknown or Another Gender than Provided Categories screen and instructions.

Gender Question. The Gender Unknown or Another Gender than Provided Categories screen and instructions were revised to improve clarity. This change was prompted by feedback from the IPEDS Help Desk and the IPEDS data reporters. It includes a clarification on the purpose of this section and the reporting period.

The changes to the 12-month enrollment (E12) survey component for 2024-25 are minor. The changes are made based on NCES QC review and input from data reporters.

Screening Question. The screening question was added to indicate whether the institution enrolled high school students in college courses for credit during the 12-month reporting period. This screening question originally appeared on the Institutional Characteristics (IC) survey component when first added in the 2023-24 data collection. This item was moved to the E12 component in the 2024-25 data collection to better align the timing of this screening question to the reporting of the enrollment counts. This change was prompted by feedback from the IPEDS Help Desk and the IPEDS data reporters that separating the screening question and enrollment count reporting on two different survey components led to confusion and timing misalignment.

New FAQ. FAQ was added to better clarify the relationship between ‘transfer-in’ enrollment status on the Fall Enrollment (EF) and 12-month Enrollment (E12) survey components and the ‘non-first-time’ cohort on the Outcome Measures (OM) survey component. This change was prompted by feedback from the Technical Review Panel #69, IPEDS data reporters, and data users that the IPEDS survey materials conflated the concepts of “transfer-in” and “non-first-time,” which led to misunderstanding in interpretation. This change will clearly separate these two concepts in IPEDS survey materials to improve clarity and understanding of these terms.

Removed ‘Non-first-time.’ Removed mention of “non-first-time” on survey screens and instructions when discussing “transfer-in” student enrollment status to clarify the distinction between these two terms. This change was prompted by feedback from the IPEDS data reporters and data users that IPEDS survey materials conflated the concepts of “transfer-in” and “non-first-time,” which led to misunderstanding in interpretation. This change will clearly separate these two concepts in the IPEDS survey materials to improve clarity and understanding of these terms.

Gender Question. The Gender Unknown or Another Gender than Provided Categories screen and instructions are revised to improve clarity. This change was prompted by feedback from the IPEDS Help Desk and the IPEDS data reporters. It includes a clarification on the purpose of this section and the reporting period.

The Cost (CST) survey component is the new survey component encompassing the elements needed to calculate net price and other tuition and fee questions. This change is based on the NCES QC review and the feedback from NPEC research.

Combined IC and SFA Elements. The data elements were moved from IC and SFA survey components to the new CST survey component. This new survey component will open in the Fall to allow Cost of Attendance (COA) data to be updated on College Navigator. The component will reopen in the Winter to collect selected information on financial aid awards to calculate an institutional Average Net Price (ANP), at which time COA data elements can be updated or corrected.

Student Financial Information. Student Financial Information. Two questions were added to determine and make publicly available the information on whether postsecondary institutions ask for other financial information not on the FAFSA form and whether they collect asset data even when students qualify for having their assets exempted from the federal need analysis as this information required by the FAFSA Simplification Act.

The changes to the Student Financial Aid (SFA) survey component for 2024-25 include the removal of all cost of attendance and net price elements (moved to new survey component – the Cost survey component) and other minor changes that are the results of NCES QC review. The proposed changes are based, in part, on U.S. Department of Education guidance and clarifications and changes in industry practices since 2008. They are also based on National Education Postsecondary Cooperative (NPEC) research papers, Technical Review Panel (TRP) recommendations and feedback; IPEDS Help Desk feedback and suggestions; and NCES’ internal testing and quality control processes spanning the same time period.

Other notable changes include the clarification and distinction of federal, state and local pass-through funds from institutional and private funds for IPEDS reporting purposes; clarification on when and where to report private education loans.

Removal of Cost of Attendance and Average Net Price Data Elements. The Cost of Attendance (COA) and Average Net Price (ANP) elements were moved to the new Cost (CST) survey component. This survey component will open in the Fall to allow COA data to be reported and then updated on College Navigator. The component will reopen in the Winter to collected selected information on financial aid awards to calculate an institutional ANP, at which time COA data elements can be updated or corrected.

Participation in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Post-9/11 GI Bill or U.S. Department of Defense Military Tuition Assistance Benefit Programs Screening Question. Applied the screening question and context box from Section 2 to all institutions.

Inclusion of Private Education Loans. Clarified that loans to students reported in Section 1, Part C, Line 7 include private education loans.

Enrollment Counts. Clarified Fall Enrollment (EF) student counts are carried forward and used to calculate average aid amounts and percentages for academic reporters whereas 12-Month Enrollment (E12) student counts are carried forward and used to calculate average aid amount and percentages for program reporters throughout the survey.

The changes to the Outcome Measures (OM) survey component are minor and are the results of NCES QC review and the Technical Review Panel (TRP) #69. The changes include clarification to instruction on including students who change from non-degree/non-certificate-seeking to degree/certificate-seeking at the IPEDS reporting institution, as well as a new and several revised FAQs.

Instructions Clarification. Clarified instructions about including students who change from non-degree/non-certificate-seeking to degree/certificate-seeking at the IPEDS reporting institution. This change is added to clarify that the term “entering” does not just apply to students who are new to the reporting institution (i.e., students who change their degree/certificate-seeking status are included despite having already attended the reporting institution).

New FAQ. Added a new FAQ to better clarify the relationship between “transfer-in” enrollment status on the Fall Enrollment (EF) and 12-month Enrollment (E12) components and the “non-first-time” cohort on the Outcome Measures (OM) component.

Revised FAQs. Revised FAQ about “non-first-time” degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students in response to recommendations from Technical Review Panel #69 to further clarify how non-first-time students should be reported in IPEDS. Added a new example to FAQ about students who change from non-degree/non-certificate-seeking to degree/certificate-seeking at the IPEDS reporting institution in response to recommendations from Technical Review Panel #69 to further clarify how non-first-time students should be reported in IPEDS. Finally, added additional information to FAQ about resources for tracking subsequent enrollment based on the IPEDS Help Desk recommendations for OM.

Other. Other minor changes include a changed of the term “Attendance level” to “Cohort status” in the instructions to improve clarity and consistency with terminology used in IPEDS publications and data tools.

Cross-cutting. NCES made some other minor cross-cutting edits. Cross-cutting changes are described in the cross-cutting table.

The change to the Graduation Rates (GR) survey component includes the removal of the Gender Unknown or Another Gender than Provided Categories question.

Gender Question. The Gender Unknown or Another Gender than Provided Categories question was removed due to concerns with privacy and ability of institutions to change data submitted numerous years prior.

The change to the Admissions (ADM) survey component for 2024-25 is a minor revision to the Gender Unknown or Another Gender than Provided Categories screen and instructions to improve clarity. Based on the feedback received during the 60-day public comment period, clarifications regarding the meaning of “considered” and description of the options were added to the survey screens and instructions for Admission Considerations part, as well as the FAQ on reporting “legacy status” was revised for clarity.

Gender Question. The Gender Unknown or Another Gender than Provided Categories was revised to improve clarity. This change was prompted by feedback from the IPEDS Help Desk and the IPEDS data reporters. It includes a clarification on the reporting period.

Meaning of “Considered.” A clarification about the meaning of “considered” was added to the Admission Considerations screen and instructions based on the feedback received during the 60-day public comment period.

Description of Admissions Considerations Options. A description of the admission considerations options was added to the Admission Considerations screen based on the feedback received during the 60-day public comment period.

Revised FAQ. FAQ #12 on how to report “legacy status” was revised to clarify what legacy status and “considered” mean based on the feedback received the 60-day public comment period.

The changes to the Human Resources (HR) survey component for 2024-25 are minor and are based on NCES-initiated QC review and feedback from data reporters. The changes include the removal of references to new hires in the instructions and a clarification for the Part G4 instructions. The changes were promoted by feedback from the IPEDS Help Desk.

New Hires. For the Human Resources Instructions for Degree-granting Institutions with Less than 15 Full-Time Staff and Non-degree-granting institutions for the 2024-25 through 2026-27 Data Collections, removed references to New Hires in the instructions. This change was made to reduce confusion as “New Hire” information is not collected in the Human Resources Instructions for Degree-granting Institutions with Less than 15 Full-Time Staff and Non-degree-granting institutions survey form.

Instruction Clarification. Added a clarification to Part G4 instructions to report full year salaries, even if the employee did not work a full year (regardless of when hired). This change was made to clarify the intent of the previous instructions is that salaries should be reported based on their yearly amount, regardless of when hired.

The changes to the Fall Enrollment (EF) survey component for 2024-25 are minor and are the results of NCES QC review and TRP #69. The changes are made based on NCES QC review and input from data reporters.

New FAQ. FAQ was added to better clarify the relationship between ‘transfer-in’ enrollment status on the Fall Enrollment (EF) and 12-month Enrollment (E12) survey components and the ‘non-first-time’ cohort on the Outcome Measures (OM) survey component. This change was prompted by feedback from the Technical Review Panel #69, IPEDS data reporters, and data users that the IPEDS survey materials conflated the concepts of “transfer-in” and “non-first-time,” which led to misunderstanding in interpretation. This change will clearly separate these two concepts in IPEDS survey materials to improve clarity and understanding of these terms.

Removed ‘Non-first-time.’ Removed mention of “non-first-time” on survey screens and instructions when discussing “transfer-in” student enrollment status to clarify the distinction between these two terms. This change was prompted by feedback from the IPEDS data reporters and data users that IPEDS survey materials conflated the concepts of “transfer-in” and “non-first-time,” which led to misunderstanding in interpretation. This change will clearly separate these two concepts in the IPEDS survey materials to improve clarity and understanding of these terms.

Screen Clarifications. Clarified in Part E - First-time Bachelor's Cohort Retention Rates (Line E4) that students from Fall 2023 cohort who completed their bachelor’s degree as of Fall 2024 are to be reported as retained. This change will now align the survey screen with text changes that were made to the EF instructions in 2023–24, when this guidance was first provided. This change is made address an inconsistency between the survey item and the related instructions; now both will be aligned. This change is applicable to 4-year degree-granting institutions with bachelor’s cohorts only.

Instruction Clarifications. Added a note to the instructions for Part D to indicate that high school students enrolled in college courses for credit should not be included in any calculations to determine an institution’s entering class. This change was prompted by feedback from the IPEDS Help Desk and IPEDS data reporters that it was unclear if and how non-first-time students who were high school student fit into an institution’s entering class. This change clarifies who should and should not be included in an institution’s entering class. The change is applicable to degree-granting institutions only.

Gender Question. The Gender Unknown or Another Gender than Provided Categories is revised to improve clarity. This change was prompted by feedback from the IPEDS Help Desk and the IPEDS data reporters. It includes a clarification on the purpose of this question and the reporting period.

The change to the Finance (F) survey component for 2024-25 is minor clarification to the instructions. The change is based on NCES-initiated QC review and is designed to simplify reporting for institutions.

Scholarships and Fellowships Expenses: Clarified for GASB reporting institutions (Part C-1, Line 10) that it is private awards to students where the selection of the student recipient is not made by institution are not included, as opposed to any awards/grants. This clarification was prompted by the feedback from the IPEDS data reporters.

Term Clarification. Replaced all references to the State Student Incentive Grants (SSIG) with Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnerships or LEAP (formerly State Student Incentive Grant or SSIG) to reflect renaming of the program.

Cross-cutting changes
Several changes were made across multiple survey components.

Cross-cutting – Glossary. NCES added and removed some terms from the glossary based on NCES QC review, TRP #64 on Modernizing the Admissions Component (June 2021), and TRP #69 (October 2023). There are also some terms with minor edits.

Transfer-in (non-first-time entering) student. Revised definition for “Transfer-in student” Glossary term to improve clarity. This change was prompted by feedback from the TRP #69 recommendations, the IPEDS data reporters, and data users that the current definition for “Transfer-in student” led to misunderstanding in interpretation. This change will clarify this term for greater understanding among the IPEDS audiences.

Non-first-time entering student (undergraduate). Revised definition for “Non-first-time student (undergraduate)” Glossary term to improve clarity. This change was prompted by feedback from the TRP #69 recommendations, IPEDS data reporters, and data users that the current definition for “Non-first-time student (undergraduate)” led to misunderstanding in interpretation. This change will clarify this term for greater understanding among the IPEDS audiences.

Continuing/Returning student (undergraduate). Revised definition for “Continuing/Returning student (undergraduate)” Glossary term to improve clarity. This change was prompted by feedback from the IPEDS data reporters and data users that the current definition for “Continuing/Returning student (undergraduate)” led to misunderstanding in interpretation. This change will clarify this term for greater understanding among the IPEDS audiences.

Entering students (undergraduate). Revised definition for “Entering students (undergraduate)” Glossary term to improve clarity. This change was prompted by feedback from the TRP #69 recommendations, the IPEDS data reporters, and data users that the current definition for “Entering students (undergraduate)” led to misunderstanding in interpretation. This change will clarify this term for greater understanding among the IPEDS audiences.

Undergraduate student. Revised the ‘Undergraduate student’ term for improved clarity and consistency with the survey instructions.

New Terms. Added several new terms to the Glossary to improve clarity, consistency, and reflect the addition of the new CST survey component.