The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of IPEDS data that were collected using web-based data collection procedures in 2002–03. The evaluation used information originally collected from Title IV institutions in 2002–03 and new or modified information collected by the Prior Year Data Revision System in 2003–04. Additionally, the evaluation used information from the Thomson Corporation (Thomson Peterson data) to assist in the assessment of IPEDS data when compared to data collected by non-IPEDS sources. The study compared data collected at two different data collection points for eight IPEDS components: Tuition and Price, Employees by Assigned Position, Completions, Enrollment, Student Financial Aid, Finance, Salaries, and Graduation Rates. Within each component, the analyses examined: the number of institutions making changes, the types of changes made, the magnitude of changes, and the impact of changes to published data. Based on revised submissions by eligible Title IV institutions it was concluded that IPEDS data for the 2002–03 academic year were accurate. Very few institutions modified their submissions and among those that did, the magnitude of the change had very little impact on originally reported data. Additionally, information was more likely to be found in IPEDS than in Thomson Peterson. Given that Thomson Peterson is one of the largest postsecondary databases, results tend to confirm the perception that IPEDS is the most comprehensive data system available for information related to postsecondary education.
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