System Clearance for Cognitive, Pilot and Field Test Studies

1. C. Overview of Analysis Topics and Survey Items

The core 2008 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:08) data elements are presented as a list of approximately 300 items arranged by topic. Table 11 presents the data elements for NPSAS, and Table 12 presents the data elements for members of the Baccalaureate and Beyond (B&B) cohort. Most of these data elements appeared in the previously approved NPSAS:04 and NPSAS: 2000 studies (the last NPSAS to include a B&B cohort). The data elements for the NPSAS:08 cover general topics that pertain to all students, such as financial aid, tuition, enrollment, and demographic characteristics. However, many items are only relevant to certain categories of students, including dependent undergraduates, 1st and 2nd year students, the B&B cohort of graduating seniors, graduate/first professional, or those working while enrolled. In this case, the particular category of student has been specified in the list of data elements.

Some of the additions to the NPSAS:08 study data elements were made at the suggestion of the Technical Review Panel (TRP). For example, data elements were added for the National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) and Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG) programs and for information received in loan counseling about repayment options. Data elements specific to students completing their Baccalaureate degrees in 2008 for the B&B longitudinal follow-up were also added.

NPSAS is a particularly complex survey because it uses a large variety of sources and several sources may be available for the same data element. These are indicated in the sources columns, generally in the order of priority, as follows:

• ACT: Data from American College Testing service files on ACT college entrance examinations and student questionnaires.

• CADE: Data from institutional records collected through a computer assisted data entry (CADE) system at the institutions or submitted in electronic data files. These include records from the registrar, bursar, and financial aid office.

• CATI: Data from student interviews using either the web-based self-administered student interview or the computer assisted telephone interview (CATI).

• FAFSA: Data from the Central Processing System (CPS) for Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which includes student and parent demographic, income and asset information, and expected family contribution used in need analysis. The records are called Institutional Student Information Reports (ISIR).

• IPEDS: Data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) which includes institutional characteristics and enrollment.

• NSLDS: Data from the U.S. Department of Education's National Student Loan Data system (NSLDS), which has a record of all individual student loans ever borrowed and all Pell Grant payments since 1994.

• SAT: Data from the College Board files of SAT college entrance examinations.

Table 11. NPSAS:08 data elements

Data elements	Sources			Applies to	Purpose/issues
	1st	2nd	3rd
Institutional characteristics (NPSAS sample institution)					Survey administration
Name and address	IPEDS	CADE		All	Sample stratum
Control (public/private not-for-profit/ private for profit)	IPEDS	CADE		All
Level (less than 2-year/2-3 year/4+year)	IPEDS	CADE		All
Highest degree offered (certificate/ associate/bachelor/master/doctoral/ first-professional)	IPEDS	CADE		All
Affiliation (religious)	IPEDS	CADE		All	Institution description
Carnegie (2005) classifications	IPEDS	CADE		All
Selectivity of institution	IPEDS			All
State/region	IPEDS	CADE		All
Enrollment size (undergraduate/ graduate)	IPEDS	CADE		All
Calendar system (semester/quarter/ trimester/other/continuous)	IPEDS	CADE		All	Enrollment measurement
Name of term (fall/winter/spring/summer)	CADE			All
Beginning and ending dates of terms (month, year)	CADE			All
Clock/contact or credit hour	IPEDS	CADE		All
Total length of programs (terms/hours)	CADE	CATI		All
Do calendars, term dates, or credit hours vary by program? (specify)	IPEDS	CADE		All
Scale used for GPA	CADE			All
NPSAS Study Eligibility Criteria					Study eligibility
Enrolled at any time between July 1 to June 30.	CADE	CATI		All
Enrolled in (a) an academic program	CADE	CATI		All
or (b) at least one course for credit toward an academic degree	CADE	CATI		All
or (c) vocational program that requires at least 3 months or 300 clock hrs	CADE	CATI		All
and (d) not concurrently enrolled in high school	CADE	CATI		Undergraduates
and (e) not enrolled solely in GED or high school completion program	CADE	CATI		Undergraduates
Program of study/class level/GPA					Student classification
Undergraduate degree program (certificate/ AA/AAS/BA/5-yr BA/ none)	CADE	CATI		Undergraduates	Academic programs
Graduate/first-professional degree program (MBA, MEd, PhD, JD, MD, etc./none)	CADE	CATI		Graduate/first-professional

See notes at end of table.

Table 11. NPSAS:08 data elements—Continued

Data elements	Sources			Applies to	Purpose/issues
	1st	2nd	3rd
Completed requirements for degree (y/n)	CADE	CATI	FAFSA	All	Degree completion
Date degree awarded or expected (month year)	CADE	CATI		All	B&B sample identification
Major/ field of study (on line coding of CIP codes/ no major/undecided)	CATI	CADE	FAFSA	All
Type of classes (list)	CATI			Non-degree
Undergraduate class level (1-5/unclassified/graduate taking undergraduate courses)	CADE	CATI	NSLDS	Undergraduates	Class level/years
SMART Grants (eligibility/knowledge about/change of majors)	CATI			Undergraduates	SMART grants
Graduate/first-professional year (1-3, 4+)	CADE	CATI	NSLDS	Graduate/first-professional
Cumulative GPA	CADE	CATI		All	Academic performance
Enrollment /Attendance Status in NPSAS year					Enrollment classification
Terms or months enrolled	CADE	CATI		All
Attendance status for each term (full time/half time/less then half time)	CADE	CATI		All
Number of credits earned during term	CADE			All
Attended other schools during NPSAS year (y/n)	CATI			All
For each school attended during the year other than NPSAS school:	CATI			2+ institutions
IPEDS code (on-line coding)	CATI			2+ institutions
Name, city, state, level, control (on-line coding)	CATI			2+ institutions
Attendance status (full time/ part time)	CATI			2+ institutions
Education goals	CATI				Educational goals
Reasons for enrolling at this institution: – complete degree (certificate, AA, BA – earn credits for degree elsewhere – prepare for transfer to 4-year – gain job skills – prepare for job certification/license – personal interest/recreation	CATI			Undergraduates
Main reason for enrolling at this institution	CATI			Undergraduates
Highest degree expected at this institution	CATI			All
Highest level of education expect to complete in next 5-10 years	CATI			All

See notes at end of table.

Table 11. NPSAS:08 data elements—Continued

Data elements	Sources			Applies to	Purpose/issues
	1st	2nd	3rd
Prior education					Education background
Type of high school diploma (diploma/ GED/certificate/foreign high school/none)	CADE	CATI		Undergraduates
Year high school diploma received	CADE	CATI		Undergraduates
Type of high school (public/private)	CATI			Undergraduates
Admissions test scores	ACT	SAT		Undergraduates under 30
High school math courses	ACT	SAT	CATI	Undergraduates under 30
High school GPA	CADE	CATI		Undergraduates under 30
Earn credits at a college while in high school	CATI			Undergraduates under 30
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) (eligibility/knowledge about/course taking)	CATI	CADE		1st & 2nd year undergraduates	ACG grants
Date began at NPSAS institution	CATI	CADE		All
Was NPSAS institution first school attended after high school (y/n)	CATI	CADE	FAFSA	Undergraduates
Month and year first enrolled in first school	CATI			Undergraduates
Received any previous degrees or certificates (specify)	CATI			All
Ever taken courses at a community college (y/n)	CATI			Undergraduates
Ever taken courses at a 4-year college (y/n)	CATI			Undergraduates
Month and year received bachelor's degree	CATI	CADE		Graduate/first-professional
Date began graduate enrollment in this program	CATI			Graduate/first-professional
Enrolled mostly full-time or part-time in prior years	CATI			Graduate/first-professional
Financial aid applications					Financial aid
Applied for aid (y/n)	FAFSA	CATI		All
Date of application (YYYYMM)	FAFSA			All
Reasons for not applying (multiple)	CATI			Non-applicants
Federal aid amounts:					Financial aid
Pell Grant	NSLDS	CADE		Undergraduates
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)	NSLDS	CADE		Undergraduates
SMART Grants	NSLDS	CADE		Undergraduates
FSEOG (Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant)	CADE			Undergraduates
Federal Work-Study	CADE			All
Perkins Loan	CADE	NSLDS		All
Subsidized Stafford Loan (Direct/FFELP)	NSLDS	CADE		All

See notes at end of table.

Table 11. NPSAS:08 data elements—Continued

Data elements	Sources			Applies to	Purpose/issues
	1st	2nd	3rd
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan (Direct/FFELP)	NSLDS	CADE		All
PLUS Loan	NSLDS	CADE		All
Other federal grants (list)	CADE			All
Other federal loans (list)	CADE			All
State aid amounts:					Financial aid
(Names of major programs are listed for each state)
State need-based grant	CADE			All
State merit-only grant/scholarship	CADE			All
State need and merit-based grant	CADE			All
State work-study program	CADE			All
State special-purpose (non-need)	CADE			All
State vocational rehabilitation	CADE			All
State loans	CADE			All
Institutional aid amounts:					Financial aid
(Names of major programs are listed for each institution)
Institutional grants-need-based	CADE			All
Institutional grants-merit only	CADE			All
Institutional athletic scholarship	CADE			Undergraduates
Institutionally-sponsored work-study program	CADE			All
Tuition waivers or discounts (non-employees)	CADE			All
Tuition waivers or discounts (employees)	CADE			All
Institutional loan	CADE			All
Other Institutional aid (specify)	CADE			All
Graduate student assistantships/fellowships
Teaching assistantship	CATI	CADE		Graduate/first-professional	Financial aid
Research assistantship	CATI	CADE		Graduate/first-professional
Graduate assistantship	CATI	CADE		Graduate/first-professional
Graduate Fellowship	CATI	CADE		Graduate/first-professional
Traineeship	CATI	CADE		Graduate/first-professional
Tuition paid with assistantship or by a research grant (y/n)	CATI			Graduate/first-professional
Health insurance with assistantship (y/n)	CATI			Graduate/first-professional
Other aid amounts:					Financial aid
Aid from student’s employer	CATI	CADE		All
Aid from parents’ employer	CATI	CADE		All
Alternative (private) loans	CATI	CADE		All

See notes at end of table.

Table 11. NPSAS:08 data elements—Continued

Data elements	Sources			Applies to	Purpose/issues
	1st	2nd	3rd
Grants & scholarships from other outside/private sources	CATI	CADE		All
Federal veteran's benefits	CATI	FAFSA	CADE	All
Other (listed or specify)	CADE			All
Student borrowing/debt (cumulative)					Student debt
Total borrowed for undergraduate education	CATI	NSLDS		All
Amount still owed on undergraduate loans	CATI	NSLDS		Borrowers
Total borrowed for graduate/first professional education	CATI	NSLDS		Graduate/first-professional
Amount still owed on graduate loans	CATI	NSLDS		Borrowers
Cumulative amount of undergraduate Stafford loans	NSLDS			Borrowers
Cumulative amount of graduate Stafford loans	NSLDS			Borrowers
Cumulative amount of Perkins loans	NSLDS			Borrowers
Cumulative amount of PLUS loans	NSLDS			Borrowers (include graduate)
Federal loan amount outstanding	NSLDS			Borrowers
Loan counseling received (repayment options/future salaries in major)	CATI			Borrowers
Tuition and Student Budgets					College costs
Tuition and required fees charged	CADE			All
Out-of-jurisdiction tuition charged (y/n)	CADE	CATI		All
Total student budget	CADE			Aid applicants
Room and board	CADE			Aid applicants
Books and supplies	CADE			Aid applicants
Computer or special equipment	CADE			Aid applicants
All other expenses	CADE			Aid applicants
Federal Need Analysis (aid applicants)					Need analysis
Dependency status (dependent/independent)	FAFSA	CADE		Aid applicants
EFC formula type (dependent/ independent without dependents/ independent with dependents)	FAFSA			Aid applicants
Expected Family Contribution (EFC)	FAFSA	CADE		Aid applicants
EFC: Parental Contribution (dependents only)	FAFSA			Aid applicants
EFC: Student Contribution	FAFSA			Aid applicants
Student employment and earnings while enrolled					Student employment
Type and amount of assistantship (research/ teaching/ other)	CATI	CADE		Graduate/ first-professional

See notes at end of table.

Table 11. NPSAS:08 data elements—Continued

Data elements	Sources			Applies to	Purpose/issues
	1st	2nd	3rd
Teaching Assistantships: type of duties (discussion/grading/lab/office hours/ student e-mail teaching)	CATI			Graduate teaching assistants
Number of jobs for pay while enrolled	CATI	CADE		All
Type of job – Work-study – Assistantship (undergraduate) – Co-op employment – Paid practicum/internship – Other job for the school – Private employer or other	CATI			All
Work-study for community service or tutoring (y/n)?	CATI			Work-study jobs
Job characteristics:
Location (on/off campus)	CATI			Employed
Type of employer (school/for-profit/ nonprofit/government/ military/self-employed)	CATI			Employed
Related to major or coursework (y/n)	CATI			Employed
Held same job before enrolling (y/n)?				Employed
Average hours per week worked while enrolled	CATI			Employed
Amount earned while enrolled (per period)	CATI			Employed
Number of weeks worked while enrolled (all/most/half/less than half)	CATI			Employed
Primarily: (1) a student who works; (2) employee taking courses	CATI			Employed	Effect of jobs
Reasons for working (spending money/ tuition/job experience/expected by parents/send money home)	CATI			Undergraduates who work
Afford to attend school without working (y/n)?	CATI			Undergraduates who work
Employment during prior summer (y/n)	CATI			Undergraduates under 30	Source of funds
Amount saved from summer job for educational expenses	CATI			Undergraduates under 30
Effect of job (restrict choice of classes/ limit number of classes/limit class schedule/assist with coursework/ career preparation/limit access to campus facilities)	CATI			Students who work
Effect of job on grades (positive/negative/ none)	CATI			Students who work

See notes at end of table.

Table 11. NPSAS:08 data elements—Continued

Data elements	Sources			Applies to	Purpose/issues
	1st	2nd	3rd
Student Demographic Characteristics					Student demographics
Gender (female/male)	CADE	CATI	FAFSA	All
Birth date or age	CADE	CATI	FAFSA	All
Marital status (never married/married/ separated/divorced/widowed)	CATI	FAFSA	CADE	All
US born (y/n)	CATI			All
US citizenship (yes/resident alien/student visa)	CADE	CATI	FAFSA	All
Country of origin	CADE			Student visas
State of legal residence	FAFSA	CATI		All
Ethnicity (Hispanic or Latino/ Not Hispanic or Latino)	CATI	CADE		All
Hispanic type (Mexican/Cuban/Puerto Rican/other)	CATI			Hispanics
Race (American Indian or Alaska Native/ Asian/Black or African American/ Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander/White)—select one or more	CATI	CADE		All
Member of recognized tribe (y/n)	CATI			American Indians
Language spoken in the home (English/ not English)	CATI			All except visa
Number of dependent children	CATI			All
Ages of dependent children	CATI			With dependents
Number of children in daycare	CATI			With dependents
Monthly expenses for daycare	CATI			With dependents
Supporting any other dependents (y/n)	CATI			All
Location and housing					College costs
Housing when enrolled (on campus/off campus/with parents)	CATI	CADE		Undergraduates
Distance school from home	CATI			Undergraduates
Distance school from work	CATI			Employed
Military or Veteran Status
Veteran of U.S. forces (y/n)	CATI	FAFSA		All
Active duty or reserves of Armed Forces of U.S. (y/n)	CATI	FAFSA		All
Parents of dependent students					Family background
Parents' marital status	FAFSA	CATI		Under 30
Number of people supported by parents	FAFSA	CATI		Under 30
Number of other siblings in college	FAFSA	CATI		Under 30
Siblings in college before respondent	CATI			Under 30
Parents taking college courses	CATI			Under 30
Parents born in US (y/n)	CATI			All except visa

See notes at end of table.

Table 11. NPSAS:08 data elements—Continued

Data elements	Sources			Applies to	Purpose/issues
	1st	2nd	3rd
Parental support					Parental support
Did parents help pay for:	CATI			Under 30
Tuition (y/n)	CATI			Under 30
Housing (y/n)	CATI			Under 30
Living expenses (y/n)	CATI			Under 30
Other education expenses (y/n)	CATI			Under 30
Parents’ education					Family background
Father's highest level of education	CATI	FAFSA		All
Mother's highest level of education	CATI	FAFSA		All
Parent Finances					Family income
Total income (ranges in CATI)	FAFSA	CATI		Under 30
Adjusted Gross Income	FAFSA			Under 30
U.S. Income tax paid	FAFSA			Under 30
Own home (y/n)	CATI			Under 30
Business, farm or investments over $10,000 (y/n)	FAFSA	CATI		Under 30
Student finances					Family income
Student’s own income in prior calendar year	FAFSA	CATI		All
Spouse income in prior calendar year	FAFSA	CATI		Married
Adjusted Gross Income (student and spouse)	FAFSA			All
US income tax paid	FAFSA			All
Receive any untaxed income (specify): (TANF/child support/worker's comp/ disability/social security/food stamps)	CATI	FAFSA		All
Own a home, (y/n)	CATI			24 and over
Monthly mortgage or rent	CATI			All
Own business, farm or investments over $10,000 (y/n)	CATI			24 and over
Credit cards					Student debt
Number of credit cards in your own name	CATI			Under 30
Usually pay off balance most months?	CATI			Card holders
Current amount outstanding	CATI			Card holders
Use credit card to pay tuition bills (y/n)	CATI			Card holders
Parents ever help pay (y/n)	CATI			Card holders

See notes at end of table.

Table 11. NPSAS:08 data elements—Continued

Data elements	Sources			Applies to	Purpose/issues
	1st	2nd	3rd
Remedial courses					Academic preparation
Ever taken any remedial or developmental courses (y/n)	CATI			Undergraduates
Number of remedial courses this year	CATI			1st/2nd year undergraduates
Distance education	CATI			All	Alternative instruction
Type (internet/pre-recorded/live)	CATI			All
Location	CATI			All
Number of courses	CATI			All
Entire program via distance education (y/n)	CATI			All
Satisfaction	CATI			All
Civic participation					Student involvement
Registered to vote?	CATI			Citizens
Ever voted in any national, state, local election?	CATI			Citizens
Community Service					Student involvement
Perform any community service/volunteer work during last year (y/n)	CATI			All
Type of community service activity (specify from list)	CATI			Volunteers
Number of hours/month	CATI			Volunteers
Work required for graduation or part of classes (y/n)	CATI			Volunteers
Student limitations or disabilities	CATI			All	Disabilities
Any long lasting sensory condition (y/n)	CATI			All
Any condition that limits physical activity (y/n)	CATI			All
Any other condition lasting 6 months or more (y/n)	CATI			All
Main limiting condition (specify from list)	CATI			With disabilities

NOTE: IPEDS = Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System; CADE = computer assisted data entry; CATI = computer assisted telephone interview; FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid; SMART = National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent grant; ACG = Academic Competitiveness Grants; NSLDS = National Student Loan Data System; FFEL = Federal Family Education Loan; PLUS = Parent Loan for Undergraduate Student; ETS = Educational Testing Service; B&B=Baccalaureate and Beyond.

Table 12. NPSAS:08 data elements for B&B sample members

Data elements	Sources			Applies to	Purpose/issues
	1st	2nd	3rd
B&B Eligibility Criteria
Completed or expect to complete bachelor's degree at NPSAS school between July 1 and June 30?	CATI	CADE?		Undergraduates	B&B eligibility determination
Date received/expect to receive bachelor's degree (year month)	CATI	CADE?		B&B
Employment plans					Labor market outcomes
Employment plans for after graduation (have a job or firm offer/actively seeking a job/ not looking)	CATI			B&B
If planning work, description (continuing same employment from before graduation/ beginning of career in occupation or industry/ temporary job while planning or preparing/ just paying bills/ etc.)	CATI			B&B work planners
If planning work, employment status (full-time or part-time)	CATI			B&B work planners
If planning work, occupation (on-line coding)	CATI			B&B work planners	Prospective teachers identification
If planning work, type of job search activities	CATI			B&B work planners	Transition to work
Ever taught at K-12 level in a school setting (y/n) (Do not count home-schooling of your own or others’ children.)	CATI			All B&B	Pipeline definition
If yes… types of teaching positions held (regular, substitute, teacher’s aide, support, itinerant, student teacher) Check all that apply.	CATI			B&B who have taught
If yes to regular, support, or itinerant, year when first taught in any of those types of positions?	CATI			B&B who have taught
Have you ever been certified to teach at the K-12 level (y/n) (Do not count emergency certificates or waivers.)	CATI			All B&B
If y, when first certified to teach?	CATI			B&B ever certified
If no, are you eligible to be certified or will you be eligible to be certified upon graduation?	CATI			B&B not ever certified
Have you ever taken any of the following steps to prepare for a teaching career? Check all that apply.	CATI			B&B not ever certified and not eligible to be certified now or upon graduation
Applied to teacher ed. program
Taken Praxis or other examination to enter teacher education program
Entered teacher ed. program
Taken/taking courses toward teacher certification		Transcripts
Completed/completing student teaching assignment, internship, or practicum		Transcripts

See notes at end of table.

Table 12. NPSAS:08 data elements for B&B sample members—Continued

Data elements	Sources			Applies to	Purpose/issues
	1st	2nd	3rd
Taken examination to receive teaching certificate/license
Considering teaching at K-12 level (y/n)	CATI			B&B who have not taught, have never been certified, are not eligible and will not be eligible for certification upon graduation, have not taken any steps to prepare
Graduate school plans					Graduate education
Taken/planning to take GRE or other graduate/first-professional entrance exams	CATI			B&B
Applied/applying/intending to apply to graduate or professional schools for next academic year (be able to distinguish)	CATI			B&B
Source(s) of information about graduate schools (advisor/faculty, other students, Internet, directly from institutions…)	CATI			B&B grad planners
Intended degree program/field of study (on-line coding)	CATI			B&B grad planners
Intend to enroll full-time (y/n)	CATI			B&B grad planners
Do you plan to be working full-time, part-time, or not at all while you are enrolled?	CATI			B&B grad planners
Number of schools applied/applying to	CATI			B&B grad planners
Accepted at any graduate schools	CATI			B&B grad planners
Reasons for pursuing graduate education (career goals/undecided about career/no job prospects/ academic interests/availability of aid/urged by parents/ etc.)	CATI			B&B grad planners
Reasons for not applying to graduate school (financial/undergraduate debt/not required for career goals/ no academic interest/personal)	CATI			B&B NOT grad planners
Plan to apply in the future (y/n); If yes, expected year to begin graduate study	CATI			B&B NOT grad planners
Selected Undergraduate Experiences
Ever studied abroad? Where? How long?	CATI	Transcripts?		B&B	Undergrad preparation
Ever taken language other than English? What? How long?	CATI	Transcripts?		B&B
Original intended major in a STEM field (y/n)	CATI			B&B
Ever attempted to transfer any credits to NPSAS institution? How many attempted/accepted	CATI	Transcripts?		B&B
Locating Information	CATI			B&B	Follow-up tracing

Supporting Statement Request for OMB Review (SF83i) 1