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pdfInstitutional Characteristics
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2017-18
This IPEDS Institutional Characteristics data collection instrument
will be used again during the 2017-18 data collection. Changes to
the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component starting with the
2017-18 data collection are reflected on the following page.
Changes to IPEDS Institutional Characteristics component, 2017-18
Institutional Characteristics
Part C Student Services – Distance Opportunities
1. Combining two previous distance education questions on courses and programs into one.
1. Please indicate at what level(s) your institution offers distance education courses and/or distance education
programs. Check all that apply.
Distance education courses
Distance education programs
Undergraduate level
Graduate level
The institution does not offer distance
education at the undergraduate or graduate
level.
2. Are ALL of the programs at your institution offered exclusively via distance education programs?
Yes
No
Distance education opportunities
Distance education is one that uses one or more technologies to deliver instruction to students who are
separated from the instructor and to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and
the instructor synchronously or asynchronously.
Requirements for coming to campus for orientation, testing, or academic support services do not exclude a
course from being classified as distance education. Technologies used for instruction may include the
following: Internet; one-way and two-way transmissions through open broadcasts, closed circuit, cable,
microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite or wireless communication devices; audio conferencing;
and video cassette, DVDs, and CD-ROMs, if the cassette, DVDs, and CD-ROMs are used in a course in
conjunction with the technologies listed above.
Distance education by levels
Indicate whether your institution offers distance education opportunities (courses and/or programs) at
the undergraduate level and/or graduate level. If you offer distance education at both levels, please
check both boxes. If you do not offer distance education opportunities, please select the last option.
A distance education course is a course in which the instructional content is delivered exclusively via
distance education. A distance education program is a program for which all the required coursework
for program completion is able to be completed via distance education courses.
Exclusively distance education programs
Indicate whether or not ALL programs offered by your institution are delivered exclusively via distance
education, meaning all the required coursework for program completion is able to be completed via
distance education courses.
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IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or [email protected]
NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Form
date: 8/9/2016
Institutional Characteristics for 4-year academic year tuition reporters
Overview
Institutional Characteristics Overview
Welcome to the Institutional Characteristics (IC) component. This component collects important information about your
institution's mission, student services, and student charges.
Much of the data reported on IC appear on College Navigator, which is updated once after IC data has been reviewed.
Thus, errors may stay on College Navigator for a full year.
Additionally, the cost of attendance data are used to calculate the net price of attendance in the Student Financial Aid
component. This has important implications for what students see about your institution, and also for the College
Affordability and Transparency Center's lists. Revisions or changes to costs can ONLY be made in the Student
Financial Aid component and not in the prior year revision system.
Remember, it is the responsibility of the keyholder to submit accurate data about the institution. Please contact the
IPEDS Help Desk for clarifications to make sure that you are reporting correctly.
Changes to This Year’s IC Component
•
•
Common Errors
Quality control reviews of past IC data indicate frequently made errors. Please review the common errors below to
ensure accurate reporting. Additional common errors or tips can be found in the New Keyholder Handbook under
Resources.
•
Part C, question 8 should only be marked 'YES' if your institution is EXCLUSIVELY distance education. Do
not mark 'YES' if your courses/programs are also available in person.
•
Do not try to outsmart fatal errors; this is falsifying data. Contact the Help Desk to override, or fix, the data.
•
Make sure you understand ALL definitions before responding to questions. For example, make sure that you
are reporting for an 'ACADEMIC YEAR' or 'PROGRAM' as defined by IPEDS.
To download the survey materials for this component: Survey Materials
Part A - Mission Statement
1. Provide the institution's mission statement or a web address (URL) where the mission statement can be
found. Typed statements are limited to 2,000 characters or less. The mission statement will be available to the
public on College Navigator.
Mission Statement URL:
Please begin URL with "http://" or "https://"
Mission Statement
Part B - Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans
1. Which of the following are available to veterans, military servicemembers, or their families?
Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)
Credit for military training
Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military servicemembers, and their families
Recognized student veteran organization
Member of Department of Defense Voluntary Educational Partnership Memorandum of Understanding
None of the above
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description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part C - Student Services - Special Learning Opportunities
1. Does your institution accept any of the following? [Check all that apply]
Dual credit (college credit earned while in high school)
Credit for life experiences
Advanced placement (AP) credits
None of the above
2. What types of special learning opportunities are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
ROTC
Army
Navy
Air Force
Study abroad
Weekend/evening college
Teacher certification (for the elementary, middle school/junior high, or secondary level)
Do not include certifications to teach at the postsecondary level.
Students can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
Students must complete their preparation at another institution for certain areas of specialization
This institution is approved by the state for the initial certification or licensure of teachers
None of the above
3. If your institution grants a bachelor's degree or higher but does not offer a full 4-year program of study at the
undergraduate level, how many years of completed college-level work are required for entrance?
Number of years
Select One
Part C - Student Services: Other Student Services
4. Which of the following selected student services are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
Remedial services
Academic/career counseling services
Employment services for current students
Placement services for program completers
On-campus day care for children of students
None of the above
5. Which of the following academic library resource or service does your institution provide? [Check all that
apply]
Physical facilities
An organized collection of printed materials
Access to digital/electronic resources
A staff trained to provide and interpret library materials
Established library hours
Access to library collections that are shared with other institutions
None of the above
6. Indicate whether or not any of the following alternative tuition plans are offered by your institution.
No
Yes
Tuition guarantee
Prepaid tuition plan
Tuition payment plan
Other (specify in box below)
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description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End
of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the alternative tuition plans you've reported above.
These context notes will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood
by students and parents.
Part C - Student Services - Distance Education Opportunities
7. Does your institution offer distance education courses?
No
Yes
8. Are all the programs at your institution offered exclusively via distance education programs?
No
Yes
9. Please indicate at what level(s) your institution offers distance education opportunities (courses and/or
programs).
Undergraduate
Graduate
The institution does not offer distance education opportunities
Part C - Student Services: Disability Service
10. Please indicate the percentage of all undergraduate students enrolled during fall 2015 who were formally
registered as students with disabilities with the institution's office of disability services (or the equivalent
office).
3 percent or less
More than 3 percent:
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These
context
notes
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be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
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%
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part D - Student Charges Questions
1. Are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students required to live on campus or in institutionallycontrolled housing?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will not be asked to report off-campus room and board in the price of attendance
(D11).
This is only a screening question, and your response does not show up on College Navigator.
If you make any exceptions to this rule, and have even one full-time, first-time student living off-campus, please answer
No so that this does not cause conflicts with the Student Financial Aid survey. Making changes to the SFA component is
very difficult and may lead to inaccurate reporting for your institution.
No
Yes, and we do not make ANY (even
one) exceptions to this rule
2. Does your institution charge different tuition for in-district, in-state, or out-of-state students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to report tuition amounts for in-district, in-state, and out-of-state
students.
Please only select Yes if you really charge different tuition rates, or you will be reporting the same numbers 3 times.
No
Yes
3. Does your institution offer institutionally-controlled housing (either on or off campus)?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to specify a housing capacity, and to report a room charge or a
combined room and board charge (D10).
No
Yes
Specify housing capacity for academic
year 2016-17
4. Do you offer board or meal plans to your students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to report a board charge or combined room and board charge
(D10).
No
Yes - Enter the number of meals per
week in the maximum meal plan
available
Yes - Number of meals per week can
vary (e.g., students' charge meals
against a meal card)
Part D - Undergraduate Student Charges
If the institution charges an application fee, indicate the amount.
Amount
Prior year
Undergraduate application fee
5. Charges to full-time undergraduate students for the full academic year 2016-17
Please be sure to report an average tuition that includes all students at all levels (freshman, sophomore, etc.).
In-district
Prior year
In-state
Prior year
Out-of-state
Prior year
All full-time undergraduates
Average tuition
Required fees
6. Per credit hour charge for part-time undergraduate students
Please be sure to report an average per credit tuition that includes all students at all levels (freshman, sophomore, etc.).
In-district
Per credit hour charge
Prior year
In-state
Prior year
Out-of-state
Prior year
Part D - Graduate Student Charges
If the institution charges an application fee, indicate the amount.
Amount
Prior year
Graduate application fee
Please do not include tuition for Doctor’s Degree – Professional Practice programs.
Data for those programs are collected separately.
7. Charges to full-time graduate students for the full academic year 2016-17
In-district
Prior year
In-state
Prior year
Out-of-state
Prior year
In-state
Prior year
Out-of-state
Prior year
Average tuition
Required fees
8. Per credit hour charge for part-time graduate students
In-district
Per credit hour charge
Prior year
Part D - Student Charges - Graduate, Doctor's Professional Practice Tuition
9. List the typical tuition and required fees for a full-time doctor's-professional practice student in any of the
selected programs for the full academic year 2016-17.
DO NOT include room and board charges
Doctor's degree-professional practice
1. Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.):
Tuition amount
Required fees
2. Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.):
Tuition amount
Required fees
3. Medicine (M.D.):
Tuition amount
Required fees
4. Optometry (O.D.):
Tuition amount
Required fees
5. Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.):
Tuition amount
Required fees
6. Pharmacy (Pharm.D.):
Tuition amount
Required fees
7. Podiatry (Pod.D., D.P., or D.P.M.):
Tuition amount
Required fees
8. Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.):
Tuition amount
Required fees
9. Law (J.D.):
Tuition amount
Required fees
In-state
Out-of-state
Part D - Student Charges - Room and Board
10. What are the typical room and board charges for a student for the full academic year 2016-17?
If your institution offers room or board at no charge to students, enter zero.
If you report room and board separately, leave the combined charge blank. If you report a combined charge, leave the
room and board charges blank.
Room and board charges
Amount
Prior year
Room charge (Double occupancy)
Board charge (Maximum plan)
Combined room and board charge
(Answer only if you CANNOT separate room and board charges.)
Part D - Student Charges - Price of Attendance
11. Cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate students:
Please enter the amounts requested below. These data will be made available to the public on College Navigator. If
your institution participates in any Title IV programs (Pell, Stafford, etc.), you must complete all information. Estimates of
expenses for books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses are those from the Cost of Attendance report
used by the financial aid office in determining financial need. Please talk to your financial aid office to get these
numbers, to ensure that you are reporting correctly.
If the 2016-17 tuition and/or fees as reported on this page for full-time, first-time students are covered by a tuition
guarantee program, check the applicable box(es) under 'Tuition Guarantee'. Additionally, please indicate the maximum
% increase that is guaranteed. These numbers are expected to be fairly small. Please contact the Help Desk if you are
confused about these values and how to report them.
Charges for full
2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
2016-17
academic year
Published tuition and required fees:
Guaranteed
Tuition Guarantee
increase %
(check only if applicable to
entering students in 201617)
In-district
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees
total
In-state
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees
total
Out-of-state
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees
total
Books and
supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board
and other
expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board
and other
expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part E - Athletic Association
1. Is this institution a member of a national athletic association?
No
Yes - Check all that apply
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA)
National Christian College Athletic Association
(NCCAA)
Other
2. If this institution is a member of the NCAA or NAIA, specify the conference FOR EACH SPORT using the pull
down menu.
Sport
Football
NCAA or NAIA member
No
Yes-Specify
Basketball
No
Yes-Specify
Baseball
No
Yes-Specify
Cross country and/or track
No
Yes-Specify
Conference
Select One
Select One
Select One
Select One
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Academic Library Contact
Other
hours
minutes
Name:
Email:
How long did it take to prepare
this survey component?
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
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Education
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Part A - Mission Statement
1. Provide the institution's mission statement or a web address (URL) where the mission statement can be
found. Typed statements are limited to 2,000 characters or less. The mission statement will be available to the
public on College Navigator.
Mission Statement URL:
Please begin URL with "http://" or "https://"
Mission Statement
Part B - Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans
1. Which of the following are available to veterans, military servicemembers, or their families?
Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)
Credit for military training
Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military servicemembers, and their families
Recognized student veteran organization
Member of Department of Defense Voluntary Educational Partnership Memorandum of Understanding
None of the above
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part C - Student Services - Special Learning Opportunities
1. Does your institution accept any of the following? [Check all that apply]
Dual credit (college credit earned while in high school)
Credit for life experiences
Advanced placement (AP) credits
None of the above
2. What types of special learning opportunities are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
ROTC
Army
Navy
Air Force
Study abroad
Weekend/evening college
Teacher certification (for the elementary, middle school/junior high, or secondary level)
Do not include certifications to teach at the postsecondary level.
Students can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
Students must complete their preparation at another institution for certain areas of specialization
This institution is approved by the state for the initial certification or licensure of teachers
None of the above
3. If your institution grants a bachelor's degree or higher but does not offer a full 4-year program of study at the
undergraduate level, how many years of completed college-level work are required for entrance?
Number of years
Select One
Part C - Student Services: Other Student Services
4. Which of the following selected student services are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
Remedial services
Academic/career counseling services
Employment services for current students
Placement services for program completers
On-campus day care for children of students
None of the above
5. Which of the following academic library resource or service does your institution provide? [Check all that
apply]
Physical facilities
An organized collection of printed materials
Access to digital/electronic resources
A staff trained to provide and interpret library materials
Established library hours
Access to library collections that are shared with other institutions
None of the above
6. Indicate whether or not any of the following alternative tuition plans are offered by your institution.
No
Yes
Tuition guarantee
Prepaid tuition plan
Tuition payment plan
Other (specify in box below)
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End
of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the alternative tuition plans you've reported above.
These context notes will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood
by students and parents.
Part C - Student Services - Distance Education Opportunities
7. Does your institution offer distance education courses?
No
Yes
8. Are all the programs at your institution offered exclusively via distance education programs?
No
Yes
9. Please indicate at what level(s) your institution offers distance education opportunities (courses and/or
programs).
Undergraduate
Graduate
The institution does not offer distance education opportunities
Part C - Student Services: Disability Service
10. Please indicate the percentage of all undergraduate students enrolled during fall 2015 who were formally
registered as students with disabilities with the institution's office of disability services (or the equivalent
office).
3 percent or less
More than 3 percent:
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
%
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part D - Student Charges Questions
1. Are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students required to live on-campus or in institutionallycontrolled housing?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will not be asked to report off-campus room and board in the price of attendance
(D7).
This is only a screening question, and your response does not show up on College Navigator.
If you make any exceptions to this rule, and have even one full-time, first-time student living off-campus, please answer
No so that this does not cause conflicts with the Student Financial Aid survey. Making changes to the SFA component is
very difficult and may lead to inaccurate reporting for your institution.
No
Yes, and we do not make ANY (even
one) exceptions to this rule
3. Does your institution offer institutionally-controlled housing (either on or off campus)?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to specify a housing capacity, and to report a room charge or a
combined room and board charge (D10).
No
Yes
Specify housing capacity for academic
year 2016-17
4. Do you offer board or meal plans to your students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to report a board charge or combined room and board charge
(D10).
No
Yes - Enter the number of meals per
week in the maximum meal plan
available
Yes - Number of meals per week can
vary (e.g., students' charge meals
against a meal card)
Part D - Student Charges - Number of programs
5. How many programs are offered at your institution?
Be sure not to report single courses, report only full programs. If you do not know what a program is, review the
definition in the glossary or call the Help Desk.
Number of programs
Part D - Student Charges - Price of Attendance
7. Cost of attendance for entering students
Please enter ALL amounts requested below. These data will be made available to the public on College Navigator.
Estimates of expenses for books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses are those from the Cost of
Attendance report used by the financial aid office in determining financial need. Please talk to your financial aid
office to get the correct numbers to use for this report.
Note: The academic year length you report should be the same calculation used for required reporting for your Pell
budget. This number will be used to calculate academic year costs for your institution and will impact your net price
calculation. Please discuss this information with your student aid office to ensure accurate reporting.
LARGEST PROGRAM:
CIP Code
Title
Enter new largest program
If your largest program has changed from the one listed above, or if no program
appears above, click the 'enter new largest program' link, choose a program and enter
data for all three years. Note: if your institution participates in Title IV programs, you
must complete all cells.
Contact Hours
Credit Hours
How is your program
measured?
Total length of PROGRAM in contact or credit hours
Total length of PROGRAM in WEEKS, as completed by a student attending fulltime
Total length of ACADEMIC YEAR (as used to calculate your Pell budget) in
contact or credit hours
Total length of ACADEMIC YEAR (as used to calculate your Pell budget) in
WEEKS
If the institution charges an application fee, indicate the amount.
Amount
Prior year
Undergraduate application fee
The following numbers need to be reported for the entire length of the program. For example, if your program is 18
months long, report 18 months worth of tuition, fees, books and supplies.
If your institution charges differently based on residence, please use in-state charges. The correct numbers should be
available from your financial aid office.
Published student charges for the entire
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
program
Tuition and required fees for
the entire program
Books and supplies for the
entire program
The following numbers need to be reported for 4 weeks (1 month).
The correct numbers should be available from your financial aid office. Off-campus numbers should be based on costs
for your area, not on national averages.
On-campus:
Room and board for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Other expenses for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Room and board and other
expenses for 4 weeks (1
month)
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Other expenses for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Room and board and other
expenses for 4 weeks (1
month)
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End
of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part D - Student Charges - Price of Attendance - Calculated values
7. Cost of attendance - Calculated values
Please review the numbers below for accuracy. If something looks incorrect, please go to the previous page and make
sure all of the numbers reported on that page are correct. If you still do not think the numbers are correct, please contact
the IPEDS Help Desk at 877-225-2568.
CIP CODE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
TITLE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
Published student charges for the entire program
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
Tuition and required fees
Books and supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses
Published student charges for an academic year
Tuition and required fees
Books and supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses
Part D - Student Charges - Program Data
8. Please list your second through sixth largest programs and provide the requested information for each
program. To enter a CIP code and program title, click on the select button, and then click on the program from
the list provided. Choosing clear will remove the CIP code and title. Report the tuition and fees and the cost of
books and supplies for the TOTAL LENGTH OF THE PROGRAM. Also report the length of the entire program in
terms of contact or credit hours and provide the number of months it takes a full-time student to complete the
entire program.
Note: The largest programs are the programs with the most students, not the programs with the longest lengths.
Please make sure to report all costs for each program. As with the largest program, costs are for the entire length of
the program.If your institution charges differently based on residence, please use in-state charges.
Do not skip lines when reporting programs. Your 2nd largest program should be listed as 2nd, your 3rd as 3rd, etc.
CIP Code
Tuition and
Total length
Program
# of months to
Cost of
required fees
of program
Measurement
complete
books and
supplies
1st
Contact
Credit
hours
hours
Title
2nd select
Contact
Credit
clear
hours
hours
Title
3rd
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
4th
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
5th
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
6th
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above.
Part D - Student Charges - Room and Board
10. What are the typical room and board charges for a student for the full academic year 2016-17?
If your institution offers room or board at no charge to students, enter zero.
If you report room and board separately, leave the combined charge blank. If you report a combined charge, leave the
room and board charges blank.
Room and board charges
Amount
Prior year
Room charge (Double occupancy)
Board charge (Maximum plan)
Combined room and board charge
(Answer only if you CANNOT separate room and board charges.)
Part E - Athletic Association
1. Is this institution a member of a national athletic association?
No
Yes - Check all that apply
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA)
National Christian College Athletic Association
(NCCAA)
Other
2. If this institution is a member of the NCAA or NAIA, specify the conference FOR EACH SPORT using the pull
down menu.
Sport
Football
NCAA or NAIA member
No
Yes-Specify
Basketball
No
Yes-Specify
Baseball
No
Yes-Specify
Cross country and/or track
No
Yes-Specify
Conference
Select One
Select One
Select One
Select One
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Academic Library Contact
Other
hours
minutes
Name:
Email:
How long did it take to prepare
this survey component?
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
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Department
Of
Education
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description.
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Browsers Supported
Troubleshooting
Section 508 Compliance
NCES Privacy Policy
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IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or [email protected]
NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Form
date: 8/9/2016
Institutional Characteristics for degree-granting 2-year academic year tuition
reporters
Overview
Institutional Characteristics Overview
Welcome to the Institutional Characteristics (IC) component. This component collects important information about your
institution's mission, student services, and student charges.
Much of the data reported on IC appear on College Navigator, which is updated once after IC data has been reviewed.
Thus, errors may stay on College Navigator for a full year.
Additionally, the cost of attendance data are used to calculate the net price of attendance in the Student Financial Aid
component. This has important implications for what students see about your institution, and also for the College
Affordability and Transparency Center's lists. Revisions or changes to costs can ONLY be made in the Student
Financial Aid component and not in the prior year revision system.
Remember, it is the responsibility of the keyholder to submit accurate data about the institution. Please contact the
IPEDS Help Desk for clarifications to make sure that you are reporting correctly.
Changes to This Year’s IC Component
•
•
Common Errors
Quality control reviews of past IC data indicate frequently made errors. Please review the common errors below to
ensure accurate reporting. Additional common errors or tips can be found in the New Keyholder Handbook under
Resources.
•
Part C, question 8 should only be marked 'YES' if your institution is EXCLUSIVELY distance education. Do
not mark 'YES' if your courses/programs are also available in person.
•
Do not try to outsmart fatal errors; this is falsifying data. Contact the Help Desk to override, or fix, the data.
•
Make sure you understand ALL definitions before responding to questions. For example, make sure that you
are reporting for an 'ACADEMIC YEAR' or 'PROGRAM' as defined by IPEDS.
To download the survey materials for this component: Survey Materials
Part A - Mission Statement
1. Provide the institution's mission statement or a web address (URL) where the mission statement can be
found. Typed statements are limited to 2,000 characters or less. The mission statement will be available to the
public on College Navigator.
Mission Statement URL:
Please begin URL with "http://" or "https://"
Mission Statement
Part B - Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans
1. Which of the following are available to veterans, military servicemembers, or their families?
Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)
Credit for military training
Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military servicemembers, and their families
Recognized student veteran organization
Member of Department of Defense Voluntary Educational Partnership Memorandum of Understanding
None of the above
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part C - Student Services - Special Learning Opportunities
1. Does your institution accept any of the following? [Check all that apply]
Dual credit (college credit earned while in high school)
Credit for life experiences
Advanced placement (AP) credits
None of the above
2. What types of special learning opportunities are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
ROTC
Army
Navy
Air Force
Study abroad
Weekend/evening college
Teacher certification (for the elementary, middle school/junior high, or secondary level)
Do not include certifications to teach at the postsecondary level.
Students can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
Students must complete their preparation at another institution for certain areas of specialization
This institution is approved by the state for the initial certification or licensure of teachers
None of the above
Part C - Student Services: Other Student Services
4. Which of the following selected student services are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
Remedial services
Academic/career counseling services
Employment services for current students
Placement services for program completers
On-campus day care for children of students
None of the above
5. Which of the following academic library resource or service does your institution provide? [Check all that
apply]
Physical facilities
An organized collection of printed materials
Access to digital/electronic resources
A staff trained to provide and interpret library materials
Established library hours
Access to library collections that are shared with other institutions
None of the above
6. Indicate whether or not any of the following alternative tuition plans are offered by your institution.
No
Yes
Tuition guarantee
Prepaid tuition plan
Tuition payment plan
Other (specify in box below)
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End
of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the alternative tuition plans you've reported above.
These context notes will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood
by students and parents.
Part C - Student Services - Distance Education Opportunities
7. Does your institution offer distance education courses?
No
Yes
8. Are all the programs at your institution offered exclusively via distance education programs?
No
Yes
9. Please indicate at what level(s) your institution offers distance education opportunities (courses and/or
programs).
Undergraduate
Graduate
The institution does not offer distance education opportunities
Part C - Student Services: Disability Service
10. Please indicate the percentage of all undergraduate students enrolled during fall 2015 who were formally
registered as students with disabilities with the institution's office of disability services (or the equivalent
office).
3 percent or less
More than 3 percent:
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
%
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part D - Student Charges Questions
1. Are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students required to live on campus or in institutionallycontrolled housing?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will not be asked to report off-campus room and board in the price of attendance
(D11).
This is only a screening question, and your response does not show up on College Navigator.
If you make any exceptions to this rule, and have even one full-time, first-time student living off-campus, please answer
No so that this does not cause conflicts with the Student Financial Aid survey. Making changes to the SFA component is
very difficult and may lead to inaccurate reporting for your institution.
No
Yes, and we do not make ANY (even
one) exceptions to this rule
2. Does your institution charge different tuition for in-district, in-state, or out-of-state students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to report tuition amounts for in-district, in-state, and out-of-state
students.
Please only select Yes if you really charge different tuition rates, or you will be reporting the same numbers 3 times.
No
Yes
3. Does your institution offer institutionally-controlled housing (either on or off campus)?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to specify a housing capacity, and to report a room charge or a
combined room and board charge (D10).
No
Yes
Specify housing capacity for academic
year 2016-17
4. Do you offer board or meal plans to your students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to report a board charge or combined room and board charge
(D10).
No
Yes - Enter the number of meals per
week in the maximum meal plan
available
Yes - Number of meals per week can
vary (e.g., students' charge meals
against a meal card)
Part D - Undergraduate Student Charges
If the institution charges an application fee, indicate the amount.
Prior year
Amount
Application fee
5. Charges to full-time students for the full academic year 2016-17
Please be sure to report an average tuition that includes all students at all levels (freshman, sophomore, etc.).
In-district
Prior year
In-state
Prior year
Out-of-state
Prior year
All full-time students
Average tuition
Required fees
6. Per credit hour charge for part-time students
Please be sure to report an average per credit tuition that includes all students at all levels (freshman, sophomore, etc.).
In-district
Per credit hour charge
Prior year
In-state
Prior year
Out-of-state
Prior year
Part D - Student Charges - Room and Board
10. What are the typical room and board charges for a student for the full academic year 2016-17?
If your institution offers room or board at no charge to students, enter zero.
If you report room and board separately, leave the combined charge blank. If you report a combined charge, leave the
room and board charges blank.
Room and board charges
Amount
Prior year
Room charge (Double occupancy)
Board charge (Maximum plan)
Combined room and board charge
(Answer only if you CANNOT separate room and board charges.)
Part D - Student Charges - Price of Attendance
11. Cost of attendance for full-time, first-time students:
Please enter the amounts requested below. These data will be made available to the public on College Navigator. If
your institution participates in any Title IV programs (Pell, Stafford, etc.), you must complete all information. Estimates of
expenses for books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses are those from the Cost of Attendance report
used by the financial aid office in determining financial need. Please talk to your financial aid office to get these
numbers, to ensure that you are reporting correctly.
If the 2016-17 tuition and/or fees as reported on this page for full-time, first-time students are covered by a tuition
guarantee program, check the applicable box(es) under 'Tuition Guarantee'. Additionally, please indicate the maximum
% increase that is guaranteed. These numbers are expected to be fairly small. Please contact the Help Desk if you are
confused about these values and how to report them.
Charges for full
2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
2016-17
academic year
Published tuition and required fees:
Guaranteed
Tuition Guarantee
increase %
(check only if applicable to
entering students in 201617)
In-district
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees
total
In-state
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees
total
Out-of-state
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees
total
Books and
supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board
and other
expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board
and other
expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part E - Athletic Association
1. Is this institution a member of a national athletic association?
No
Yes - Check all that apply
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA)
National Christian College Athletic Association
(NCCAA)
Other
2. If this institution is a member of the NCAA or NAIA, specify the conference FOR EACH SPORT using the pull
down menu.
Sport
Football
NCAA or NAIA member
No
Yes-Specify
Basketball
No
Yes-Specify
Baseball
No
Yes-Specify
Cross country and/or track
No
Yes-Specify
Conference
Select One
Select One
Select One
Select One
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Academic Library Contact
Other
hours
minutes
Name:
Email:
How long did it take to prepare
this survey component?
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
Image description.
Department
Of
Education
End of image
description.
Software Provider Resources
Browsers Supported
Use of Cookies
Troubleshooting
Section 508 Compliance
NCES Privacy Policy
Image description. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System End of image description.
IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or [email protected]
NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Form
date: 8/9/2016
Institutional Characteristics for degree-granting 2-year program tuition
reporters
Overview
Institutional Characteristics Overview
Welcome to the Institutional Characteristics (IC) component. This component collects important information about your
institution's mission, student services, and student charges.
Much of the data reported on IC appear on College Navigator, which is updated once after IC data has been reviewed.
Thus, errors may stay on College Navigator for a full year.
Additionally, the cost of attendance data are used to calculate the net price of attendance in the Student Financial Aid
component. This has important implications for what students see about your institution, and also for the College
Affordability and Transparency Center's lists. Revisions or changes to costs can ONLY be made in the Student
Financial Aid component and not in the prior year revision system.
Remember, it is the responsibility of the keyholder to submit accurate data about the institution. Please contact the
IPEDS Help Desk for clarifications to make sure that you are reporting correctly.
Changes to This Year’s IC Component
•
•
Common Errors
Quality control reviews of past IC data indicate frequently made errors. Please review the common errors below to
ensure accurate reporting. Additional common errors or tips can be found in the New Keyholder Handbook under
Resources.
•
Part C, question 8 should only be marked 'YES' if your institution is EXCLUSIVELY distance education. Do
not mark 'YES' if your courses/programs are also available in person.
•
Do not try to outsmart fatal errors; this is falsifying data. Contact the Help Desk to override, or fix, the data.
•
Make sure you understand ALL definitions before responding to questions. For example, make sure that you
are reporting for an 'ACADEMIC YEAR' or 'PROGRAM' as defined by IPEDS.
To download the survey materials for this component: Survey Materials
Part A - Mission Statement
1. Provide the institution's mission statement or a web address (URL) where the mission statement can be
found. Typed statements are limited to 2,000 characters or less. The mission statement will be available to the
public on College Navigator.
Mission Statement URL:
Please begin URL with "http://" or "https://"
Mission Statement
Part B - Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans
1. Which of the following are available to veterans, military servicemembers, or their families?
Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)
Credit for military training
Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military servicemembers, and their families
Recognized student veteran organization
Member of Department of Defense Voluntary Educational Partnership Memorandum of Understanding
None of the above
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part C - Student Services - Special Learning Opportunities
1. Does your institution accept any of the following? [Check all that apply]
Dual credit (college credit earned while in high school)
Credit for life experiences
Advanced placement (AP) credits
None of the above
2. What types of special learning opportunities are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
ROTC
Army
Navy
Air Force
Study abroad
Weekend/evening college
Teacher certification (for the elementary, middle school/junior high, or secondary level)
Do not include certifications to teach at the postsecondary level.
Students can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
Students must complete their preparation at another institution for certain areas of specialization
This institution is approved by the state for the initial certification or licensure of teachers
None of the above
Part C - Student Services: Other Student Services
4. Which of the following selected student services are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
Remedial services
Academic/career counseling services
Employment services for current students
Placement services for program completers
On-campus day care for children of students
None of the above
5. Which of the following academic library resource or service does your institution provide? [Check all that
apply]
Physical facilities
An organized collection of printed materials
Access to digital/electronic resources
A staff trained to provide and interpret library materials
Established library hours
Access to library collections that are shared with other institutions
None of the above
6. Indicate whether or not any of the following alternative tuition plans are offered by your institution.
No
Yes
Tuition guarantee
Prepaid tuition plan
Tuition payment plan
Other (specify in box below)
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End
of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the alternative tuition plans you've reported above.
These context notes will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood
by students and parents.
Part C - Student Services - Distance Education Opportunities
7. Does your institution offer distance education courses?
No
Yes
8. Are all the programs at your institution offered exclusively via distance education programs?
No
Yes
9. Please indicate at what level(s) your institution offers distance education opportunities (courses and/or
programs).
Undergraduate
Graduate
The institution does not offer distance education opportunities
Part C - Student Services: Disability Service
10. Please indicate the percentage of all undergraduate students enrolled during fall 2015 who were formally
registered as students with disabilities with the institution's office of disability services (or the equivalent
office).
3 percent or less
More than 3 percent:
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
%
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part D - Student Charges Questions
1. Are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students required to live on-campus or in institutionallycontrolled housing?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will not be asked to report off-campus room and board in the price of attendance
(D7).
This is only a screening question, and your response does not show up on College Navigator.
If you make any exceptions to this rule, and have even one full-time, first-time student living off-campus, please answer
No so that this does not cause conflicts with the Student Financial Aid survey. Making changes to the SFA component is
very difficult and may lead to inaccurate reporting for your institution.
No
Yes, and we do not make ANY (even
one) exceptions to this rule
3. Does your institution offer institutionally-controlled housing (either on or off campus)?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to specify a housing capacity, and to report a room charge or a
combined room and board charge (D10).
No
Yes
Specify housing capacity for academic
year 2016-17
4. Do you offer board or meal plans to your students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to report a board charge or combined room and board charge
(D10).
No
Yes - Enter the number of meals per
week in the maximum meal plan
available
Yes - Number of meals per week can
vary (e.g., students' charge meals
against a meal card)
Part D - Student Charges - Number of programs
5. How many programs are offered at your institution?
Be sure not to report single courses, report only full programs. If you do not know what a program is, review the
definition in the glossary or call the Help Desk.
Number of programs
Part D - Student Charges - Price of Attendance
7. Cost of attendance for entering students
Please enter ALL amounts requested below. These data will be made available to the public on College Navigator.
Estimates of expenses for books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses are those from the Cost of
Attendance report used by the financial aid office in determining financial need. Please talk to your financial aid
office to get the correct numbers to use for this report.
Note: The academic year length you report should be the same calculation used for required reporting for your Pell
budget. This number will be used to calculate academic year costs for your institution and will impact your net price
calculation. Please discuss this information with your student aid office to ensure accurate reporting.
LARGEST PROGRAM:
CIP Code
Title
Enter new largest program
If your largest program has changed from the one listed above, or if no program
appears above, click the 'enter new largest program' link, choose a program and enter
data for all three years. Note: if your institution participates in Title IV programs, you
must complete all cells.
Contact Hours
Credit Hours
How is your program
measured?
Total length of PROGRAM in contact or credit hours
Total length of PROGRAM in WEEKS, as completed by a student attending fulltime
Total length of ACADEMIC YEAR (as used to calculate your Pell budget) in
contact or credit hours
Total length of ACADEMIC YEAR (as used to calculate your Pell budget) in
WEEKS
If the institution charges an application fee, indicate the amount.
Amount
Prior year
Application fee
The following numbers need to be reported for the entire length of the program. For example, if your program is 18
months long, report 18 months worth of tuition, fees, books and supplies.
If your institution charges differently based on residence, please use in-state charges. The correct numbers should be
available from your financial aid office.
Published student charges for the entire
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
program
Tuition and required fees for
the entire program
Books and supplies for the
entire program
The following numbers need to be reported for 4 weeks (1 month).
The correct numbers should be available from your financial aid office. Off-campus numbers should be based on costs
for your area, not on national averages.
On-campus:
Room and board for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Other expenses for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Room and board and other
expenses for 4 weeks (1
month)
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Other expenses for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Room and board and other
expenses for 4 weeks (1
month)
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End
of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part D - Student Charges - Price of Attendance - Calculated values
7. Cost of attendance - Calculated values
Please review the numbers below for accuracy. If something looks incorrect, please go to the previous page and make
sure all of the numbers reported on that page are correct. If you still do not think the numbers are correct, please contact
the IPEDS Help Desk at 877-225-2568.
CIP CODE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
TITLE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
Published student charges for the entire program
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
Tuition and required fees
Books and supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses
Published student charges for an academic year
Tuition and required fees
Books and supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses
Part D - Student Charges - Program Data
8. Please list your second through sixth largest programs and provide the requested information for each
program. To enter a CIP code and program title, click on the select button, and then click on the program from
the list provided. Choosing clear will remove the CIP code and title. Report the tuition and fees and the cost of
books and supplies for the TOTAL LENGTH OF THE PROGRAM. Also report the length of the entire program in
terms of contact or credit hours and provide the number of months it takes a full-time student to complete the
entire program.
Note: The largest programs are the programs with the most students, not the programs with the longest lengths.
Please make sure to report all costs for each program. As with the largest program, costs are for the entire length of
the program.If your institution charges differently based on residence, please use in-state charges.
Do not skip lines when reporting programs. Your 2nd largest program should be listed as 2nd, your 3rd as 3rd, etc.
CIP Code
Tuition and
Total length
Program
# of months to
Cost of
required fees
of program
Measurement
complete
books and
supplies
1st
Contact
Credit
hours
hours
Title
2nd select
Contact
Credit
clear
hours
hours
Title
3rd
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
4th
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
5th
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
6th
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above.
Part D - Student Charges - Room and Board
10. What are the typical room and board charges for a student for the full academic year 2016-17?
If your institution offers room or board at no charge to students, enter zero.
If you report room and board separately, leave the combined charge blank. If you report a combined charge, leave the
room and board charges blank.
Room and board charges
Amount
Prior year
Room charge (Double occupancy)
Board charge (Maximum plan)
Combined room and board charge
(Answer only if you CANNOT separate room and board charges.)
Part E - Athletic Association
1. Is this institution a member of a national athletic association?
No
Yes - Check all that apply
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA)
National Christian College Athletic Association
(NCCAA)
Other
2. If this institution is a member of the NCAA or NAIA, specify the conference FOR EACH SPORT using the pull
down menu.
Sport
Football
NCAA or NAIA member
No
Yes-Specify
Basketball
No
Yes-Specify
Baseball
No
Yes-Specify
Cross country and/or track
No
Yes-Specify
Conference
Select One
Select One
Select One
Select One
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Academic Library Contact
Other
hours
minutes
Name:
Email:
How long did it take to prepare
this survey component?
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
Image description.
Department
Of
Education
End of image
description.
Software Provider Resources Use of Cookies
Browsers Supported
Troubleshooting
Section 508 Compliance
NCES Privacy Policy
Image description. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System End of image description.
IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or [email protected]
NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Form
date: 8/9/2016
Institutional Characteristics for non-degree-granting 2-year academic year
tuition reporters
Overview
Institutional Characteristics Overview
Welcome to the Institutional Characteristics (IC) component. This component collects important information about your
institution's mission, student services, and student charges.
Much of the data reported on IC appear on College Navigator, which is updated once after IC data has been reviewed.
Thus, errors may stay on College Navigator for a full year.
Additionally, the cost of attendance data are used to calculate the net price of attendance in the Student Financial Aid
component. This has important implications for what students see about your institution, and also for the College
Affordability and Transparency Center's lists. Revisions or changes to costs can ONLY be made in the Student
Financial Aid component and not in the prior year revision system.
Remember, it is the responsibility of the keyholder to submit accurate data about the institution. Please contact the
IPEDS Help Desk for clarifications to make sure that you are reporting correctly.
Changes to This Year’s IC Component
•
•
Common Errors
Quality control reviews of past IC data indicate frequently made errors. Please review the common errors below to
ensure accurate reporting. Additional common errors or tips can be found in the New Keyholder Handbook under
Resources.
•
Part C, question 8 should only be marked 'YES' if your institution is EXCLUSIVELY distance education. Do
not mark 'YES' if your courses/programs are also available in person.
•
Do not try to outsmart fatal errors; this is falsifying data. Contact the Help Desk to override, or fix, the data.
•
Make sure you understand ALL definitions before responding to questions. For example, make sure that you
are reporting for an 'ACADEMIC YEAR' or 'PROGRAM' as defined by IPEDS.
To download the survey materials for this component: Survey Materials
Part A - Mission Statement
1. Provide the institution's mission statement or a web address (URL) where the mission statement can be
found. Typed statements are limited to 2,000 characters or less. The mission statement will be available to the
public on College Navigator.
Mission Statement URL:
Please begin URL with "http://" or "https://"
Mission Statement
Part B - Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans
1. Which of the following are available to veterans, military servicemembers, or their families?
Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)
Credit for military training
Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military servicemembers, and their families
Recognized student veteran organization
Member of Department of Defense Voluntary Educational Partnership Memorandum of Understanding
None of the above
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part C - Student Services - Special Learning Opportunities
1. Does your institution accept any of the following? [Check all that apply]
Dual credit (college credit earned while in high school)
Credit for life experiences
Advanced placement (AP) credits
None of the above
2. What types of special learning opportunities are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
ROTC
Army
Navy
Air Force
Study abroad
Weekend/evening college
Teacher certification (for the elementary, middle school/junior high, or secondary level)
Do not include certifications to teach at the postsecondary level.
Students can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
Students must complete their preparation at another institution for certain areas of specialization
This institution is approved by the state for the initial certification or licensure of teachers
None of the above
Part C - Student Services: Other Student Services
4. Which of the following selected student services are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
Remedial services
Academic/career counseling services
Employment services for current students
Placement services for program completers
On-campus day care for children of students
None of the above
5. Which of the following academic library resource or service does your institution provide? [Check all that
apply]
Physical facilities
An organized collection of printed materials
Access to digital/electronic resources
A staff trained to provide and interpret library materials
Established library hours
Access to library collections that are shared with other institutions
None of the above
6. Indicate whether or not any of the following alternative tuition plans are offered by your institution.
No
Yes
Tuition guarantee
Prepaid tuition plan
Tuition payment plan
Other (specify in box below)
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End
of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the alternative tuition plans you've reported above.
These context notes will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood
by students and parents.
Part C - Student Services - Distance Education Opportunities
7. Does your institution offer distance education courses?
No
Yes
8. Are all the programs at your institution offered exclusively via distance education programs?
No
Yes
9. Please indicate at what level(s) your institution offers distance education opportunities (courses and/or
programs).
Undergraduate
Graduate
The institution does not offer distance education opportunities
Part C - Student Services: Disability Service
10. Please indicate the percentage of all undergraduate students enrolled during fall 2015 who were formally
registered as students with disabilities with the institution's office of disability services (or the equivalent
office).
3 percent or less
More than 3 percent:
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
%
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part D - Student Charges Questions
1. Are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students required to live on campus or in institutionallycontrolled housing?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will not be asked to report off-campus room and board in the price of attendance
(D11).
This is only a screening question, and your response does not show up on College Navigator.
If you make any exceptions to this rule, and have even one full-time, first-time student living off-campus, please answer
No so that this does not cause conflicts with the Student Financial Aid survey. Making changes to the SFA component is
very difficult and may lead to inaccurate reporting for your institution.
No
Yes, and we do not make ANY (even
one) exceptions to this rule
2. Does your institution charge different tuition for in-district, in-state, or out-of-state students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to report tuition amounts for in-district, in-state, and out-of-state
students.
Please only select Yes if you really charge different tuition rates, or you will be reporting the same numbers 3 times.
No
Yes
3. Does your institution offer institutionally-controlled housing (either on or off campus)?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to specify a housing capacity, and to report a room charge or a
combined room and board charge (D10).
No
Yes
Specify housing capacity for academic
year 2016-17
4. Do you offer board or meal plans to your students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to report a board charge or combined room and board charge
(D10).
No
Yes - Enter the number of meals per
week in the maximum meal plan
available
Yes - Number of meals per week can
vary (e.g., students' charge meals
against a meal card)
Part D - Undergraduate Student Charges
If the institution charges an application fee, indicate the amount.
Prior year
Amount
Application fee
5. Charges to full-time students for the full academic year 2016-17
Please be sure to report an average tuition that includes all students at all levels (freshman, sophomore, etc.).
In-district
Prior year
In-state
Prior year
Out-of-state
Prior year
All full-time students
Average tuition
Required fees
6. Per credit hour charge for part-time students
Please be sure to report an average per credit tuition that includes all students at all levels (freshman, sophomore, etc.).
In-district
Per credit hour charge
Prior year
In-state
Prior year
Out-of-state
Prior year
Part D - Student Charges - Price of Attendance
11. Cost of attendance for full-time, first-time students:
Please enter the amounts requested below. These data will be made available to the public on College Navigator. If
your institution participates in any Title IV programs (Pell, Stafford, etc.), you must complete all information. Estimates of
expenses for books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses are those from the Cost of Attendance report
used by the financial aid office in determining financial need. Please talk to your financial aid office to get these
numbers, to ensure that you are reporting correctly.
If the 2016-17 tuition and/or fees as reported on this page for full-time, first-time students are covered by a tuition
guarantee program, check the applicable box(es) under 'Tuition Guarantee'. Additionally, please indicate the maximum
% increase that is guaranteed. These numbers are expected to be fairly small. Please contact the Help Desk if you are
confused about these values and how to report them.
Charges for full
2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
2016-17
academic year
Published tuition and required fees:
Guaranteed
Tuition Guarantee
increase %
(check only if applicable to
entering students in 201617)
In-district
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees
total
In-state
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees
total
Out-of-state
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees
total
Books and
supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board
and other
expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board
and other
expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Academic Library Contact
Other
hours
minutes
Name:
Email:
How long did it take to prepare
this survey component?
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
Image description.
Department
Of
Education
End of image
description.
Software Provider Resources
Browsers Supported
Use of Cookies
Troubleshooting
Section 508 Compliance
NCES Privacy Policy
Image description. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System End of image description.
IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or [email protected]
NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Form
date: 8/9/2016
Institutional Characteristics for non-degree-granting 2-year program tuition
reporters
Overview
Institutional Characteristics Overview
Welcome to the Institutional Characteristics (IC) component. This component collects important information about your
institution's mission, student services, and student charges.
Much of the data reported on IC appear on College Navigator, which is updated once after IC data has been reviewed.
Thus, errors may stay on College Navigator for a full year.
Additionally, the cost of attendance data are used to calculate the net price of attendance in the Student Financial Aid
component. This has important implications for what students see about your institution, and also for the College
Affordability and Transparency Center's lists. Revisions or changes to costs can ONLY be made in the Student
Financial Aid component and not in the prior year revision system.
Remember, it is the responsibility of the keyholder to submit accurate data about the institution. Please contact the
IPEDS Help Desk for clarifications to make sure that you are reporting correctly.
Changes to This Year’s IC Component
•
•
Common Errors
Quality control reviews of past IC data indicate frequently made errors. Please review the common errors below to
ensure accurate reporting. Additional common errors or tips can be found in the New Keyholder Handbook under
Resources.
•
Part C, question 8 should only be marked 'YES' if your institution is EXCLUSIVELY distance education. Do
not mark 'YES' if your courses/programs are also available in person.
•
Do not try to outsmart fatal errors; this is falsifying data. Contact the Help Desk to override, or fix, the data.
•
Make sure you understand ALL definitions before responding to questions. For example, make sure that you
are reporting for an 'ACADEMIC YEAR' or 'PROGRAM' as defined by IPEDS.
To download the survey materials for this component: Survey Materials
Part A - Mission Statement
1. Provide the institution's mission statement or a web address (URL) where the mission statement can be
found. Typed statements are limited to 2,000 characters or less. The mission statement will be available to the
public on College Navigator.
Mission Statement URL:
Please begin URL with "http://" or "https://"
Mission Statement
Part B - Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans
1. Which of the following are available to veterans, military servicemembers, or their families?
Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)
Credit for military training
Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military servicemembers, and their families
Recognized student veteran organization
Member of Department of Defense Voluntary Educational Partnership Memorandum of Understanding
None of the above
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part C - Student Services - Special Learning Opportunities
1. Does your institution accept any of the following? [Check all that apply]
Dual credit (college credit earned while in high school)
Credit for life experiences
Advanced placement (AP) credits
None of the above
2. What types of special learning opportunities are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
ROTC
Army
Navy
Air Force
Study abroad
Weekend/evening college
Teacher certification (for the elementary, middle school/junior high, or secondary level)
Do not include certifications to teach at the postsecondary level.
Students can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
Students must complete their preparation at another institution for certain areas of specialization
This institution is approved by the state for the initial certification or licensure of teachers
None of the above
Part C - Student Services: Other Student Services
4. Which of the following selected student services are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
Remedial services
Academic/career counseling services
Employment services for current students
Placement services for program completers
On-campus day care for children of students
None of the above
5. Which of the following academic library resource or service does your institution provide? [Check all that
apply]
Physical facilities
An organized collection of printed materials
Access to digital/electronic resources
A staff trained to provide and interpret library materials
Established library hours
Access to library collections that are shared with other institutions
None of the above
6. Indicate whether or not any of the following alternative tuition plans are offered by your institution.
No
Yes
Tuition guarantee
Prepaid tuition plan
Tuition payment plan
Other (specify in box below)
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End
of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the alternative tuition plans you've reported above.
These context notes will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood
by students and parents.
Part C - Student Services - Distance Education Opportunities
7. Does your institution offer distance education courses?
No
Yes
8. Are all the programs at your institution offered exclusively via distance education programs?
No
Yes
9. Please indicate at what level(s) your institution offers distance education opportunities (courses and/or
programs).
Undergraduate
Graduate
The institution does not offer distance education opportunities
Part C - Student Services: Disability Service
10. Please indicate the percentage of all undergraduate students enrolled during fall 2015 who were formally
registered as students with disabilities with the institution's office of disability services (or the equivalent
office).
3 percent or less
More than 3 percent:
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
%
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part D - Student Charges Questions
1. Are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students required to live on-campus or in institutionallycontrolled housing?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will not be asked to report off-campus room and board in the price of attendance
(D7).
This is only a screening question, and your response does not show up on College Navigator.
If you make any exceptions to this rule, and have even one full-time, first-time student living off-campus, please answer
No so that this does not cause conflicts with the Student Financial Aid survey. Making changes to the SFA component is
very difficult and may lead to inaccurate reporting for your institution.
No
Yes, and we do not make ANY (even
one) exceptions to this rule
3. Does your institution offer institutionally-controlled housing (either on or off campus)?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to specify a housing capacity, and to report a room charge or a
combined room and board charge (D10).
No
Yes
Specify housing capacity for academic
year 2016-17
4. Do you offer board or meal plans to your students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to report a board charge or combined room and board charge
(D10).
No
Yes - Enter the number of meals per
week in the maximum meal plan
available
Yes - Number of meals per week can
vary (e.g., students' charge meals
against a meal card)
Part D - Student Charges - Number of programs
5. How many programs are offered at your institution?
Be sure not to report single courses, report only full programs. If you do not know what a program is, review the
definition in the glossary or call the Help Desk.
Number of programs
Part D - Student Charges - Price of Attendance
7. Cost of attendance for entering students
Please enter ALL amounts requested below. These data will be made available to the public on College Navigator.
Estimates of expenses for books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses are those from the Cost of
Attendance report used by the financial aid office in determining financial need. Please talk to your financial aid
office to get the correct numbers to use for this report.
Note: The academic year length you report should be the same calculation used for required reporting for your Pell
budget. This number will be used to calculate academic year costs for your institution and will impact your net price
calculation. Please discuss this information with your student aid office to ensure accurate reporting.
LARGEST PROGRAM:
CIP Code
Title
Enter new largest program
If your largest program has changed from the one listed above, or if no program
appears above, click the 'enter new largest program' link, choose a program and enter
data for all three years. Note: if your institution participates in Title IV programs, you
must complete all cells.
Contact Hours
Credit Hours
How is your program
measured?
Total length of PROGRAM in contact or credit hours
Total length of PROGRAM in WEEKS, as completed by a student attending fulltime
Total length of ACADEMIC YEAR (as used to calculate your Pell budget) in
contact or credit hours
Total length of ACADEMIC YEAR (as used to calculate your Pell budget) in
WEEKS
If the institution charges an application fee, indicate the amount.
Amount
Prior year
Application fee
The following numbers need to be reported for the entire length of the program. For example, if your program is 18
months long, report 18 months worth of tuition, fees, books and supplies.
If your institution charges differently based on residence, please use in-state charges. The correct numbers should be
available from your financial aid office.
Published student charges for the entire
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
program
Tuition and required fees for
the entire program
Books and supplies for the
entire program
The following numbers need to be reported for 4 weeks (1 month).
The correct numbers should be available from your financial aid office. Off-campus numbers should be based on costs
for your area, not on national averages.
On-campus:
Room and board for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Other expenses for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Room and board and other
expenses for 4 weeks (1
month)
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Other expenses for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Room and board and other
expenses for 4 weeks (1
month)
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End
of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part D - Student Charges - Price of Attendance - Calculated values
7. Cost of attendance - Calculated values
Please review the numbers below for accuracy. If something looks incorrect, please go to the previous page and make
sure all of the numbers reported on that page are correct. If you still do not think the numbers are correct, please contact
the IPEDS Help Desk at 877-225-2568.
CIP CODE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
TITLE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
Published student charges for the entire program
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
Tuition and required fees
Books and supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses
Published student charges for an academic year
Tuition and required fees
Books and supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses
Part D - Student Charges - Program Data
8. Please list your second through sixth largest programs and provide the requested information for each
program. To enter a CIP code and program title, click on the select button, and then click on the program from
the list provided. Choosing clear will remove the CIP code and title. Report the tuition and fees and the cost of
books and supplies for the TOTAL LENGTH OF THE PROGRAM. Also report the length of the entire program in
terms of contact or credit hours and provide the number of months it takes a full-time student to complete the
entire program.
Note: The largest programs are the programs with the most students, not the programs with the longest lengths.
Please make sure to report all costs for each program. As with the largest program, costs are for the entire length of
the program.If your institution charges differently based on residence, please use in-state charges.
Do not skip lines when reporting programs. Your 2nd largest program should be listed as 2nd, your 3rd as 3rd, etc.
CIP Code
Tuition and
Total length
Program
# of months to
Cost of
required fees
of program
Measurement
complete
books and
supplies
1st
Contact
Credit
hours
hours
Title
2nd select
Contact
Credit
clear
hours
hours
Title
3rd
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
4th
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
5th
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
6th
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above.
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Academic Library Contact
Other
hours
minutes
Name:
Email:
How long did it take to prepare
this survey component?
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
Image description.
Department
Of
Education
End of image
description.
Software Provider Resources Use of Cookies
Browsers Supported
Troubleshooting
Section 508 Compliance
NCES Privacy Policy
Image description. The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System End of image description.
IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or [email protected]
NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Form
date: 8/9/2016
Institutional Characteristics for less-than-2-year academic year tuition reporters
Overview
Institutional Characteristics Overview
Welcome to the Institutional Characteristics (IC) component. This component collects important information about your
institution's mission, student services, and student charges.
Much of the data reported on IC appear on College Navigator, which is updated once after IC data has been reviewed.
Thus, errors may stay on College Navigator for a full year.
Additionally, the cost of attendance data are used to calculate the net price of attendance in the Student Financial Aid
component. This has important implications for what students see about your institution, and also for the College
Affordability and Transparency Center's lists. Revisions or changes to costs can ONLY be made in the Student
Financial Aid component and not in the prior year revision system.
Remember, it is the responsibility of the keyholder to submit accurate data about the institution. Please contact the
IPEDS Help Desk for clarifications to make sure that you are reporting correctly.
Changes to This Year’s IC Component
•
•
Common Errors
Quality control reviews of past IC data indicate frequently made errors. Please review the common errors below to
ensure accurate reporting. Additional common errors or tips can be found in the New Keyholder Handbook under
Resources.
•
Part C, question 8 should only be marked 'YES' if your institution is EXCLUSIVELY distance education. Do
not mark 'YES' if your courses/programs are also available in person.
•
Do not try to outsmart fatal errors; this is falsifying data. Contact the Help Desk to override, or fix, the data.
•
Make sure you understand ALL definitions before responding to questions. For example, make sure that you
are reporting for an 'ACADEMIC YEAR' or 'PROGRAM' as defined by IPEDS.
To download the survey materials for this component: Survey Materials
Part A - Mission Statement
1. Provide the institution's mission statement or a web address (URL) where the mission statement can be
found. Typed statements are limited to 2,000 characters or less. The mission statement will be available to the
public on College Navigator.
Mission Statement URL:
Please begin URL with "http://" or "https://"
Mission Statement
Part B - Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans
1. Which of the following are available to veterans, military servicemembers, or their families?
Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)
Credit for military training
Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military servicemembers, and their families
Recognized student veteran organization
Member of Department of Defense Voluntary Educational Partnership Memorandum of Understanding
None of the above
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part C - Student Services - Special Learning Opportunities
1. Does your institution accept any of the following? [Check all that apply]
Dual credit (college credit earned while in high school)
Credit for life experiences
Advanced placement (AP) credits
None of the above
2. What types of special learning opportunities are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
ROTC
Army
Navy
Air Force
Study abroad
Weekend/evening college
Teacher certification (for the elementary, middle school/junior high, or secondary level)
Do not include certifications to teach at the postsecondary level.
Students can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
Students must complete their preparation at another institution for certain areas of specialization
This institution is approved by the state for the initial certification or licensure of teachers
None of the above
Part C - Student Services: Other Student Services
4. Which of the following selected student services are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
Remedial services
Academic/career counseling services
Employment services for current students
Placement services for program completers
On-campus day care for children of students
None of the above
5. Which of the following academic library resource or service does your institution provide? [Check all that
apply]
Physical facilities
An organized collection of printed materials
Access to digital/electronic resources
A staff trained to provide and interpret library materials
Established library hours
Access to library collections that are shared with other institutions
None of the above
6. Indicate whether or not any of the following alternative tuition plans are offered by your institution.
No
Yes
Tuition guarantee
Prepaid tuition plan
Tuition payment plan
Other (specify in box below)
Image
description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End
of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the alternative tuition plans you've reported above.
These context notes will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood
by students and parents.
Part C - Student Services - Distance Education Opportunities
7. Does your institution offer distance education courses?
No
Yes
8. Are all the programs at your institution offered exclusively via distance education programs?
No
Yes
9. Please indicate at what level(s) your institution offers distance education opportunities (courses and/or
programs).
Undergraduate
Graduate
The institution does not offer distance education opportunities
Part C - Student Services: Disability Service
10. Please indicate the percentage of all undergraduate students enrolled during fall 2015 who were formally
registered as students with disabilities with the institution's office of disability services (or the equivalent
office).
3 percent or less
More than 3 percent:
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%
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part D - Student Charges Questions
1. Are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students required to live on campus or in institutionallycontrolled housing?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will not be asked to report off-campus room and board in the price of attendance
(D11).
This is only a screening question, and your response does not show up on College Navigator.
If you make any exceptions to this rule, and have even one full-time, first-time student living off-campus, please answer
No so that this does not cause conflicts with the Student Financial Aid survey. Making changes to the SFA component is
very difficult and may lead to inaccurate reporting for your institution.
No
Yes, and we do not make ANY (even
one) exceptions to this rule
2. Does your institution charge different tuition for in-district, in-state, or out-of-state students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to report tuition amounts for in-district, in-state, and out-of-state
students.
Please only select Yes if you really charge different tuition rates, or you will be reporting the same numbers 3 times.
No
Yes
3. Does your institution offer institutionally-controlled housing (either on or off campus)?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to specify a housing capacity, and to report a room charge or a
combined room and board charge (D10).
No
Yes
Specify housing capacity for academic
year 2016-17
4. Do you offer board or meal plans to your students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to report a board charge or combined room and board charge
(D10).
No
Yes - Enter the number of meals per
week in the maximum meal plan
available
Yes - Number of meals per week can
vary (e.g., students' charge meals
against a meal card)
Part D - Undergraduate Student Charges
If the institution charges an application fee, indicate the amount.
Prior year
Amount
Application fee
5. Charges to full-time students for the full academic year 2016-17
Please be sure to report an average tuition that includes all students at all levels (freshman, sophomore, etc.).
In-district
Prior year
In-state
Prior year
Out-of-state
Prior year
All full-time students
Average tuition
Required fees
6. Per credit hour charge for part-time students
Please be sure to report an average per credit tuition that includes all students at all levels (freshman, sophomore, etc.).
In-district
Per credit hour charge
Prior year
In-state
Prior year
Out-of-state
Prior year
Part D - Student Charges - Price of Attendance
11. Cost of attendance for full-time, first-time students:
Please enter the amounts requested below. These data will be made available to the public on College Navigator. If
your institution participates in any Title IV programs (Pell, Stafford, etc.), you must complete all information. Estimates of
expenses for books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses are those from the Cost of Attendance report
used by the financial aid office in determining financial need. Please talk to your financial aid office to get these
numbers, to ensure that you are reporting correctly.
If the 2016-17 tuition and/or fees as reported on this page for full-time, first-time students are covered by a tuition
guarantee program, check the applicable box(es) under 'Tuition Guarantee'. Additionally, please indicate the maximum
% increase that is guaranteed. These numbers are expected to be fairly small. Please contact the Help Desk if you are
confused about these values and how to report them.
Charges for full
2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
2016-17
academic year
Published tuition and required fees:
Guaranteed
Tuition Guarantee
increase %
(check only if applicable to
entering students in 201617)
In-district
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees
total
In-state
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees
total
Out-of-state
Tuition
Required fees
Tuition + fees
total
Books and
supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board
and other
expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board
and other
expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses
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the College
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description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Academic Library Contact
Other
hours
minutes
Name:
Email:
How long did it take to prepare
this survey component?
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
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Of
Education
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Software Provider Resources
Browsers Supported
Use of Cookies
Troubleshooting
Section 508 Compliance
NCES Privacy Policy
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(877) 225-2568 or [email protected]
NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Form
date: 8/9/2016
Institutional Characteristics for less-than-2-year program tuition reporters
Overview
Institutional Characteristics Overview
Welcome to the Institutional Characteristics (IC) component. This component collects important information about your
institution's mission, student services, and student charges.
Much of the data reported on IC appear on College Navigator, which is updated once after IC data has been reviewed.
Thus, errors may stay on College Navigator for a full year.
Additionally, the cost of attendance data are used to calculate the net price of attendance in the Student Financial Aid
component. This has important implications for what students see about your institution, and also for the College
Affordability and Transparency Center's lists. Revisions or changes to costs can ONLY be made in the Student
Financial Aid component and not in the prior year revision system.
Remember, it is the responsibility of the keyholder to submit accurate data about the institution. Please contact the
IPEDS Help Desk for clarifications to make sure that you are reporting correctly.
•
•
Common Errors
Quality control reviews of past IC data indicate frequently made errors. Please review the common errors below to
ensure accurate reporting. Additional common errors or tips can be found in the New Keyholder Handbook under
Resources.
•
Part C, question 8 should only be marked 'YES' if your institution is EXCLUSIVELY distance education. Do
not mark 'YES' if your courses/programs are also available in person.
•
Do not try to outsmart fatal errors; this is falsifying data. Contact the Help Desk to override, or fix, the data.
•
Make sure you understand ALL definitions before responding to questions. For example, make sure that you
are reporting for an 'ACADEMIC YEAR' or 'PROGRAM' as defined by IPEDS.
To download the survey materials for this component: Survey Materials
Part A - Mission Statement
1. Provide the institution's mission statement or a web address (URL) where the mission statement can be
found. Typed statements are limited to 2,000 characters or less. The mission statement will be available to the
public on College Navigator.
Mission Statement URL:
Please begin URL with "http://" or "https://"
Mission Statement
Part B - Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans
1. Which of the following are available to veterans, military servicemembers, or their families?
Yellow Ribbon Program (officially known as Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon Program)
Credit for military training
Dedicated point of contact for support services for veterans, military servicemembers, and their families
Recognized student veteran organization
Member of Department of Defense Voluntary Educational Partnership Memorandum of Understanding
None of the above
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posted
the
College
Navigator.
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description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part C - Student Services - Special Learning Opportunities
1. Does your institution accept any of the following? [Check all that apply]
Dual credit (college credit earned while in high school)
Credit for life experiences
Advanced placement (AP) credits
None of the above
2. What types of special learning opportunities are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
ROTC
Army
Navy
Air Force
Study abroad
Weekend/evening college
Teacher certification (for the elementary, middle school/junior high, or secondary level)
Do not include certifications to teach at the postsecondary level.
Students can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
Students must complete their preparation at another institution for certain areas of specialization
This institution is approved by the state for the initial certification or licensure of teachers
None of the above
Part C - Student Services: Other Student Services
4. Which of the following selected student services are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
Remedial services
Academic/career counseling services
Employment services for current students
Placement services for program completers
On-campus day care for children of students
None of the above
5. Which of the following academic library resource or service does your institution provide? [Check all that
apply]
Physical facilities
An organized collection of printed materials
Access to digital/electronic resources
A staff trained to provide and interpret library materials
Established library hours
Access to library collections that are shared with other institutions
None of the above
6. Indicate whether or not any of the following alternative tuition plans are offered by your institution.
No
Yes
Tuition guarantee
Prepaid tuition plan
Tuition payment plan
Other (specify in box below)
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You may use the space below to provide context for the alternative tuition plans you've reported above.
These context notes will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood
by students and parents.
Part C - Student Services - Distance Education Opportunities
7. Does your institution offer distance education courses?
No
Yes
8. Are all the programs at your institution offered exclusively via distance education programs?
No
Yes
9. Please indicate at what level(s) your institution offers distance education opportunities (courses and/or
programs).
Undergraduate
Graduate
The institution does not offer distance education opportunities
Part C - Student Services: Disability Service
10. Please indicate the percentage of all undergraduate students enrolled during fall 2015 who were formally
registered as students with disabilities with the institution's office of disability services (or the equivalent
office).
3 percent or less
More than 3 percent:
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description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End of image
description.
%
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part D - Student Charges Questions
1. Are all full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students required to live on-campus or in institutionallycontrolled housing?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will not be asked to report off-campus room and board in the price of attendance
(D7).
This is only a screening question, and your response does not show up on College Navigator.
If you make any exceptions to this rule, and have even one full-time, first-time student living off-campus, please answer
No so that this does not cause conflicts with the Student Financial Aid survey. Making changes to the SFA component is
very difficult and may lead to inaccurate reporting for your institution.
No
Yes, and we do not make ANY (even
one) exceptions to this rule
3. Does your institution offer institutionally-controlled housing (either on or off campus)?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to specify a housing capacity, and to report a room charge or a
combined room and board charge (D10).
No
Yes
Specify housing capacity for academic
year 2016-17
4. Do you offer board or meal plans to your students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be expected to report a board charge or combined room and board charge
(D10).
No
Yes - Enter the number of meals per
week in the maximum meal plan
available
Yes - Number of meals per week can
vary (e.g., students' charge meals
against a meal card)
Part D - Student Charges - Number of programs
5. How many programs are offered at your institution?
Be sure not to report single courses, report only full programs. If you do not know what a program is, review the
definition in the glossary or call the Help Desk.
Number of programs
Part D - Student Charges - Price of Attendance
7. Cost of attendance for entering students
Please enter ALL amounts requested below. These data will be made available to the public on College Navigator.
Estimates of expenses for books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses are those from the Cost of
Attendance report used by the financial aid office in determining financial need. Please talk to your financial aid
office to get the correct numbers to use for this report.
Note: The academic year length you report should be the same calculation used for required reporting for your Pell
budget. This number will be used to calculate academic year costs for your institution and will impact your net price
calculation. Please discuss this information with your student aid office to ensure accurate reporting.
LARGEST PROGRAM:
CIP Code
Title
Enter new largest program
If your largest program has changed from the one listed above, or if no program
appears above, click the 'enter new largest program' link, choose a program and enter
data for all three years. Note: if your institution participates in Title IV programs, you
must complete all cells.
Contact Hours
Credit Hours
How is your program
measured?
Total length of PROGRAM in contact or credit hours
Total length of PROGRAM in WEEKS, as completed by a student attending fulltime
Total length of ACADEMIC YEAR (as used to calculate your Pell budget) in
contact or credit hours
Total length of ACADEMIC YEAR (as used to calculate your Pell budget) in
WEEKS
If the institution charges an application fee, indicate the amount.
Amount
Prior year
Application fee
The following numbers need to be reported for the entire length of the program. For example, if your program is 18
months long, report 18 months worth of tuition, fees, books and supplies.
If your institution charges differently based on residence, please use in-state charges. The correct numbers should be
available from your financial aid office.
Published student charges for the entire
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
program
Tuition and required fees for
the entire program
Books and supplies for the
entire program
The following numbers need to be reported for 4 weeks (1 month).
The correct numbers should be available from your financial aid office. Off-campus numbers should be based on costs
for your area, not on national averages.
On-campus:
Room and board for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Other expenses for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Room and board and other
expenses for 4 weeks (1
month)
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Other expenses for 4 weeks
(1 month)
Room and board and other
expenses for 4 weeks (1
month)
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses for 4 weeks
(1 month)
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description.
These
context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
Navigator.
End
of image
description.
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part D - Student Charges - Price of Attendance - Calculated values
7. Cost of attendance - Calculated values
Please review the numbers below for accuracy. If something looks incorrect, please go to the previous page and make
sure all of the numbers reported on that page are correct. If you still do not think the numbers are correct, please contact
the IPEDS Help Desk at 877-225-2568.
CIP CODE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
TITLE OF LARGEST PROGRAM
Published student charges for the entire program
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
Tuition and required fees
Books and supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses
Published student charges for an academic year
Tuition and required fees
Books and supplies
On-campus:
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (not with family):
Room and board
Other expenses
Room and board and other expenses
Off-campus (with family):
Other expenses
Part D - Student Charges - Program Data
8. Please list your second through sixth largest programs and provide the requested information for each
program. To enter a CIP code and program title, click on the select button, and then click on the program from
the list provided. Choosing clear will remove the CIP code and title. Report the tuition and fees and the cost of
books and supplies for the TOTAL LENGTH OF THE PROGRAM. Also report the length of the entire program in
terms of contact or credit hours and provide the number of months it takes a full-time student to complete the
entire program.
Note: The largest programs are the programs with the most students, not the programs with the longest lengths.
Please make sure to report all costs for each program. As with the largest program, costs are for the entire length of
the program.If your institution charges differently based on residence, please use in-state charges.
Do not skip lines when reporting programs. Your 2nd largest program should be listed as 2nd, your 3rd as 3rd, etc.
CIP Code
Tuition and
Total length
Program
# of months to
Cost of
required fees
of program
Measurement
complete
books and
supplies
1st
Contact
Credit
hours
hours
Title
2nd select
Contact
Credit
clear
hours
hours
Title
3rd
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
4th
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
5th
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
6th
select
clear
Title
Contact
hours
Credit
hours
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above.
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Academic Library Contact
Other
hours
minutes
Name:
Email:
How long did it take to prepare
this survey component?
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
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Of
Education
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Browsers Supported
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IPEDS Help Desk
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NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Instructions
date: 8/9/2016
Institutional Characteristics
Purpose of Institutional Characteristics Survey
Changes in Reporting
General Instructions
Context Boxes
Coverage
Where to Get Help
Where the Data Will Appear
Reporting Directions
Part A - Mission Statement and Distance Education
Part B - Services and Programs for Servicemembers and Veterans
Part C - Student Services
Part D - Student Charges
Part E - Athletic Association
Part F - Branch Campus
Purpose of Survey
The primary purpose of the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (IC) component is to collect basic institutional
information including mission, student services, and athletic association. IC also collects student charges data
including tuition for different levels and cost data for first-time, full-time students either for programs or for an
academic year. This includes tuition and fee data as well as information on the estimated student budgets for students
based on living situations (on-campus or off-campus). The cost numbers are also used in the SFA survey during the
Winter collection to calculate net price of attendance.
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Changes in Reporting
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General instructions
Context Boxes
Context boxes are provided to allow institutions to provide more information regarding survey component items. Note
that some context boxes are posted on the College Navigator Website, which is the college search tool offered by
NCES. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting them on the
College Navigator Website; institutions should check grammar and spelling of their entries.
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Coverage
Carefully read each question in the Institutional Characteristics survey to ensure you are reporting data for the
appropriate students. The student groups for which data are collected vary throughout the IC survey (e.g.,
undergraduate and graduate). In general, for each group, ensure that the guidelines below are met.
A. Who to include
•
Students enrolled in courses creditable toward a diploma, certificate, degree, or other formal award.
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled in courses that are part of a vocational or occupational program, including those enrolled in
off-campus centers.
High school students taking regular college courses for credit under their classification as recorded by the
institution.
Full-time students taking remedial courses if the student is considered degree-seeking for the purpose of
student financial aid determination.
Students from overseas enrolled in U.S. courses (e.g., online students).
Graduate students enrolled for thesis credits, even when zero credits are awarded, as these students are still
enrolled and seeking their degree.
B. Who NOT to include
•
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled exclusively in courses not creditable toward a formal award or the completion of a vocational
program.
Students taking Continuing Education Units (CEUs) unless they are also enrolled in courses creditable toward a
degree or other formal award.
Students exclusively auditing classes.
Residents or interns in Doctor's - professional practice fields, since they have already received their Doctor's
degree.
Any student studying abroad (e.g., at a foreign university) if their enrollment at this institution is only an
administrative record and the fee is nominal.
Students in any branch campus located in a foreign country.
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Where to Get Help with Reporting
IPEDS Help Desk
Phone: 1-877-225-2568
Email: [email protected]
Web Tutorials
You can also consult the IPEDS Website Trainings & Outreach page which contains several tutorials on IPEDS data
collection, a self-paced overview of IPEDS tools, and other valuable resources.
IPEDS Resource Page
The IPEDS Website Reporting Tools page contains frequently asked questions, a link to data tip sheets, tutorials,
taxonomies, information centers (e.g., academic libraries, average net price, human resources, race/ethnicity, etc.),
and other valuable information.
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Where the Reported Data Will Appear
Data collected through IPEDS will be accessible at the institution- and aggregate-levels.
At the institution-level, data will appear in the:
•
•
•
•
College Navigator Website
IPEDS Data Center
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
College Affordability and Transparency Center Website
At the aggregate-level, data will appear in:
•
•
•
•
•
IPEDS First Looks
IPEDS Table Library
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
The Digest of Education Statistics
The Condition of Education
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Reporting Directions
Part A – Mission Statement
Mission Statement
Provide your institution's mission statement or a web address (please begin with http:// or https://) where the
statement can be found. Typed statements are limited to 2,000 characters. The mission statement will be available to
the public on College Navigator.
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Part B - Services for Military Servicemembers, Veterans, and Eligible Family Members
Services and Programs for Military Servicemembers and Veterans
Indicate which of the following are offered to veterans, military servicemembers, or their families.
For the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon program, please choose this only if the Yellow Ribbon program is available at
your institution.
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Part C - Student Services
Special learning opportunities
Special credit
Indicate if your institution accepts credit earned prior to admission through any of the sources listed.
Special learning opportunities
Indicate if the listed special learning opportunities are offered by your institution. Teacher certification refers to pre-K
through 12; if the institution only provides certification for some levels (e.g., elementary only and not secondary), be
sure to indicate that only certain levels are offered.
Years of study required for entry (Not applicable to less-than-4-year institutions)
If the institution limits entrance to students who have completed certain academic requirements, select the years of
study required for entry. For example, upper division only schools may require 2 years (60 credits) of study prior to
admittance, and schools that offer only graduate programs may require bachelor's degrees or 4 years of study for
entrance.
Student services
Student services
Indicate which of the listed services are offered by the institution.
Library
Indicate whether your institution offers any of the listed resources or services. If none of the listed resources/services
apply, select "None of the above".
Alternative tuition plans
Indicate if your institution offers any alternative tuition plans. Use the context box on the bottom of the page to
provide details about tuition plans for College Navigator. Please provide only factual information, context boxes are
reviewed and inappropriate information (such as marketing information) will be removed.
Distance education opportunities
Distance education is one that uses one or more technologies to deliver instruction to students who are separated from
the instructor and to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor
synchronously or asynchronously.
Requirements for coming to campus for orientation, testing, or academic support services do not exclude a course
from being classified as distance education. Technologies used for instruction may include the following: Internet; oneway and two-way transmissions through open broadcasts, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber
optics, satellite or wireless communication devices; audio conferencing; and video cassette, DVDs, and CD-ROMs, if
the cassette, DVDs, and CD-ROMs are used in a course in conjunction with the technologies listed above.
Distance education courses
Indicate whether or not your institution offers distance education courses. A distance education course is a course in
which the instructional content is delivered exclusively via distance education.
Exclusively distance education programs
Indicate whether or not ALL programs offered by your institution are delivered exclusively via distance education,
meaning all the required coursework for program completion is able to be completed via distance education courses.
Distance education levels
Indicate whether you offer distance education opportunities (courses and/or programs) at the undergraduate level
and/or graduate level. If you offer distance education at both levels, please check both boxes. If you do not offer
distance education opportunities, please select the last option.
Disabilities
Please indicate the percentage of all undergraduate students enrolled in the time period indicated on screen who were
formally registered as students with disabilities with the institution's office of disability services (or the equivalent
office). This may include students with physical or learning disabilities, as well as other types of disabilities. If greater
than 3% of students are registered as having a disability, you will need to indicate a percentage.
Please use the context box on the page to provide information, such as the webpage for your disabilities services
website.
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Part D - Student Charges
Screening questions
If you responded to questions regarding full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students in the
Institutional Characteristics Header survey, your institution will be required to answer all the questions.
On-campus or institutionally controlled off-campus housing requirement
Indicate if ALL full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students are required to live on campus or in
institutionally controlled off-campus housing. If you make ANY exceptions, you should not select this as a
requirement, as this will cause inconsistencies in your reporting between this section and the Student
Financial Aid survey calculation of net price.
This question is a screening question, and does not appear on College Navigator. Please respond correctly.
Tuition based on residence
Indicate if the institution charges a different price for students from in-district, in-state, or out-of-state.
Institutionally controlled housing
Indicate if the institution provides institutionally controlled housing (either on- or off-campus) and if so, specify the
housing capacity.
Meal plans
Indicate if the institution offers board or meal plans to students. If the institution offers fixed meal plans, provide the
number of meals per week in the maximum plan available. Institutions will be asked to report the board charges or
combined room and board charges on later screens.
Tuition and fees for undergraduate students (academic year reporters)
Undergraduate students include:
•
•
•
Students who have not obtained a bachelor's degree;
Students in bachelor's degree programs that require at least 4 years but fewer than 6 years of college work; or
Students in occupational or general study programs requiring 1, 2, or 3 years of college work that are
designed to prepare students for immediate employment or to provide general education rather than to serve
as the first 1, 2, or 3 years of a bachelor's degree program.
Undergraduate application fee
If the institution charges an application fee, indicate the amount. An application fee is the amount of money that an
institution charges for processing a student's application for admittance to the institution. This amount is not creditable
toward tuition or required fees, nor is it refundable if the student is not admitted to the institution.
Tuition and required fees for undergraduate students
This tuition value differs from cost of attendance as it is the average tuition and fees for ALL undergraduate students
and all levels (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, etc.). It is possible that this number will be different from the cost
of attendance that you will report if you have first-time, full-time students.
Since tuition and required fees and room and board charges may be different for varying groups of full-time
undergraduate students at an institution, adhere to the following rules regarding reporting:
•
•
•
•
•
Report the average tuition and required fees for the full academic year charged to in-district, in-state, and outof-state students. If you selected ‘yes’ for the screening question that you charge different tuitions for indistrict, in-state, and out-of-state, provide amounts in all columns even if two are the same. If they are all the
same, go back to the screening question that asks about this and indicate that you do not charge different
tuitions.
If the institution charges tuition on a per-credit-hour basis, estimate average tuition based on the average fulltime credit-hour load for an entire academic year.
When reporting required fees, include all fixed sum charges that are REQUIRED of a majority of students.
Do not include any charges that are clearly optional.
If the institution has a single lump sum charge for tuition, required fees, and room and board, enter the
amount as a comprehensive fee.
Per-credit-hour charges for part-time undergraduate students
Enter the average dollar amount your institution charges to part-time undergraduate students per credit hour of
instruction. If you selected ‘yes’ for the screening question that you charge different tuitions for in-district, in-state,
and out-of-state, provide amounts in all columns even if two are the same. If they are all the same, go back to the
screening question that asks about this and indicate that you do not charge different tuitions.
Tuition and fees for graduate students
Graduate students include any student who holds a bachelor's degree or equivalent, and is taking courses at the
post-baccalaureate level. These students may or may not be enrolled in graduate programs.
Graduate application fee
If the institution charges an application fee, indicate the amount. An application fee is the amount of money that an
institution charges for processing a student's application for admittance to the institution. This amount is not creditable
toward tuition or required fees, nor is it refundable if the student is not admitted to the institution.
Tuition and required fees for graduate students
Since tuition and required fees may be different for varying groups of full-time graduate students at an institution,
adhere to the following rules regarding reporting:
•
•
•
•
Do not include doctor’s-professional practice tuition. This will be collected separately.
Report the average tuition and required fees charged to full-time graduate students for the full academic year.
If you selected ‘yes’ for the screening question that you charge different tuitions for in-district, in-state, and
out-of-state, provide amounts in all columns even if two are the same. If they are all the same, go back to the
screening question that asks about this and indicate that you do not charge different tuitions.
When reporting required fees, include all fixed sum charges that are REQUIRED of a majority of students.
Do not include any charges that are clearly optional.
Per-credit-hour charges for part-time graduate students
Enter the dollar amount the institution most frequently charges to part-time graduate students per credit hour of
instruction. If you selected ‘yes’ for the screening question that you charge different tuitions for in-district, in-state,
and out-of-state, provide amounts in all columns even if two are the same. If they are all the same, go back to the
screening question that asks about this and indicate that you do not charge different tuitions.
Doctor's - professional practice tuition and fees
Report the tuition and fees (if applicable, for both in- and out-of-state) for students in the selected professional
practice programs.
Number of programs (program reporters only)
Provide the total number of occupational programs offered by your institution. A program is a combination of courses
and related activities organized for the attainment of broad educational objectives as described by the institution.
Please do not count single courses as a program.
Room and Board
Institutions that offer institutionally controlled housing (either on- or off- campus) will be required to answer the
questions in this section.
Report the typical room charge for the full academic year (as indicated on screen) for a full-time student sharing a
room with one other student. Report the board charge based on the maximum meal plan available for the full
academic year (as indicated on screen) to a full-time student. Report a combined room and board charge only if room
and board charges cannot be separated.
•
•
If your institution offers room (housing) but does not offer board, refer to your institution’s cost of attendance
budgets from your financial aid office to report an estimate of how much students would spend on board.
If your institution offers board but does not offer room (housing), refer to your institution’s cost of attendance
budgets from your financial aid office to report an estimate of how much students would spend on room.
Academic year reporters cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate students
If you made errors in the prior year reporting, you will need to make changes in the Student Financial Aid component
in the Winter. There are no changes in the Prior Year Revision System.
This question requires working with your student financial aid office.
Institutions with standard academic terms (semesters, quarters, trimesters, or 4-1-4 or hybrid institutions) should
provide cost information for in-district, in-state, and out-of-state students for the FULL ACADEMIC YEAR in the
columns indicated. The numbers reported for tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses
must match the amounts used by your financial aid office for determining eligibility for student financial assistance. If
your institution has a single lump sum charge for tuition, required fees, and room and board, enter the amount as a
comprehensive fee. You will not be able to lock your submission without these data.
Report BOTH tuition and fees, separately. Please report accurately as these numbers are used in the calculation of net
price during the Student Financial Aid survey. Net price appears to the public in College Navigator, including the
College Affordability and Transparency Center, as mandated in accordance with Sec. 111 of the Higher Education
Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA).
Indicate whether the tuition and/or fees reported are covered by a tuition guarantee plan. If they are, but it is not a
flat rate, please provide the guaranteed maximum rate of increase.
Program reporters cost (price) of attendance
Institutions with no full-time, first-time students will report the six largest programs on one page, and should follow
the directions under ‘Reporting the next 5 largest programs’ to report these data.
Reporting the largest program
Errors can be corrected in the Student Financial Aid component in the Winter.
This question requires working with your student financial aid office.
This section asks questions about the largest program your institution has offered for entering students. Institutions
that provided data for the largest program in the prior year will see pre-loaded data (when CIP code has changed, you
will need to update the CIP with an appropriate CIP). If the largest program has changed, check the box provided and
indicate a different program. You will be required to enter data for all 4 years as indicated on the screen.
To enter or change the largest program
•
•
•
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•
Select the CIP category code from the first drop-down box and title from the second drop-down box. If you
need to restore the pre-loaded information, click the reset button at bottom of the screen.
Provide the total length of program in contact or credit hours and in weeks (as completed by a student
attending full-time).
Provide the total length of the academic year, as used to calculate your Pell budget, in contact or credit hours
and in weeks.
Enter an application fee (if applicable).
Provide amounts for tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses FOR THE
TIME PERIOD INDICATED (either for the length of the program, or for 4 weeks). These are the amounts
used by your financial aid office for determining eligibility for student financial assistance.
Note: Programs of English as a second language and GED courses are not to be included in IPEDS. Institutions should
report their largest program based on enrollment size, regardless of whether or not that program is Title IV.
Reporting the next 5 largest programs
This section asks questions about the next 5 largest programs your institution offers for entering students (or, if you
have no full-time, first-time students, the 6 largest programs).
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•
•
•
•
•
Only if reporting 6 largest programs because you do not have full-time, first-time students, enter an
application fee (if applicable).
Select the CIP category code from the first drop-down box and title from the second drop-down box. If you
need to restore the pre-loaded information, click the reset button at bottom of the screen.
Enter the tuition and required fees charged for the entire length of the program.
Enter the cost of books and supplies for the program.
Report the full length of the program and indicate whether the length of the entire program is measured in
contact or credit hours.
Report the number of months it takes a full-time student to complete the program.
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Part E - Athletic Association
Indicate if the institution is a member of a national athletic association.
For institutions belonging to NCAA or NAIA, select the conference (by sport) from the drop list provided.
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Part F - Campus information
For campuses, refer to the instructions on the appropriate screen.
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date: 8/9/2016
Glossary
Term
Definition
Academic year
The period of time generally extending from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters or trimesters, 3
quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
Application fee
That amount of money that an institution charges for processing a student's application for admittance to the
institution. This amount is not creditable toward tuition or required fees, nor is it refundable if the student is not
admitted to the institution.
Board charges
Charges assessed students for an academic year for meals.
Board plan
The method for providing meals to students during an academic year. Plans may include a specific charge for a
specified number of meals per week or a specified amount against which students may charge their meals.
Books and supplies
The average cost of books and supplies for a typical student for an entire academic year (or program). Does not
include unusual costs for special groups of students (e.g., engineering or art majors), unless they constitute the
majority of students at an institution.
CIP code
A six-digit code in the form xx.xxxx that identifies instructional program specialties within educational institutions.
Classification of Instructional
Programs (CIP)
A taxonomic coding scheme for secondary and postsecondary instructional programs. It is intended to facilitate the
organization, collection, and reporting of program data using classifications that capture the majority of reportable
data. The CIP is the accepted federal government statistical standard on instructional program classifications and is
used in a variety of education information surveys and databases.
Clock hour
A unit of measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction given to students. Also referred to as contact
hour.
Comprehensive fee
A single fixed amount of money charged by an institution that covers tuition, required fees, room, and board. For
some institutions, this amount may also cover books and supplies.
Contact hour
A unit of measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction given to students. Also referred to as clock hour.
Counseling service
Activities designed to assist students in making plans and decisions related to their education, career, or personal
development.
Credit for life experiences
Credit earned by students for what they have learned through independent study, noncredit adult courses, work
experience, portfolio demonstration, previous licensure or certification, or completion of other learning opportunities
(military, government, or professional). Credit may also be awarded through a credit by examination program.
Credit for Military Training
Postsecondary credit granted by institutions to military servicemen or veterans for experiences and training gained
while in the service.
Credit hour
A unit of measure representing the equivalent of an hour (50 minutes) of instruction per week over the entire term.
It is applied toward the total number of credit hours needed for completing the requirements of a degree, diploma,
certificate, or other formal award.
Day care service
A student service designed to provide appropriate care and protection of infants, preschool, and school-age children
so their parents can participate in postsecondary education programs .
Degree/certificate-seeking
students
Students enrolled in courses for credit who are seeking a degree, certificate, or other formal award. This includes
students who:
- received any type of federal financial aid, regardless of what courses they took at any time;
- received any state or locally based financial aid with an eligibility requirement that the student be enrolled in a
degree, certificate, or transfer-seeking program; or
- obtained a student visa to study at a U.S. postsecondary institution
High school students also enrolled in postsecondary courses for credit are not considered degree/certificate-seeking.
Department of Defense
Voluntary Education Program
Memorandum of
Understanding
A voluntary program that functions to expand and improve postsecondary opportunities for servicemembers
worldwide. It is funded by the Department of Defense through a contract with the American Association of State
Colleges and Universities (AASCU).
Disability services
Programs designed to provide reasonable academic accommodations and support services to empower students who
have disabilities to competitively pursue postsecondary education. May also include assistance to campus
departments in providing access to services and programs in the most integrated setting possible.
Distance education
Education that uses one or more technologies to deliver instruction to students who are separated from the
instructor and to support regular and substantive interaction between the students and the instructor synchronously
or asynchronously.
Technologies used for instruction may include the following: Internet; one-way and two-way transmissions through
open broadcasts, closed circuit, cable, microwave, broadband lines, fiber optics, satellite or wireless communication
devices; audio conferencing; and video cassette, DVDs, and CD-ROMs, if the cassette, DVDs, and CD-ROMs are used
in a course in conjunction with the technologies listed above.
Distance education course
A course in which the instructional content is delivered exclusively via distance education. Requirements for coming
to campus for orientation, testing, or academic support services do not exclude a course from being classified as
distance education.
Distance education program
A program for which all the required coursework for program completion is able to be completed via distance
education courses.
Doctor's degree-professional
practice
A doctor's degree that is conferred upon completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for the
recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice. The degree is awarded after a period of study
such that the total time to the degree, including both pre-professional and professional preparation, equals at least
six full-time equivalent academic years. Some of these degrees were formerly classified as first-professional and
may include: Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.); Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.); Law (J.D.); Medicine (M.D.); Optometry
(O.D.); Osteopathic Medicine (D.O); Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); Podiatry (D.P.M., Pod.D., D.P.); or, Veterinary Medicine
(D.V.M.), and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Dual credit
A program through which high school students are enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses, taught at their high
school, that fulfill high school graduation requirements and may earn the student college credits .
Employment services for
current students
Activities intended to assist students in obtaining part-time employment as a means of defraying part of the cost of
their education.
First-time student
(undergraduate)
A student who has no prior postsecondary experience (except as noted below) attending any institution for the first
time at the undergraduate level. This includes students enrolled in academic or occupational programs. It also
includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and
students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school).
Full-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, or 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more
contact hours a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for 9 or more semester credits, or 9 or more quarter
credits, or a student involved in thesis or dissertation preparation that is considered full-time by the institution.
Doctor's degree - Professional practice - as defined by the institution.
Governing board
An entity that ensures on behalf of the public the performance of an institution or a group of institutions.
Responsibilities of the board may include appointing, supporting, and monitoring the president of the institution;
reviewing educational and public service programs; insisting on strategic planning; and, ensuring good management
and adequate resources.
Graduate student
A student who holds a bachelor's degree or above and is taking courses at the postbaccalaureate level. These
students may or may not be enrolled in graduate programs.
Housing capacity
The maximum number of students for which an institution can provide residential facilities, whether on or off
campus.
In-district student
A student who is a legal resident of the locality in which he/she attends school and thus is entitled to reduced tuition
charges if offered by the institution.
In-district tuition
The tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school. This may
be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution.
In-state student
A student who is a legal resident of the state in which he/she attends school.
In-state tuition
The tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements.
Institutionally controlled
housing
Any residence hall or housing facility located on- or off-campus that is owned or controlled by an institution and used
by the institution in direct support of or in a manner related to, the institution's educational purposes.
Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System
(IPEDS)
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), conducted by the NCES, began in 1986 and involves
annual institution-level data collections. All postsecondary institutions that have a Program Participation Agreement
with the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), U.S. Department of Education (throughout IPEDS referred to as
"Title IV") are required to report data using a web-based data collection system. IPEDS currently consists of the
following components: Institutional Characteristics (IC); 12-month Enrollment (E12);Completions (C); Admissions
(ADM); Student Financial Aid (SFA); Human Resources (HR) composed of Employees by Assigned Position, Fall Staff,
and Salaries; Fall Enrollment (EF); Graduation Rates (GR); Outcome Measures (OM); Finance (F); and Academic
Libraries (AL).
Library
An organized collection of printed, microform, and audiovisual materials which (a) is administered as one or more
units, (b) is located in one or more designated places, and (c) makes printed, microform, and audiovisual materials
as well as necessary equipment and services of a staff accessible to students and to faculty. Includes units meeting
the above definition which are part of a learning resource center.
Net price
The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 defines institutional net price as "the average yearly price actually
charged to first-time, full-time undergraduate students receiving student aid at an institution of higher education
after deducting such aid." In IPEDS, average institutional net price is generated by subtracting the average amount
of federal, state/local government, or institutional grant and scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total
cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state for public
institutions), books and supplies, and the weighted average for room and board and other expenses. Cost of
attendance data are collected in the Institutional Characteristics (IC) component of IPEDS, and financial aid data are
collected in the Student Financial Aid (SFA) component of IPEDS.
Off-campus (not with family)
A living arrangement in which a student does not live with the student's parents or legal guardians in any housing
facility that is not owned or controlled by the educational institution.
Off-campus (with family)
A living arrangement in which a student lives with the student's parents or legal guardians in any housing facility
that is not owned or controlled by the educational institution.
Off-campus housing
Any housing facility that is occupied by students but is not owned or controlled by the educational institution.
On-campus housing
Any residence hall or housing facility owned or controlled by an institution within the same reasonably contiguous
geographic area and used by the institution in direct support of or in a manner related to, the institution's
educational purposes.
Other expenses
The amount of money (estimated by the financial aid office) needed by a student to cover expenses such as laundry,
transportation, and entertainment.
Out-of-state student
A student who is not a legal resident of the state in which he/she attends school.
Out-of-state tuition
The tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the institution's or state's residency
requirements.
Part-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for either less than 12 semester or quarter credits, or less than 24 contact hours
a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for less than 9 semester or quarter credits.
Placement services for
program completers
Assistance for students in evaluating their career alternatives and in obtaining full-time employment upon leaving
the institution.
Post 9/11 GI Bill
A federal education benefit program for veterans, who served on active duty after September 10, 2001. This
Department of Veteran Affairs benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits at an approved institution for
the following college costs: tuition and fees, books and supplies and housing. The tuition and fees payment, which is
the cost for an in-state student attending a public institution, is made directly to the postsecondary institution
whereas payments for books and supplies and housing are sent directly to the student.
Postsecondary education
institution
An institution which has as its sole purpose or one of its primary missions, the provision of postsecondary education.
Prepaid tuition plan
A program that allows students or their families to purchase college tuition or tuition credits for future years, at
current prices.
Program
A combination of courses and related activities organized for the attainment of broad educational objectives as
described by the institution.
Remedial services
Instructional activities designed for students deficient in the general competencies necessary for a regular
postsecondary curriculum and educational setting.
Required fees
Fixed sum charged to students for items not covered by tuition and required of such a large proportion of all
students that the student who does not pay the charge is an exception.
Room charges
The charges for an academic year for rooming accommodations for a typical student sharing a room with one other
student.
Servicemembers Opportunity
Colleges
A membership group of over 1,700 institutions that functions to expand and improve voluntary postsecondary
opportunities for servicemembers worldwide. It is funded by the Department of Defense through a contract with the
American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).
Shared library
A facility housing an organized collection of printed, microform, and audiovisual materials, and (a) is jointly
administered by more than one educational institution, or (b) whose funds or operating expenditures have been
received from more than one educational institution. The location of the facility is not a determining factor.
Study abroad
Arrangement by which a student completes part of the college program studying in another country. Can be at a
campus abroad or through a cooperative agreement with some other U.S. college or an institution of another
country.
System
An organization of two or more institutions of higher education under the control or supervision of a common
administrative governing body. Governing bodies generally have the power to act in their own name, to hire and fire
personnel, enter into contracts, etc. A coordinating body without these powers or a section of a state agency usually
would not be considered a system office.
Teacher certification program
A program designed to prepare students to meet the requirements for certification as teachers in elementary,
middle/junior high, and secondary schools.
Title IV institution
An institution that has a written agreement with the Secretary of Education that allows the institution to participate
in any of the Title IV federal student financial assistance programs (other than the State Student Incentive Grant
(SSIG) and the National Early Intervention Scholarship and Partnership (NEISP) programs).
Tuition
The amount of money charged to students for instructional services. Tuition may be charged per term, per course,
or per credit.
Tuition and fees (published
charges)
The amount of tuition and required fees covering a full academic year most frequently charged to students. These
values represent what a typical student would be charged and may not be the same for all students at an institution.
If tuition is charged on a per-credit-hour basis, the average full-time credit hour load for an entire academic year is
used to estimate average tuition. Required fees include all fixed sum charges that are required of such a large
proportion of all students that the student who does not pay the charges is an exception.
Tuition guarantee
A program where the institution guarantees, to entering first-time students, that tuition will not increase for the
years they are enrolled. These guarantees are generally time-bound for four or five years.
Tuition payment plan
A program that allows tuition to be paid in installments spread out over an agreed upon period of time, sometimes
without interest or finance charges.
Undergraduate
A student enrolled in a 4- or 5-year bachelor's degree program, an associate's degree program, or a vocational or
technical program below the baccalaureate.
Weekend/evening college
A program that allows students to take a complete course of study and attend classes only on weekends or only in
the evenings.
Yellow Ribbon Program
A voluntary program through which participating public and private institutions can provide veterans and eligible
beneficiaries additional institutional aid to cover the costs of tuition and fees at their institutions. The Yellow Ribbon
Program is a supplementary program to the Post 9/11 GI Bill coverage of in-state tuition and fees. The Department
of Veterans Affairs matches the institutional aid provided beyond the in-state tuition and fees, but to certain limit
each year.
U.S. Department of Education
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Institutional Characteristics
Click one of the following questions to view the answer.
General
1)
What is the purpose of the Institutional Characteristics survey?
2)
What institutions are included in IPEDS?
3)
Can I change my Institutional Characteristics data during the winter or spring surveys if
I made a mistake in the fall?
4)
Where can I find my accrediting agency information since it is no longer collected in
IPEDS?
5)
Are U.S. jurisdictions or territories (like Guam, the U.S. Virgin Island, etc.) considered
in the U.S. for distance education location reporting?
6)
We offer courses that combine distance education and traditional teaching methods
(“hybrid” courses). How should students enrolled in these courses be counted in the
distance education portion of Fall Enrollment?
Student Charges
1)
When determining the dormitory capacity, should we include off campus housing
reserved for graduate and/or married students?
2)
Our institution offers several meal plans. Which plan should I report?
3)
For academic year tuition reporters, what is the difference between the undergraduate
tuition and fees charges in Part D question 5, and the tuition and fees charges in Part D
question 11?
4)
How do I calculate or determine “average tuition”?
Price of Attendance
1)
How do I know what amounts to report for room and board and other expenses for
institutionallycontrolled housing both on and off campus?
2)
How do I know what amounts to report for room and board and other expenses for off
campus?
3)
Do I have to report off campus living expenses?
4)
What are “other expenses”?
5)
What IC data are included on the College Navigator website?
Answers:
General
1)
What is the purpose of the Institutional Characteristics survey?
The primary purpose of the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (IC) survey is to
collect basic institutional information including mission, student services, and athletic
association. IC also collects student charges data including tuition for different levels
and cost data for firsttime, fulltime students either for programs or for an
academic year. This includes tuition and fee data as well as information on the
estimated student budgets for students based on living situations (oncampus or off
campus). The cost numbers are also used in the SFA survey during the spring
collection to calculate net price of attendance.
Back to top
2)
What institutions are included in IPEDS?
IPEDS gathers information from every college, university, and technical and
vocational institution that participates in the federal student financial aid programs.
The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, requires that institutions that
participate in federal student aid programs report data on enrollments, program
completions, graduation rates, faculty and staff, finances, institutional prices, and
student financial aid.
https://surveys.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/VisFaqView.aspx?mode=reg&id=9&show=all
1/3
9/20/2016
IPEDS Survey Material: View F.A.Q
Back to top
3)
Can I change my Institutional Characteristics data during the winter or
spring surveys if I made a mistake in the fall?
No, you cannot change your IC data in the winter or spring, except in rare
circumstances. Due to processing and the size of the database, it is difficult to make
changes once a survey is closed. It is the responsibility of the institution's keyholder
to report these data correctly in the fall, as they do impact other surveys (e.g.,
Student Financial Aid).
Back to top
4)
Where can I find my accrediting agency information since it is no longer
collected in IPEDS?
The Office of Postsecondary Education(OPE) website: OPE Accreditation database at
http://www.ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
5)
Are U.S. jurisdictions or territories (like Guam, the U.S. Virgin Island, etc.)
considered in the U.S. for distance education location reporting?
Yes, Students located in a U.S. jurisdiction while they are enrolled in distance
education courses should be reported as located in the U.S
6)
We offer courses that combine distance education and traditional teaching
methods (“hybrid” courses). How should students enrolled in these courses
be counted in the distance education portion of Fall Enrollment?
Hybrid courses are not considered by IPEDS as distance education. Students
enrolled in “hybrid” courses should be reported as “not enrolled in any distance
education courses.”
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Student Charges
1)
When determining the dormitory capacity, should we include off campus
housing reserved for graduate and/or married students?
Yes, if the institution is providing the housing and the students pay “rent” or “board”
to the institution.
2)
Our institution offers several meal plans. Which plan should I report?
You should report the meal plan that offers the maximum number of meals per
week. If your institution offers unlimited number of meals enter 99.
3)
For academic year tuition reporters, what is the difference between the
undergraduate tuition and fees charges in Part D question 5, and the tuition
and fees charges in Part D question 11?
The tuition and fees reported in question 5 are the average amounts charged to all
fulltime undergraduate students; the tuition and fees in question 11 represent the
average amounts charged to fulltime, firsttime undergraduate students. The
data in question 13 should be provided by your financial aid office as these are the
amounts used to determine student budgets.
4)
How do I calculate or determine “average tuition”?
If your institution charges tuition on a percredithour basis, then you should
estimate average tuition based on the average fulltime credit hour load for an
entire academic year. If you have different charges for different programs at the
undergraduate or graduate levels, calculate the “average” tuition using the amount
that a typical student would expect to pay. BE SURE TO REPORT TUITION FOR THE
ENTIRE ACADEMIC YEAR!
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Price of Attendance
1)
How do I know what amounts to report for room and board and other
expenses for institutionallycontrolled housing both on and off campus?
Report the room and board amounts used by your financial aid office for
determining student budgets. The other expenses are the amount of money
estimated by the financial aid office needed by a student to cover expenses such as
laundry, transportation, entertainment, and furnishings. Do not include the tuition
and required fees with other expenses.
2)
How do I know what amounts to report for room and board and other
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IPEDS Survey Material: View F.A.Q
expenses for off campus?
You should enter the amount for a typical fulltime student living off campus with
family or not with family used by the financial aid office to determine the student
budget.
3)
Do I have to report off campus living expenses?
Yes, if your institution does not require all of fulltime, firsttime students to live on
campus (or makes ANY exceptions to this policy).
4)
What are “other expenses”?
This is the amount of money, estimated by the financial aid office, that is needed by
a student to cover expenses such as laundry, transportation, entertainment, and
furnishings.
5)
What IC data are included on the College Navigator website?
The Institutional Characteristics information that is made available on College
Navigator includes special learning opportunities, student services, tuition and
required fees, room and board charges, books and supplies, other expenses and
the institution’s mission statement. The best way to see what information is
available about your institution is to look up your institution on College Navigator.
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2016-17 Survey Materials > Form
IC Header for 4-year degree-granting institutions
Overview
Institutional Characteristics Header Overview
Welcome to the Institutional Characteristics Header survey component (IC Header). This survey was introduced to
collect data that are key to reporting throughout the IPEDS data collection, and must be completed and locked before
any other survey can be started.
Some IC Header questions may require nothing more than a confirmation, if nothing has changed. Please make
changes as necessary, and complete items that do need a response (enrollment questions).
Remember, it is the responsibility of the keyholder to provide NCES with accurate data about the institution. Please
never hesitate to call the IPEDS Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568 and ask for help to make sure that you are reporting
correctly!
Changes to This Year's IC Header Component:
•
Because of the importance of the IC Header data in determining the screens you will receive in other surveys, be sure
to report correctly, and to contact the IPEDS Help Desk if you have ANY questions about what you need to report.
The IC Header data affect other survey components in the following ways:
•
The Educational Offerings question verifies your institution's inclusion in IPEDS.
•
The Control and Levels page is key to all survey components, especially to Finance (F) and Graduation
Rates (GR). Additionally, this is important information for students, impacts many federal reports, and is used
in placing institutions in appropriate net price groupings.
•
Calendar system selection impacts student charges data reported in Institutional Characteristics (IC), Fall
Enrollment (EF) data, GR data, and Student Financial Aid (SFA) data related to the net price calculation.
•
Enrollment levels impact student charges in IC and enrollment categories in the EF survey component.
•
The Open Admission question determines whether the Admissions component will be required in the Winter.
•
The Academic Libraries expenses question determines whether the Academic Libraries component will be
required in the Spring. This question is asked of degree-granting institutions only.
•
The operations question for new institutions determines reporting of 12-month enrollment (E12).
To download survey materials package for this component: Survey Materials
date: 8/12/2016
Part A - Educational Offerings
1. Which of the following types of instruction/programs are offered by your institution? [Check one or more]
If your institution does not offer occupational, academic or continuing professional programs, you are not expected to
complete this or any other IPEDS survey.
Occupational, may lead to a certificate, degree, or other formal award
Academic, leading to a certificate, degree, or diploma
Continuing professional (postbaccalaureate only)
Recreational or avocational (leisure) programs
Adult basic or remedial instruction or high school equivalency
Secondary (high school)
Part B - Organization - Control and Levels
1. What is your institutional control or affiliation?
Be sure to select the correct control for your institution. Errors on this question have an impact throughout the
IPEDS surveys, in federal reporting, in net price groupings, and on your institutions appearance to students. If
you reported incorrectly in a previous year, please contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568 to correct the error.
Public - Select
primary and or
secondary controls
below
Primary control
Secondary control (if applicable)
Select One
Select One
Private for-profit
Private not-for-profit independent (no religious affiliation)
Private not-for-profit religious affiliation - Select affiliation below
Select One
2. What award levels are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
When reporting award levels for sub baccalaureate certificates (levels 1, 2, and 4), determine program length by the
number of credit or contact hours, NOT the academic year length in parentheses. The academic year length is
meant only to provide context.
The 'Other' award level should not be used unless your program truly does not fit any of the other award levels. We
expect very few institutions to fit the 'Other' category.
Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they are
considered subbaccalaureate undergraduate programs. Check the applicable award level 1, 2, or 4, depending on the
length of the Teacher Preparation program.
Award Level
BELOW THE BACCALAUREATE:
1
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (less than one academic year)
- less than 900 contact or clock hours, or
- less than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or
- less than 45 quarter credit hours
2
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (at least one but less than two academic
years)
- at least 900 but less than 1800 contact or clock hours, or
- at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or
- at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit hours
3
Associate's degree
4
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (at least two but less than four academic
years)
- 1800 or more contact or clock hours, or
- 60 or more semester or trimester credit hours, or
- 90 or more quarter credit hours
BACCALAUREATE AND ABOVE:
5
Bachelor's degree or equivalent
6
Postbaccalaureate certificate
7
Master's degree
8
Post-master's certificate
17
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
18
Doctor's degree - professional practice
19
Doctor's degree - other
12
Other (specify in box below)
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above.
Part B - Organization - Calendar System
Your response to the next question determines how your institution reports Institutional Characteristics
student charges data in the fall, Student Financial Aid data in the winter, and Graduation Rates data in the
winter. It also impacts the net price calculation in the Student Financial Aid survey.
If the calendar system differs from prior year or requires a change, please contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
3. What is the predominant calendar system at the institution? [Choose one]
Academic Year Reporting Method (Standard academic terms)
Selecting one of the following calendar types determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and
Graduation Rates data based on a FALL COHORT and student charges data for a full ACADEMIC YEAR.
Semester
Quarter
Trimester
4-1-4 or similar plan
Program Reporting Method (Other calendar system)
Selecting one of the following calendar types determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and
Graduation Rates data based on a FULL-YEAR COHORT, and student charges data by PROGRAM.
Differs by program
Continuous basis (every 2 weeks, monthly, or other period)
Hybrid/Mixed Reporting Method (Standard academic terms, other academic calendar)
Selecting the hybrid calendar type determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and Graduation
Rates data based on a FULL-YEAR COHORT, and student charges data for a full ACADEMIC YEAR.
Hybrid (Other academic calendar)
Part B - Organization - Student Enrollment
4. Does your institution enroll any of the following types of students?
Include all levels offered by your institution, even if there are no students currently enrolled at that level.
Responses to this question determine which screens will be generated for reporting academic year tuition charges, and
for reporting Fall Enrollment during the spring collection. Additionally, checking Yes for full-time, first-time,
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students determines that your institution must report cost of attendance data
(on the IC component) and Student Financial Aid data for these students.
Full-time
Part-time
Undergraduate (academic or occupational programs)
First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate
Graduate (not including doctor's-professional practice)
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
5. Does your institution enroll students in doctor's degree - professional practice programs?
Checking Yes for this question will allow your institution to report graduate level students in Fall Enrollment. If you select
Yes to enrolling students in one of the listed programs, you will also report tuition for the appropriate program(s).
No
Yes
Do you enroll students in one of the following?
Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.), Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.), Medicine (M.D.), Optometry (O.D.),
Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), Podiatry (Pod.D., D.P., or D.P.M.),
Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Law (J.D.)
No
Yes
6. For Fall 2010, did your institution have any full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students enrolled in
programs at the baccalaureate level or below?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be required to provide Graduation Rates data for the 2010-11 cohort in the
winter collection. If you answer No to this question, indicate the reason you are not required to report Graduation Rates
for the cohort year requested.
If you reported any full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates on the 2010-11 Enrollment survey, the
data will be preloaded below.
No
This institution did not enroll full-time, firsttime (undergraduate) students.
This institution did not offer programs at or
below the baccalaureate level.
This institution was not in operation in 201011.
Yes
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students from 2010-11 Enrollment survey (GR Cohort)
Part B - Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
7. Multi-institution or multi-campus organization
Is the institution part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs, or controls the
institution? Do NOT indicate a religious affiliation here; that information is collected separately.
If you need assistance, contact the Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568. You will not be able to lock your submission if this
question is blank.
No, this institution IS NOT a part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns,
governs, or controls the institution.
Yes, this institution IS a part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns,
governs, or controls the institution.
If yes, select the name of the multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs,
or controls the institution after clicking on 'Select System' below.
Select System
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Open Admission
2. Does your institution have an open admission policy for all or most entering first-time degree/certificateseeking undergraduate-level students?
If the only requirement for admission is a high school diploma or GED/other equivalent, your institution is still considered
open admission. Institutions that require only an Ability to Benefit or similar test beyond the diploma/equivalent, and only
reject a very small number of students based on the test, are also considered open admission.
If your institution does not have an open admission policy, you will be required to report Admissions component
regarding your admissions procedures and admissions yield.
No
Yes
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context
notes
will
be on
posted
the
College
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You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Library Access and Expenses
Does your institution have access to a library collection?
No
Yes (receives AL
component)
Were your annual total library expenses for Fiscal Year 2016 greater than zero?
No
Yes (receives AL component)
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Levels of Enrollment Offered
Was your institution in operation during the academic year 2015-16?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be able to specify the levels of enrollment offered at your institution during
2015-16 and to report 12-month enrollment during the fall collection.
No
Yes. Please specify the levels of enrollment offered during 2015-16.
Undergraduate
Graduate (not including doctor's-professional practice)
Doctor's-professional practice
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Academic Library Contact
Other
hours
minutes
Name:
Email:
How long did it take to prepare
this survey component?
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
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NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Instructions
date: 8/12/2016
IC Header Full Instructions for 4-yr degree-granting institutions
Purpose of Institutional Characteristics Header Survey
Changes in Reporting
General instructions
Reporting Period for Institutional Characteristics Header
Context boxes
Coverage
Where to Get Help
Where the Data Will Appear
Reporting Directions
Part A - Educational Offerings
Part B - Organization
Control and Award Levels
Calendar System
Enrollment Levels and GRS cohort question
Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions
Open Admission
Library Expenses
Level of Enrollment
Part D - Branch Campus
Purpose of Survey
The primary purpose of the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics Header (IC-H) survey is to collect basic institutional
data including control or affiliation, calendar system, and award levels. These data are key to accurate reporting as
they are used to determine the reporting for other IPEDS surveys. Any errors in the IC-H survey can lead to further
errors in the data reporting process, so please be very careful in reporting these data correctly, and contact the IPEDS
Help Desk (877.225.2568) if you have any questions.
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Changes in reporting
The following changes were implemented for the 2016-17 data collection period:
•
•
Open admission policy question added to “Part C – Other screening questions”.
Library expenses question added to “Part C – Other screening questions”.
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General instructions
Reporting period covered
Institutional Characteristics Header (IC-H) covers data for the current year with two exceptions.
•
•
Cohort data in B6 refer to a past cohort and are used to set the Graduation Rates component (GR).
For new institutions, the question about prior year operation refers to the prior academic year and is used to
determine the applicability of the 12-Month Enrollment (E12) component.
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Context Boxes
Context boxes are provided to allow institutions to provide more information regarding survey component items. Note
that some context boxes are posted on the College Navigator Website, which is the college search tool offered by
NCES. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting them on the
College Navigator Website, however, institutions should check grammar and spelling of their entries. Inappropriate or
repetitive contexts will be deleted.
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Coverage
Carefully read each question in the Institutional Characteristics Header survey to ensure you are reporting data for the
appropriate students. The student groups for which data are collected vary throughout the IC-H survey (e.g.,
undergraduate and graduate). In general, for each group, ensure that the guidelines below are met.
A. Who to include
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled in courses creditable toward a diploma, certificate, degree, or other formal award,
including those enrolled in off-campus centers
High school students taking regular college courses for credit
Full-time students taking remedial courses IF the student is considered degree-seeking for the purpose of
student financial aid determination
Students from overseas enrolled in U.S. courses for credit (e.g., online students)
Graduate students enrolled for thesis credits, even when zero credits are awarded, as these students are still
enrolled and seeking their degree
B. Who NOT to include
•
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled exclusively in courses not creditable toward a formal award
Students enrolled exclusively in Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Students exclusively auditing classes
Residents or interns in Doctor's - professional practice (previously first-professional), since they have already
received their Doctor's degree
Any student studying abroad (e.g., at a foreign university) if their enrollment at the 'home' institution is only
an administrative record and the fee is nominal
Students in any branch campus located in a foreign country
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Where to Get Help with Reporting
IPEDS Help Desk
Phone: 1-877-225-2568
Email: [email protected]
Web Tutorials
You can also consult the IPEDS Website Trainings & Outreach page which contains several tutorials on IPEDS data
collection, a self-paced overview of IPEDS tools, and other valuable resources.
IPEDS Resource Page
The IPEDS Website Reporting Tools page contains frequently asked questions, a link to data tip sheets, tutorials,
taxonomies, information centers (e.g., academic libraries, average net price, human resources, race/ethnicity, etc.),
and other valuable information.
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Where the Data Will Appear
Data collected through IPEDS will be accessible at the institution- and aggregate-levels.
At the institution-level, data will appear in the:
•
•
•
College Navigator Website (including the College Affordability and Transparency Center)
IPEDS Data Center
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
At the aggregate-level, data will appear in:
•
•
•
•
•
IPEDS First Looks
IPEDS Table Library
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
The Digest of Education Statistics
The Condition of Education
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Reporting Directions
Part A - Educational Offerings
Responses on this screen verify inclusion of the institution on the NCES/IPEDS list of institutions and agencies that
provide all types of postsecondary education. Postsecondary education is defined as the provision of a formal
instructional program whose curriculum is designed primarily for students beyond the compulsory age for high school.
This includes programs whose purpose is occupational, academic, or continuing professional education but excludes
avocational and adult basic education programs.
If you select only avocational and/or adult basic education programs, you will be contacted by IPEDS to confirm your
exemption from IPEDS reporting.
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Part B – Organization
Institutional Control or Affiliation
Indicate the appropriate control or affiliation under which the institution operates. If the institution has a religious
affiliation, select the denomination from the list provided in the drop-down box. Public institutions must designate a
primary control; identification of a secondary control is optional. If control of the institution differs from the prior year
or requires a change, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
Correct reporting of control or affiliation is KEY to IPEDS reporting. Errors in reporting control or affiliation cause you
to receive incorrect survey forms, misrepresents your institution to the public on College Navigator and other search
tools that use IPEDS data, and places your institution in incorrect groups in IPEDS publications and on the College
Affordability and Transparency Lists. If you do not know the control or affiliation of your institution, please call the
Help Desk.
Award Levels
Check applicable award levels for all credit programs offered at the institution. Award levels are identified based on
duration and/or awards.
•
•
•
•
•
Report using the number of CONTACT or CREDIT hours, as is appropriate to your calendar system (e.g.,
semester or quarter).
◦
References to length of study are the equivalent of full-time academic years; that is, at least 1 but less
than 2 years refers to the number of credits or the course load that would normally be completed by a
full-time student attending within the stated time period.
▪
One academic year equals 900 contact or clock hours of instruction, 30 semester credit hours
or its equivalent, or 45 quarter credit hours.
Award levels 1, 2, and 4 differ by length of programs and refer to completions below the baccalaureate degree.
Use the IPEDS designations, not institutionally defined designations, to describe these levels.
Award levels 3, 5, 7, 17, 18 and 19 indicate degree levels for which the institution is authorized to make
formal awards.
Award levels 6 and 8 indicate certificate levels.
If you cannot classify an award within the award levels indicated on the screen, check award level 12 (Other)
and specify or describe the award in the context box. Because there are few programs that fall under ‘Other’
please contact the Help Desk if you are considering selecting Level 12.
NOTE: Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they are
considered subbaccalaureate undergraduate programs. Check the applicable award level 1, 2, or 4, depending on the
length of the Teacher Preparation program.
Calendar System
Indicate the predominant calendar system under which the institution operates. If programs are offered on more
than one calendar, select the system under which most programs are offered. If there is no predominant calendar
system at your institution, select the option that best characterizes your institution.
If your calendar system differs from the prior year or requires a change, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at
877.225.2568.
Note: Calendar system selection determines reporting in many other IPEDS components. Be sure to choose the
calendar system you select accurately represents your institution. Contact the IPEDS Help Desk if you are not sure
which calendar system to select.
•
Standard academic terms (semesters, quarters, trimesters, 4-1-4)
◦
◦
◦
•
•
Use a fall cohort for Graduation Rates.
Report tuition and fees and cost information based on a full academic year.
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled as of October 15, or the official fall reporting
date used by the institution. This fall enrollment cohort will be preloaded into the next year's
Student Financial Aid component.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for an academic year.
Program-by-program or continuous enrollment basis
◦
Use a full-year cohort for Graduation Rates.
◦
Report tuition and fees and books and supplies information by program for the entire length of the
program. For living expenses, report costs for 4 weeks (1 month). Note: Living expenses are only
applicable to institutions with full-time, first-time students and are reported with the largest program.
◦
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled in the institution at any time between August 1
and October 31.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for the largest program for an academic year.
Hybrid academic calendar (If you are considering selecting the ‘Other academic calendar’ option, please
contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568 so they can confirm the appropriateness of this calendar system for
your institution.)
◦
Use a full-year cohort for Graduation Rates.
◦
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled in the institution at any time between August 1
and October 31.
◦
Report tuition and fees and cost information based on a full academic year.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for an academic year.
Student enrollment
Enrollment of full- and part-time students.
Indicate whether your institution enrolls any full-time or part-time students at the levels listed. Include all levels
offered, even if there are not any students currently enrolled at that level.
Responses to those categories will determine the screens generated for reporting academic year tuition charges in the
Institutional Characteristics survey during the Fall collection and enrollment data in the Fall Enrollment survey during
the Spring collection.
•
Make sure to check Yes for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students if applicable, as this
determines that your institution will report cost information on Institutional Characteristics screens in Part D
and Student Financial Aid information during the Winter collection.
Doctor's - professional practice
Indicate whether your institution offers any of the listed Doctor's - professional practice programs. If your institution
offers Doctor's -professional practice programs but does not offer any of the listed programs, indicate no.
GRS cohort question.
•
•
4-year institutions. Indicate if your institution had any full-time, first-time undergraduate students enrolled
in programs at the baccalaureate level or below in the academic year indicated on the screen. If you indicate
Yes, you must report Graduation Rates data in the Winter.
Less-than-4-year institutions. Indicate if your institution had any full-time, first-time degree/certificateseeking students enrolled in the academic year indicated on the screen. If you check Yes, you must report
Graduation Rates data in the Winter.
Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
If applicable, select from the provided list the multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs, or
controls the institution. If you do not see your multi-institution or multi-organization listed, please contact the Help
Desk.
A multi-institution or multi-campus organization includes organizations with two or more institutions or campuses.
Non-postsecondary education agencies that govern or control institutions include, but are not limited to, public school
districts, art organizations, hospitals and other medical/health organizations.
Do not include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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coordinating systems
single institution owner
single institution corporate name
single institution governing board
consortia
associations
religious affiliation (requested in control question)
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions
Open admission policy
Check Yes if your institution has an open admission policy.
If your institution requires only a high school diploma/equivalent and/or Ability to Benefit (or similar) test, and few
students are not admitted based on the test, your institution is still considered open admission. For example, if you
have students take the ATB test and allow 98% of those students to enroll, you are likely open admission. The 2%
that were not admitted had unusual circumstances that kept them from being admitted.
Note: IPEDS does not have a set percentage to determine open admission. Please review your institution's admission
policy or talk to someone in the admissions office if you are not sure whether your institution is open admission, or
contact the IPEDS Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
Library Access and Expenses
Indicate whether the institution has access to a library collection and/or the annual total library expenses at your
institution were greater than zero for Fiscal Year 2016. Fiscal Year 2016 is defined as the most recent 12-month period
that corresponds to your institution's fiscal year that ends before October 1, 2016.
A library collection is defined as “comprising documents held locally and remote resources for which permanent or
temporary access rights have been acquired. Access rights may be acquired by the library itself, by a consortium
and/or through external funding. Acquisition is to be understood as securing access rights and including it in the
library catalog, other library databases or discovery systems.”
Expenses include funds expended by the library (regardless of when received) from its regular budget and from all
other known sources; e.g., research grants, special projects, gifts and endowments, and fees for services. Those
libraries in consortia or those that share all their resources with another institution, please report whether the total
annual library expenses at YOUR institution were greater than zero in Fiscal Year 2016.
If the institution does not have access to a library collection and the institution's library expenses are equal to 0, you
will not be asked to complete the Academic Libraries (AL) component in the Spring.
Level of Enrollment
New institutions should indicate whether their institution was in operation during the prior academic year. If the
response is ‘Yes’, they should also indicate the levels that were offered.
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Part D - Branch campus
For branch campuses, refer to the instructions on the appropriate screen.
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date: 8/12/2016
Glossary
Term
Definition
4-1-4 (calendar system)
The 4-1-4 calendar usually consists of 4 courses taken for 4 months, 1 course taken for 1 month, and 4 courses
taken for 4 months. There may be an additional summer session.
Academic year
The period of time generally extending from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters or trimesters, 3
quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
Adult basic education
Courses designed primarily for students 16 years of age and older to improve basic skills in reading, writing, and
arithmetic. These courses are not intended to be part of a program leading to a high school credential, nor are they
part of any academic, occupational, or vocational program at the postsecondary level.
Associate's degree
An award that normally requires at least 2 but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college work.
Avocational programs
Instructional programs in personal interest and leisure categories whose expressed intent is not to produce
postsecondary credits , nor to lead to a formal award or an academic degree, nor result in occupationally specific
skills.
Bachelor's degree
An award (baccalaureate or equivalent degree, as determined by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education) that
normally requires at least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes all
bachelor's degrees conferred in a 5-year cooperative (work-study) program. A cooperative plan provides for
alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government; thus, it allows students to
combine actual work experience with their college studies. Also includes bachelor's degrees in which the normal 4
years of work are completed in 3 years.
Calendar system
The method by which an institution structures most of its courses for the academic year.
Certificate
A formal award certifying the satisfactory completion of a postsecondary education program.
Cohort
A specific group of students established for tracking purposes.
Contact hour
A unit of measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction given to students. Also referred to as clock hour.
Continuing professional
education
Programs and courses designed specifically for individuals who have completed a degree in a professional field (such
as law, medicine, dentistry, education, or social work) to obtain additional training in their particular field of study.
Continuous basis
A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that allow students to enroll/start classes at any time
during the year. For example, a cosmetology school or a word processing school might allow students to enroll and
begin studies at various times, with no requirement that classes begin on a certain date.
Control (of institution)
A classification of whether an institution is operated by publicly elected or appointed officials (public control) or by
privately elected or appointed officials and derives its major source of funds from private sources (private control).
Credit hour
A unit of measure representing the equivalent of an hour (50 minutes) of instruction per week over the entire term.
It is applied toward the total number of credit hours needed for completing the requirements of a degree, diploma,
certificate, or other formal award.
Degree
An award conferred by a college, university, or other postsecondary education institution as official recognition for
the successful completion of a program of studies.
Differs by program (calendar
system)
A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that have occupational/vocational programs of varying
lengths. These schools may enroll students at specific times depending on the program desired. For example, a
school might offer a 2-month program in January, March, May, September, and November; and a 3-month program
in January, April, and October.
Doctor's degree-other
A doctor's degree that does not meet the definition of a doctor's degree - research/scholarship or a doctor's degree professional practice.
Doctor's degree-professional
practice
A doctor's degree that is conferred upon completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for the
recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice. The degree is awarded after a period of study
such that the total time to the degree, including both pre-professional and professional preparation, equals at least
six full-time equivalent academic years. Some of these degrees were formerly classified as first-professional and
may include: Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.); Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.); Law (J.D.); Medicine (M.D.); Optometry
(O.D.); Osteopathic Medicine (D.O); Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); Podiatry (D.P.M., Pod.D., D.P.); or, Veterinary Medicine
(D.V.M.), and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Doctor's degreeresearch/scholarship
A Ph.D. or other doctor's degree that requires advanced work beyond the master's level, including the preparation
and defense of a dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original project
demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement. Some examples of this type of degree may include
Ed.D., D.M.A., D.B.A., D.Sc., D.A., or D.M, and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Educational offerings
Educational programs offered by postsecondary institutions that are occupational, academic, or continuing
professional that qualify as postsecondary education programs OR recreational or avocational, adult basic, remedial
instruction, high school equivalency, or high school programs that are not deemed postsecondary.
Fall cohort
The group of students entering in the fall term established for tracking purposes. For the Graduation Rates
component, this includes all students who enter an institution as full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking
undergraduate students during the fall term of a given year. For the Outcome Measures component, all
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who enter an institution during the fall term of a given year must
be placed in one of four cohorts: full-time, first-time; part-time, first-time; full-time, non-first-time; and part-time,
non-first-time.
First-time student
(undergraduate)
A student who has no prior postsecondary experience (except as noted below) attending any institution for the first
time at the undergraduate level. This includes students enrolled in academic or occupational programs. It also
includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and
students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school).
Full-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, or 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more
contact hours a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for 9 or more semester credits, or 9 or more quarter
credits, or a student involved in thesis or dissertation preparation that is considered full-time by the institution.
Doctor's degree - Professional practice - as defined by the institution.
Full-year cohort
The group of students entering at any time during the 12-month period September 1 through August 31 that is
established for tracking and reporting Graduation Rate (GR) and Outcome Measures (OM) data for institutions that
primarily offer occupational programs of varying lengths. Students must be full-time and first-time to be considered
in the cohort. For OM component, undergraduate students must enter in one of four cohorts: full-time, first-time;
part-time, first-time; full-time, non-first-time; and part-time, non-first-time.
Graduate student
A student who holds a bachelor's degree or above and is taking courses at the postbaccalaureate level. These
students may or may not be enrolled in graduate programs.
Institutional affiliation
A classification that indicates whether a private not-for-profit institution is associated with a religious group or
denomination. Private not-for-profit institutions may be either independent or religiously affiliated.
Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System
(IPEDS)
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), conducted by the NCES, began in 1986 and involves
annual institution-level data collections. All postsecondary institutions that have a Program Participation Agreement
with the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), U.S. Department of Education (throughout IPEDS referred to as
"Title IV") are required to report data using a web-based data collection system. IPEDS currently consists of the
following components: Institutional Characteristics (IC); 12-month Enrollment (E12);Completions (C); Admissions
(ADM); Student Financial Aid (SFA); Human Resources (HR) composed of Employees by Assigned Position, Fall Staff,
and Salaries; Fall Enrollment (EF); Graduation Rates (GR); Outcome Measures (OM); Finance (F); and Academic
Libraries (AL).
Less than 2-year institution
A postsecondary institution that offers programs of less than 2-years duration below the baccalaureate level.
Includes occupational and vocational schools with programs that do not exceed 1800 contact hours .
Levels of offering
Information collected in the Institutional Characteristics component which indicates all applicable levels for all credit
programs offered at an institution. Award levels are identified on the basis of recognition for their completion,
duration, or a combination thereof. Degree-designated award levels indicate those degree levels for which the
institution is authorized to make formal awards. Length of study is the equivalent of the number of full-time
academic years. For example, at least 1 but less than 2 years refers to the number of credits or the course load that
would normally be completed by a full-time student attending within the stated time period.
Library collections
Comprise of documents held locally and remote resources for which permanent or temporary access rights have
been acquired. Access rights may be acquired by the library itself, by a consortium and/or through external funding.
Acquisition is to be understood as securing access rights and including it in the library catalog, other library
databases or discovery systems.
Library expenses
Funds expended by the library (regardless of when received) from its regular budget and from all other sources;
e.g., research grants, special projects, gifts and endowments, and fees for services.
Master's degree
An award that requires the successful completion of a program of study of at least the full-time equivalent of 1 but
not more than 2 academic years of work beyond the bachelor's degree.
Some of these degrees, such as those in Theology (M.Div., M.H.L./Rav) that were formerly classified as "firstprofessional", may require more than two full-time equivalent academic years of work.
Occupational program
A program of study consisting of one or more courses, designed to provide the student with sufficient knowledge and
skills to perform in a specific occupation.
Other academic calendar
system
Category used to describe "non-traditional" calendar systems at 4-year and 2-year degree-granting institutions.
These can include schools that offer primarily on-line courses or "one course at a time."
Part-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for either less than 12 semester or quarter credits, or less than 24 contact hours
a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for less than 9 semester or quarter credits.
Post-master's certificate
An award that requires completion of an organized program beyond the master's degree, but does not meet the
requirements of academic degrees at the doctor's level.
Postbaccalaureate certificate
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study beyond the bachelor's. It is designed for
persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree, but does not meet the requirements of a master's degree.
NOTE: Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they
are considered subbacalaureate undergraduate programs, and students in these programs are undergraduate
students.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (at
least 1 but less than 2
academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in at least 1 but less than 2 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion
in at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit
hours, or in at least 900 but less than 1,800 contact or clock hours.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (at
least 2 but less than 4
academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in at least 2 but less than 4 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion
in at least 60 but less than 120 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 90 but less than 180 quarter credit
hours, or in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact or clock hours.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (less
than 1 academic year)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in less than 1 academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters), or designed for completion in less
than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or in less than 45 quarter credit hours, or in less than 900 contact or
clock hours.
Private for-profit institution
A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives compensation other than wages, rent, or
other expenses for the assumption of risk.
Private institution
An educational institution controlled by a private individual(s) or by a nongovernmental agency, usually supported
primarily by other than public funds, and operated by other than publicly elected or appointed officials. These
institutions may be either for-profit or not-for-profit.
Private not-for-profit
institution
A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives no compensation, other than wages,
rent, or other expenses for the assumption of risk. These include both independent not-for-profit schools and those
affiliated with a religious organization.
Program
A combination of courses and related activities organized for the attainment of broad educational objectives as
described by the institution.
Programs of at least 2 years
but less than 4 years
Programs requiring at least 2 years but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college level work, including
associate's degrees and programs that can be completed in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact hours to
obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Programs of at least 4 years
Programs designed to be completed in at least 8 semesters or 12 quarters to obtain a degree, diploma, or other
formal award. Includes programs resulting in all bachelor's degrees and other baccalaureate level or equivalent
degrees, as well as 5-year cooperative programs, and those programs in which the normal 4 years of work are
designed to be completed in 3 years.
Programs of less than 2 years
Programs requiring less than 2 years of full-time equivalent college level work (4 semesters or 6 quarters) or less
than 1,800 contact hours to obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Public institution
An educational institution whose programs and activities are operated by publicly elected or appointed school
officials and which is supported primarily by public funds.
Quarter (calendar system)
A calendar system in which the academic year consists of 3 sessions called quarters of about 12 weeks each. The
range may be from 10 to 15 weeks as defined by the institution. There may be an additional quarter in the summer.
Semester (calendar system)
A calendar system that consists of two sessions called semesters during the academic year with about 15 weeks for
each semester of instruction. There may be an additional summer session.
Title IV institution
An institution that has a written agreement with the Secretary of Education that allows the institution to participate
in any of the Title IV federal student financial assistance programs (other than the State Student Incentive Grant
(SSIG) and the National Early Intervention Scholarship and Partnership (NEISP) programs).
Trimester (calendar system)
An academic year consisting of 3 terms of about 15 weeks each.
Undergraduate
A student enrolled in a 4- or 5-year bachelor's degree program, an associate's degree program, or a vocational or
technical program below the baccalaureate.
U.S. Department of Education
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2016-17 Survey Materials > Form
IC Header for 4-year non-degree-granting institutions
Overview
Institutional Characteristics Header Overview
Welcome to the Institutional Characteristics Header survey component (IC Header). This survey was introduced to
collect data that are key to reporting throughout the IPEDS data collection, and must be completed and locked before
any other survey can be started.
Some IC Header questions may require nothing more than a confirmation, if nothing has changed. Please make
changes as necessary, and complete items that do need a response (enrollment questions).
Remember, it is the responsibility of the keyholder to provide NCES with accurate data about the institution. Please
never hesitate to call the IPEDS Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568 and ask for help to make sure that you are reporting
correctly!
Changes to This Year's IC Header Component:
•
Because of the importance of the IC Header data in determining the screens you will receive in other surveys, be sure
to report correctly, and to contact the IPEDS Help Desk if you have ANY questions about what you need to report.
The IC Header data affect other survey components in the following ways:
•
The Educational Offerings question verifies your institution's inclusion in IPEDS.
•
The Control and Levels page is key to all survey components, especially to Finance (F) and Graduation
Rates (GR). Additionally, this is important information for students, impacts many federal reports, and is used
in placing institutions in appropriate net price groupings.
•
Calendar system selection impacts student charges data reported in Institutional Characteristics (IC), Fall
Enrollment (EF) data, GR data, and Student Financial Aid (SFA) data related to the net price calculation.
•
Enrollment levels impact student charges in IC and enrollment categories in the EF survey component.
•
The Open Admission question determines whether the Admissions component will be required in the Winter.
•
The Academic Libraries expenses question determines whether the Academic Libraries component will be
required in the Spring. This question is asked of degree-granting institutions only.
•
The operations question for new institutions determines reporting of 12-month enrollment (E12).
To download survey materials package for this component: Survey Materials
date: 8/12/2016
Part A - Educational Offerings
1. Which of the following types of instruction/programs are offered by your institution? [Check one or more]
If your institution does not offer occupational, academic or continuing professional programs, you are not expected to
complete this or any other IPEDS survey.
Occupational, may lead to a certificate, degree, or other formal award
Academic, leading to a certificate, degree, or diploma
Continuing professional (postbaccalaureate only)
Recreational or avocational (leisure) programs
Adult basic or remedial instruction or high school equivalency
Secondary (high school)
Part B - Organization - Control and Levels
1. What is your institutional control or affiliation?
Be sure to select the correct control for your institution. Errors on this question have an impact throughout the
IPEDS surveys, in federal reporting, in net price groupings, and on your institutions appearance to students. If
you reported incorrectly in a previous year, please contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568 to correct the error.
Public - Select
primary and or
secondary controls
below
Primary control
Secondary control (if applicable)
Select One
Select One
Private for-profit
Private not-for-profit independent (no religious affiliation)
Private not-for-profit religious affiliation - Select affiliation below
Select One
2. What award levels are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
When reporting award levels for sub baccalaureate certificates (levels 1, 2, and 4), determine program length by the
number of credit or contact hours, NOT the academic year length in parentheses. The academic year length is
meant only to provide context.
The 'Other' award level should not be used unless your program truly does not fit any of the other award levels. We
expect very few institutions to fit the 'Other' category.
Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they are
considered subbaccalaureate undergraduate programs. Check the applicable award level 1, 2, or 4, depending on the
length of the Teacher Preparation program.
Award Level
BELOW THE BACCALAUREATE:
1
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (less than one academic year)
- less than 900 contact or clock hours, or
- less than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or
- less than 45 quarter credit hours
2
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (at least one but less than two academic
years)
- at least 900 but less than 1800 contact or clock hours, or
- at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or
- at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit hours
3
Associate's degree
4
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (at least two but less than four academic
years)
- 1800 or more contact or clock hours, or
- 60 or more semester or trimester credit hours, or
- 90 or more quarter credit hours
BACCALAUREATE AND ABOVE:
5
Bachelor's degree or equivalent
6
Postbaccalaureate certificate
7
Master's degree
8
Post-master's certificate
17
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
18
Doctor's degree - professional practice
19
Doctor's degree - other
12
Other (specify in box below)
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above.
Part B - Organization - Calendar System
Your response to the next question determines how your institution reports Institutional Characteristics
student charges data in the fall, Student Financial Aid data in the winter, and Graduation Rates data in the
winter. It also impacts the net price calculation in the Student Financial Aid survey.
If the calendar system differs from prior year or requires a change, please contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
3. What is the predominant calendar system at the institution? [Choose one]
Academic Year Reporting Method (Standard academic terms)
Selecting one of the following calendar types determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and
Graduation Rates data based on a FALL COHORT and student charges data for a full ACADEMIC YEAR.
Semester
Quarter
Trimester
4-1-4 or similar plan
Program Reporting Method (Other calendar system)
Selecting one of the following calendar types determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and
Graduation Rates data based on a FULL-YEAR COHORT, and student charges data by PROGRAM.
Differs by program
Continuous basis (every 2 weeks, monthly, or other period)
Hybrid/Mixed Reporting Method (Standard academic terms, other academic calendar)
Selecting the hybrid calendar type determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and Graduation
Rates data based on a FULL-YEAR COHORT, and student charges data for a full ACADEMIC YEAR.
Hybrid (Other academic calendar)
Part B - Organization - Student Enrollment
4. Does your institution enroll any of the following types of students?
Include all levels offered by your institution, even if there are no students currently enrolled at that level.
Responses to this question determine which screens will be generated for reporting academic year tuition charges, and
for reporting Fall Enrollment during the spring collection. Additionally, checking Yes for full-time, first-time,
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students determines that your institution must report cost of attendance data
(on the IC component) and Student Financial Aid data for these students.
Full-time
Part-time
Undergraduate (academic or occupational programs)
First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate
Graduate (not including doctor's-professional practice)
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
5. Does your institution enroll students in doctor's degree - professional practice programs?
Checking Yes for this question will allow your institution to report graduate level students in Fall Enrollment. If you select
Yes to enrolling students in one of the listed programs, you will also report tuition for the appropriate program(s).
No
Yes
Do you enroll students in one of the following?
Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.), Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.), Medicine (M.D.), Optometry (O.D.),
Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), Podiatry (Pod.D., D.P., or D.P.M.),
Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), Law (J.D.)
No
Yes
6. For Fall 2010, did your institution have any full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students enrolled in
programs at the baccalaureate level or below?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be required to provide Graduation Rates data for the 2010-11 cohort in the
winter collection. If you answer No to this question, indicate the reason you are not required to report Graduation Rates
for the cohort year requested.
If you reported any full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates on the 2010-11 Enrollment survey, the
data will be preloaded below.
No
This institution did not enroll full-time, firsttime (undergraduate) students.
This institution did not offer programs at or
below the baccalaureate level.
This institution was not in operation in 201011.
Yes
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students from 2010-11 Enrollment survey (GR Cohort)
Part B - Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
7. Multi-institution or multi-campus organization
Is the institution part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs, or controls the
institution? Do NOT indicate a religious affiliation here; that information is collected separately.
If you need assistance, contact the Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568. You will not be able to lock your submission if this
question is blank.
No, this institution IS NOT a part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns,
governs, or controls the institution.
Yes, this institution IS a part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns,
governs, or controls the institution.
If yes, select the name of the multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs,
or controls the institution after clicking on 'Select System' below.
Select System
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Open Admission
2. Does your institution have an open admission policy for all or most entering first-time degree/certificateseeking undergraduate-level students?
If the only requirement for admission is a high school diploma or GED/other equivalent, your institution is still considered
open admission. Institutions that require only an Ability to Benefit or similar test beyond the diploma/equivalent, and only
reject a very small number of students based on the test, are also considered open admission.
If your institution does not have an open admission policy, you will be required to report Admissions component
regarding your admissions procedures and admissions yield.
No
Yes
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be on
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You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Levels of Enrollment Offered
Was your institution in operation during the academic year 2015-16?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be able to specify the levels of enrollment offered at your institution during
2015-16 and to report 12-month enrollment during the fall collection.
No
Yes. Please specify the levels of enrollment offered during 2015-16.
Undergraduate
Graduate (not including doctor's-professional practice)
Doctor's-professional practice
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Academic Library Contact
Other
hours
minutes
Name:
Email:
How long did it take to prepare
this survey component?
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
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2016-17 Survey Materials > Instructions
date: 8/12/2016
IC Header Full Instructions for 4-yr nondegree-granting institutions
Purpose of Institutional Characteristics Header Survey
Changes in Reporting
General instructions
Reporting Period for Institutional Characteristics Header
Context boxes
Coverage
Where to Get Help
Where the Data Will Appear
Reporting Directions
Part A - Educational Offerings
Part B - Organization
Control and Award Levels
Calendar System
Enrollment Levels and GRS cohort question
Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions
Open Admission
Level of Enrollment
Part D - Branch Campus
Purpose of Survey
The primary purpose of the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics Header (IC-H) survey is to collect basic institutional
data including control or affiliation, calendar system, and award levels. These data are key to accurate reporting as
they are used to determine the reporting for other IPEDS surveys. Any errors in the IC-H survey can lead to further
errors in the data reporting process, so please be very careful in reporting these data correctly, and contact the IPEDS
Help Desk (877.225.2568) if you have any questions.
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Changes in reporting
•
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General instructions
Reporting period covered
Institutional Characteristics Header (IC-H) covers data for the current year with two exceptions.
•
•
Cohort data in B6 refer to a past cohort and are used to set the Graduation Rates component (GR).
For new institutions, the question about prior year operation refers to the prior academic year and is used to
determine the applicability of the 12-Month Enrollment (E12) component.
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Context Boxes
Context boxes are provided to allow institutions to provide more information regarding survey component items. Note
that some context boxes are posted on the College Navigator Website, which is the college search tool offered by
NCES. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting them on the
College Navigator Website, however, institutions should check grammar and spelling of their entries. Inappropriate or
repetitive contexts will be deleted.
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Coverage
Carefully read each question in the Institutional Characteristics Header survey to ensure you are reporting data for the
appropriate students. The student groups for which data are collected vary throughout the IC-H survey (e.g.,
undergraduate and graduate). In general, for each group, ensure that the guidelines below are met.
A. Who to include
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled in courses creditable toward a diploma, certificate, degree, or other formal award,
including those enrolled in off-campus centers
High school students taking regular college courses for credit
Full-time students taking remedial courses IF the student is considered degree-seeking for the purpose of
student financial aid determination
Students from overseas enrolled in U.S. courses for credit (e.g., online students)
Graduate students enrolled for thesis credits, even when zero credits are awarded, as these students are still
enrolled and seeking their degree
B. Who NOT to include
•
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled exclusively in courses not creditable toward a formal award
Students enrolled exclusively in Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Students exclusively auditing classes
Residents or interns in Doctor's - professional practice (previously first-professional), since they have already
received their Doctor's degree
Any student studying abroad (e.g., at a foreign university) if their enrollment at the 'home' institution is only
an administrative record and the fee is nominal
Students in any branch campus located in a foreign country
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Where to Get Help with Reporting
IPEDS Help Desk
Phone: 1-877-225-2568
Email: [email protected]
Web Tutorials
You can also consult the IPEDS Website Trainings & Outreach page which contains several tutorials on IPEDS data
collection, a self-paced overview of IPEDS tools, and other valuable resources.
IPEDS Resource Page
The IPEDS Website Reporting Tools page contains frequently asked questions, a link to data tip sheets, tutorials,
taxonomies, information centers (e.g., academic libraries, average net price, human resources, race/ethnicity, etc.),
and other valuable information.
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Where the Data Will Appear
Data collected through IPEDS will be accessible at the institution- and aggregate-levels.
At the institution-level, data will appear in the:
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College Navigator Website (including the College Affordability and Transparency Center)
IPEDS Data Center
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
At the aggregate-level, data will appear in:
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IPEDS First Looks
IPEDS Table Library
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
The Digest of Education Statistics
The Condition of Education
Reporting Directions
Part A - Educational Offerings
Responses on this screen verify inclusion of the institution on the NCES/IPEDS list of institutions and agencies that
provide all types of postsecondary education. Postsecondary education is defined as the provision of a formal
instructional program whose curriculum is designed primarily for students beyond the compulsory age for high school.
This includes programs whose purpose is occupational, academic, or continuing professional education but excludes
avocational and adult basic education programs.
If you select only avocational and/or adult basic education programs, you will be contacted by IPEDS to confirm your
exemption from IPEDS reporting.
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Part B – Organization
Institutional Control or Affiliation
Indicate the appropriate control or affiliation under which the institution operates. If the institution has a religious
affiliation, select the denomination from the list provided in the drop-down box. Public institutions must designate a
primary control; identification of a secondary control is optional. If control of the institution differs from the prior year
or requires a change, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
Correct reporting of control or affiliation is KEY to IPEDS reporting. Errors in reporting control or affiliation cause you
to receive incorrect survey forms, misrepresents your institution to the public on College Navigator and other search
tools that use IPEDS data, and places your institution in incorrect groups in IPEDS publications and on the College
Affordability and Transparency Lists. If you do not know the control or affiliation of your institution, please call the
Help Desk.
Award Levels
Check applicable award levels for all credit programs offered at the institution. Award levels are identified based on
duration and/or awards.
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Report using the number of CONTACT or CREDIT hours, as is appropriate to your calendar system (e.g.,
semester or quarter).
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References to length of study are the equivalent of full-time academic years; that is, at least 1 but less
than 2 years refers to the number of credits or the course load that would normally be completed by a
full-time student attending within the stated time period.
▪
One academic year equals 900 contact or clock hours of instruction, 30 semester credit hours
or its equivalent, or 45 quarter credit hours.
Award levels 1, 2, and 4 differ by length of programs and refer to completions below the baccalaureate degree.
Use the IPEDS designations, not institutionally defined designations, to describe these levels.
Award levels 3, 5, 7, 17, 18 and 19 indicate degree levels for which the institution is authorized to make
formal awards.
Award levels 6 and 8 indicate certificate levels.
If you cannot classify an award within the award levels indicated on the screen, check award level 12 (Other)
and specify or describe the award in the context box. Because there are few programs that fall under ‘Other’
please contact the Help Desk if you are considering selecting Level 12.
NOTE: Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they are
considered subbaccalaureate undergraduate programs. Check the applicable award level 1, 2, or 4, depending on the
length of the Teacher Preparation program.
Calendar System
Indicate the predominant calendar system under which the institution operates. If programs are offered on more
than one calendar, select the system under which most programs are offered. If there is no predominant calendar
system at your institution, select the option that best characterizes your institution.
If your calendar system differs from the prior year or requires a change, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at
877.225.2568.
Note: Calendar system selection determines reporting in many other IPEDS components. Be sure to choose the
calendar system you select accurately represents your institution. Contact the IPEDS Help Desk if you are not sure
which calendar system to select.
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Standard academic terms (semesters, quarters, trimesters, 4-1-4)
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Use a fall cohort for Graduation Rates.
Report tuition and fees and cost information based on a full academic year.
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled as of October 15, or the official fall reporting
date used by the institution. This fall enrollment cohort will be preloaded into the next year's
Student Financial Aid component.
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For Student Financial Aid, report aid for an academic year.
Program-by-program or continuous enrollment basis
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Use a full-year cohort for Graduation Rates.
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Report tuition and fees and books and supplies information by program for the entire length of the
program. For living expenses, report costs for 4 weeks (1 month). Note: Living expenses are only
applicable to institutions with full-time, first-time students and are reported with the largest program.
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Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled in the institution at any time between August 1
and October 31.
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For Student Financial Aid, report aid for the largest program for an academic year.
Hybrid academic calendar (If you are considering selecting the ‘Other academic calendar’ option, please
contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568 so they can confirm the appropriateness of this calendar system for
your institution.)
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Use a full-year cohort for Graduation Rates.
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Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled in the institution at any time between August 1
and October 31.
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Report tuition and fees and cost information based on a full academic year.
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For Student Financial Aid, report aid for an academic year.
Student enrollment
Enrollment of full- and part-time students.
Indicate whether your institution enrolls any full-time or part-time students at the levels listed. Include all levels
offered, even if there are not any students currently enrolled at that level.
Responses to those categories will determine the screens generated for reporting academic year tuition charges in the
Institutional Characteristics survey during the Fall collection and enrollment data in the Fall Enrollment survey during
the Spring collection.
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Make sure to check Yes for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students if applicable, as this
determines that your institution will report cost information on Institutional Characteristics screens in Part D
and Student Financial Aid information during the Winter collection.
Doctor's - professional practice
Indicate whether your institution offers any of the listed Doctor's - professional practice programs. If your institution
offers Doctor's -professional practice programs but does not offer any of the listed programs, indicate no.
GRS cohort question.
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4-year institutions. Indicate if your institution had any full-time, first-time undergraduate students enrolled
in programs at the baccalaureate level or below in the academic year indicated on the screen. If you indicate
Yes, you must report Graduation Rates data in the Winter.
Less-than-4-year institutions. Indicate if your institution had any full-time, first-time degree/certificateseeking students enrolled in the academic year indicated on the screen. If you check Yes, you must report
Graduation Rates data in the Winter.
Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
If applicable, select from the provided list the multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs, or
controls the institution. If you do not see your multi-institution or multi-organization listed, please contact the Help
Desk.
A multi-institution or multi-campus organization includes organizations with two or more institutions or campuses.
Non-postsecondary education agencies that govern or control institutions include, but are not limited to, public school
districts, art organizations, hospitals and other medical/health organizations.
Do not include:
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coordinating systems
single institution owner
single institution corporate name
single institution governing board
consortia
associations
religious affiliation (requested in control question)
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions
Open admission policy
Check Yes if your institution has an open admission policy.
If your institution requires only a high school diploma/equivalent and/or Ability to Benefit (or similar) test, and few
students are not admitted based on the test, your institution is still considered open admission. For example, if you
have students take the ATB test and allow 98% of those students to enroll, you are likely open admission. The 2%
that were not admitted had unusual circumstances that kept them from being admitted.
Note: IPEDS does not have a set percentage to determine open admission. Please review your institution's admission
policy or talk to someone in the admissions office if you are not sure whether your institution is open admission, or
contact the IPEDS Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
Level of Enrollment
New institutions should indicate whether their institution was in operation during the prior academic year. If the
response is ‘Yes’, they should also indicate the levels that were offered.
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Part D - Branch campus
For branch campuses, refer to the instructions on the appropriate screen.
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date: 8/12/2016
Glossary
Term
Definition
4-1-4 (calendar system)
The 4-1-4 calendar usually consists of 4 courses taken for 4 months, 1 course taken for 1 month, and 4 courses
taken for 4 months. There may be an additional summer session.
Academic year
The period of time generally extending from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters or trimesters, 3
quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
Adult basic education
Courses designed primarily for students 16 years of age and older to improve basic skills in reading, writing, and
arithmetic. These courses are not intended to be part of a program leading to a high school credential, nor are they
part of any academic, occupational, or vocational program at the postsecondary level.
Associate's degree
An award that normally requires at least 2 but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college work.
Avocational programs
Instructional programs in personal interest and leisure categories whose expressed intent is not to produce
postsecondary credits , nor to lead to a formal award or an academic degree, nor result in occupationally specific
skills.
Bachelor's degree
An award (baccalaureate or equivalent degree, as determined by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education) that
normally requires at least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes all
bachelor's degrees conferred in a 5-year cooperative (work-study) program. A cooperative plan provides for
alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government; thus, it allows students to
combine actual work experience with their college studies. Also includes bachelor's degrees in which the normal 4
years of work are completed in 3 years.
Calendar system
The method by which an institution structures most of its courses for the academic year.
Certificate
A formal award certifying the satisfactory completion of a postsecondary education program.
Cohort
A specific group of students established for tracking purposes.
Contact hour
A unit of measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction given to students. Also referred to as clock hour.
Continuing professional
education
Programs and courses designed specifically for individuals who have completed a degree in a professional field (such
as law, medicine, dentistry, education, or social work) to obtain additional training in their particular field of study.
Continuous basis
A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that allow students to enroll/start classes at any time
during the year. For example, a cosmetology school or a word processing school might allow students to enroll and
begin studies at various times, with no requirement that classes begin on a certain date.
Control (of institution)
A classification of whether an institution is operated by publicly elected or appointed officials (public control) or by
privately elected or appointed officials and derives its major source of funds from private sources (private control).
Credit hour
A unit of measure representing the equivalent of an hour (50 minutes) of instruction per week over the entire term.
It is applied toward the total number of credit hours needed for completing the requirements of a degree, diploma,
certificate, or other formal award.
Degree
An award conferred by a college, university, or other postsecondary education institution as official recognition for
the successful completion of a program of studies.
Differs by program (calendar
system)
A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that have occupational/vocational programs of varying
lengths. These schools may enroll students at specific times depending on the program desired. For example, a
school might offer a 2-month program in January, March, May, September, and November; and a 3-month program
in January, April, and October.
Doctor's degree-other
A doctor's degree that does not meet the definition of a doctor's degree - research/scholarship or a doctor's degree professional practice.
Doctor's degree-professional
practice
A doctor's degree that is conferred upon completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for the
recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice. The degree is awarded after a period of study
such that the total time to the degree, including both pre-professional and professional preparation, equals at least
six full-time equivalent academic years. Some of these degrees were formerly classified as first-professional and
may include: Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.); Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.); Law (J.D.); Medicine (M.D.); Optometry
(O.D.); Osteopathic Medicine (D.O); Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); Podiatry (D.P.M., Pod.D., D.P.); or, Veterinary Medicine
(D.V.M.), and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Doctor's degreeresearch/scholarship
A Ph.D. or other doctor's degree that requires advanced work beyond the master's level, including the preparation
and defense of a dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original project
demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement. Some examples of this type of degree may include
Ed.D., D.M.A., D.B.A., D.Sc., D.A., or D.M, and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Educational offerings
Educational programs offered by postsecondary institutions that are occupational, academic, or continuing
professional that qualify as postsecondary education programs OR recreational or avocational, adult basic, remedial
instruction, high school equivalency, or high school programs that are not deemed postsecondary.
Fall cohort
The group of students entering in the fall term established for tracking purposes. For the Graduation Rates
component, this includes all students who enter an institution as full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking
undergraduate students during the fall term of a given year. For the Outcome Measures component, all
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who enter an institution during the fall term of a given year must
be placed in one of four cohorts: full-time, first-time; part-time, first-time; full-time, non-first-time; and part-time,
non-first-time.
First-time student
(undergraduate)
A student who has no prior postsecondary experience (except as noted below) attending any institution for the first
time at the undergraduate level. This includes students enrolled in academic or occupational programs. It also
includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and
students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school).
Full-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, or 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more
contact hours a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for 9 or more semester credits, or 9 or more quarter
credits, or a student involved in thesis or dissertation preparation that is considered full-time by the institution.
Doctor's degree - Professional practice - as defined by the institution.
Full-year cohort
The group of students entering at any time during the 12-month period September 1 through August 31 that is
established for tracking and reporting Graduation Rate (GR) and Outcome Measures (OM) data for institutions that
primarily offer occupational programs of varying lengths. Students must be full-time and first-time to be considered
in the cohort. For OM component, undergraduate students must enter in one of four cohorts: full-time, first-time;
part-time, first-time; full-time, non-first-time; and part-time, non-first-time.
Graduate student
A student who holds a bachelor's degree or above and is taking courses at the postbaccalaureate level. These
students may or may not be enrolled in graduate programs.
Institutional affiliation
A classification that indicates whether a private not-for-profit institution is associated with a religious group or
denomination. Private not-for-profit institutions may be either independent or religiously affiliated.
Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System
(IPEDS)
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), conducted by the NCES, began in 1986 and involves
annual institution-level data collections. All postsecondary institutions that have a Program Participation Agreement
with the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), U.S. Department of Education (throughout IPEDS referred to as
"Title IV") are required to report data using a web-based data collection system. IPEDS currently consists of the
following components: Institutional Characteristics (IC); 12-month Enrollment (E12);Completions (C); Admissions
(ADM); Student Financial Aid (SFA); Human Resources (HR) composed of Employees by Assigned Position, Fall Staff,
and Salaries; Fall Enrollment (EF); Graduation Rates (GR); Outcome Measures (OM); Finance (F); and Academic
Libraries (AL).
Less than 2-year institution
A postsecondary institution that offers programs of less than 2-years duration below the baccalaureate level.
Includes occupational and vocational schools with programs that do not exceed 1800 contact hours .
Levels of offering
Information collected in the Institutional Characteristics component which indicates all applicable levels for all credit
programs offered at an institution. Award levels are identified on the basis of recognition for their completion,
duration, or a combination thereof. Degree-designated award levels indicate those degree levels for which the
institution is authorized to make formal awards. Length of study is the equivalent of the number of full-time
academic years. For example, at least 1 but less than 2 years refers to the number of credits or the course load that
would normally be completed by a full-time student attending within the stated time period.
Library collections
Comprise of documents held locally and remote resources for which permanent or temporary access rights have
been acquired. Access rights may be acquired by the library itself, by a consortium and/or through external funding.
Acquisition is to be understood as securing access rights and including it in the library catalog, other library
databases or discovery systems.
Library expenses
Funds expended by the library (regardless of when received) from its regular budget and from all other sources;
e.g., research grants, special projects, gifts and endowments, and fees for services.
Master's degree
An award that requires the successful completion of a program of study of at least the full-time equivalent of 1 but
not more than 2 academic years of work beyond the bachelor's degree.
Some of these degrees, such as those in Theology (M.Div., M.H.L./Rav) that were formerly classified as "firstprofessional", may require more than two full-time equivalent academic years of work.
Occupational program
A program of study consisting of one or more courses, designed to provide the student with sufficient knowledge and
skills to perform in a specific occupation.
Other academic calendar
system
Category used to describe "non-traditional" calendar systems at 4-year and 2-year degree-granting institutions.
These can include schools that offer primarily on-line courses or "one course at a time."
Part-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for either less than 12 semester or quarter credits, or less than 24 contact hours
a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for less than 9 semester or quarter credits.
Post-master's certificate
An award that requires completion of an organized program beyond the master's degree, but does not meet the
requirements of academic degrees at the doctor's level.
Postbaccalaureate certificate
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study beyond the bachelor's. It is designed for
persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree, but does not meet the requirements of a master's degree.
NOTE: Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they
are considered subbacalaureate undergraduate programs, and students in these programs are undergraduate
students.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (at
least 1 but less than 2
academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in at least 1 but less than 2 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion
in at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit
hours, or in at least 900 but less than 1,800 contact or clock hours.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (at
least 2 but less than 4
academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in at least 2 but less than 4 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion
in at least 60 but less than 120 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 90 but less than 180 quarter credit
hours, or in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact or clock hours.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (less
than 1 academic year)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in less than 1 academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters), or designed for completion in less
than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or in less than 45 quarter credit hours, or in less than 900 contact or
clock hours.
Private for-profit institution
A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives compensation other than wages, rent, or
other expenses for the assumption of risk.
Private institution
An educational institution controlled by a private individual(s) or by a nongovernmental agency, usually supported
primarily by other than public funds, and operated by other than publicly elected or appointed officials. These
institutions may be either for-profit or not-for-profit.
Private not-for-profit
institution
A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives no compensation, other than wages,
rent, or other expenses for the assumption of risk. These include both independent not-for-profit schools and those
affiliated with a religious organization.
Program
A combination of courses and related activities organized for the attainment of broad educational objectives as
described by the institution.
Programs of at least 2 years
but less than 4 years
Programs requiring at least 2 years but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college level work, including
associate's degrees and programs that can be completed in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact hours to
obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Programs of at least 4 years
Programs designed to be completed in at least 8 semesters or 12 quarters to obtain a degree, diploma, or other
formal award. Includes programs resulting in all bachelor's degrees and other baccalaureate level or equivalent
degrees, as well as 5-year cooperative programs, and those programs in which the normal 4 years of work are
designed to be completed in 3 years.
Programs of less than 2 years
Programs requiring less than 2 years of full-time equivalent college level work (4 semesters or 6 quarters) or less
than 1,800 contact hours to obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Public institution
An educational institution whose programs and activities are operated by publicly elected or appointed school
officials and which is supported primarily by public funds.
Quarter (calendar system)
A calendar system in which the academic year consists of 3 sessions called quarters of about 12 weeks each. The
range may be from 10 to 15 weeks as defined by the institution. There may be an additional quarter in the summer.
Semester (calendar system)
A calendar system that consists of two sessions called semesters during the academic year with about 15 weeks for
each semester of instruction. There may be an additional summer session.
Title IV institution
An institution that has a written agreement with the Secretary of Education that allows the institution to participate
in any of the Title IV federal student financial assistance programs (other than the State Student Incentive Grant
(SSIG) and the National Early Intervention Scholarship and Partnership (NEISP) programs).
Trimester (calendar system)
An academic year consisting of 3 terms of about 15 weeks each.
Undergraduate
A student enrolled in a 4- or 5-year bachelor's degree program, an associate's degree program, or a vocational or
technical program below the baccalaureate.
U.S. Department of Education
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NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Form
IC Header for public 2-year degree-granting institutions
Overview
Institutional Characteristics Header Overview
Welcome to the Institutional Characteristics Header survey component (IC Header). This survey was introduced to
collect data that are key to reporting throughout the IPEDS data collection, and must be completed and locked before
any other survey can be started.
Some IC Header questions may require nothing more than a confirmation, if nothing has changed. Please make
changes as necessary, and complete items that do need a response (enrollment questions).
Remember, it is the responsibility of the keyholder to provide NCES with accurate data about the institution. Please
never hesitate to call the IPEDS Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568 and ask for help to make sure that you are reporting
correctly!
Changes to This Year's IC Header Component:
•
Because of the importance of the IC Header data in determining the screens you will receive in other surveys, be sure
to report correctly, and to contact the IPEDS Help Desk if you have ANY questions about what you need to report.
The IC Header data affect other survey components in the following ways:
•
The Educational Offerings question verifies your institution's inclusion in IPEDS.
•
The Control and Levels page is key to all survey components, especially to Finance (F) and Graduation
Rates (GR). Additionally, this is important information for students, impacts many federal reports, and is used
in placing institutions in appropriate net price groupings.
•
Calendar system selection impacts student charges data reported in Institutional Characteristics (IC), Fall
Enrollment (EF) data, GR data, and Student Financial Aid (SFA) data related to the net price calculation.
•
Enrollment levels impact student charges in IC and enrollment categories in the EF survey component.
•
The Open Admission question determines whether the Admissions component will be required in the Winter.
•
The Academic Libraries expenses question determines whether the Academic Libraries component will be
required in the Spring. This question is asked of degree-granting institutions only.
•
The operations question for new institutions determines reporting of 12-month enrollment (E12).
To download survey materials package for this component: Survey Materials
date: 8/12/2016
Part A - Educational Offerings
1. Which of the following types of instruction/programs are offered by your institution? [Check one or more]
If your institution does not offer occupational or academic programs, you are not expected to complete this or any other
IPEDS survey.
Occupational, may lead to a certificate, degree, or other formal award
Academic, leading to a certificate, degree, or diploma
Recreational or avocational (leisure) programs
Adult basic or remedial instruction or high school equivalency
Secondary (high school)
Part B - Organization - Control and Levels
1. What is your institutional control or affiliation?
Be sure to select the correct control for your institution. Errors on this question have an impact throughout the
IPEDS surveys, in federal reporting, in net price groupings, and on your institutions appearance to students. If
you reported incorrectly in a previous year, please contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568 to correct the error.
Public - Select
primary and or
secondary controls
below
Primary control
Secondary control (if applicable)
Select One
Select One
Private for-profit
Private not-for-profit independent (no religious affiliation)
Private not-for-profit religious affiliation - Select affiliation below
Select One
2. What award levels are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
When reporting award levels for sub baccalaureate certificates (levels 1, 2, and 4), determine program length by the
number of credit or contact hours, NOT the academic year length in parentheses. The academic year length is
meant only to provide context.
The 'Other' award level should not be used unless your program truly does not fit any of the other award levels. We
expect very few institutions to fit the 'Other' category.
Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they are
considered subbaccalaureate undergraduate programs. Check the applicable award level 1, 2, or 4, depending on the
length of the Teacher Preparation program.
Award Level
BELOW THE BACCALAUREATE:
1
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (less than one academic year)
- less than 900 contact or clock hours, or
- less than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or
- less than 45 quarter credit hours
2
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (at least one but less than two academic
years)
- at least 900 but less than 1800 contact or clock hours, or
- at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or
- at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit hours
3
Associate's degree
4
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (at least two but less than four academic
years)
- 1800 or more contact or clock hours, or
- 60 or more semester or trimester credit hours, or
- 90 or more quarter credit hours
BACCALAUREATE AND ABOVE:
5
Bachelor's degree or equivalent
6
Postbaccalaureate certificate
7
Master's degree
8
Post-master's certificate
17
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
18
Doctor's degree - professional practice
19
Doctor's degree - other
12
Other (specify in box below)
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above.
Part B - Organization - Calendar System
Your response to the next question determines how your institution reports Institutional Characteristics
student charges data in the fall, Student Financial Aid data in the winter, and Graduation Rates data in the
winter. It also impacts the net price calculation in the Student Financial Aid survey.
If the calendar system differs from prior year or requires a change, please contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
3. What is the predominant calendar system at the institution? [Choose one]
Academic Year Reporting Method (Standard academic terms)
Selecting one of the following calendar types determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and
Graduation Rates data based on a FALL COHORT and student charges data for a full ACADEMIC YEAR.
Semester
Quarter
Trimester
4-1-4 or similar plan
Program Reporting Method (Other calendar system)
Selecting one of the following calendar types determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and
Graduation Rates data based on a FULL-YEAR COHORT, and student charges data by PROGRAM.
Differs by program
Continuous basis (every 2 weeks, monthly, or other period)
Hybrid/Mixed Reporting Method (Standard academic terms, other academic calendar)
Selecting the hybrid calendar type determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and Graduation
Rates data based on a FULL-YEAR COHORT, and student charges data for a full ACADEMIC YEAR.
Hybrid (Other academic calendar)
Part B - Organization - Student Enrollment
4. Does your institution enroll any of the following types of students?
Include all levels offered by your institution, even if there are no students currently enrolled at that level.
Responses to this question determine which screens will be generated for reporting academic year tuition charges, and
for reporting Fall Enrollment during the spring collection. Additionally, checking Yes for full-time, first-time,
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students determines that your institution must report cost of attendance data
(on the IC component) and Student Financial Aid data for these students.
Full-time
Part-time
Undergraduate (academic or occupational programs)
First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate
Graduate (not including doctor's-professional practice)
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
6. For academic year 2013-14, did your institution enroll any full-time, first-time students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be required to provide Graduation Rates data for the 2013-14 cohort in the
winter collection. If you answer No to this question, indicate the reason you are not required to report Graduation Rates
for the cohort year requested. If you reported any full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students on the 2013-14
Fall Enrollment survey, the data will be preloaded below.
No
This institution did not enroll full-time, first-time
degree/certificate-seeking students.
This institution was not in operation in 2013-14.
Yes
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students from 2013-14 Fall Enrollment survey (GR Cohort)
Part B - Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
7. Multi-institution or multi-campus organization
Is the institution part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs, or controls the
institution? Do NOT indicate a religious affiliation here; that information is collected separately.
If you need assistance, contact the Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568. You will not be able to lock your submission if this
question is blank.
No, this institution IS NOT a part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns,
governs, or controls the institution.
Yes, this institution IS a part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns,
governs, or controls the institution.
If yes, select the name of the multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs,
or controls the institution after clicking on 'Select System' below.
Select System
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Open Admission
2. Does your institution have an open admission policy for all or most entering first-time students?
If the only requirement for admission is a high school diploma or GED/other equivalent, your institution is still considered
open admission. Institutions that require only an Ability to Benefit or similar test beyond the diploma/equivalent, and only
reject a very small number of students based on the test, are also considered open admission.
If your institution does not have an open admission policy, you will be required to report Admissions component
regarding your admissions procedures and admissions yield.
No
Yes
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You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Library Access and Expenses
Does your institution have access to a library collection?
No
Yes (receives AL
component)
Were your annual total library expenses for Fiscal Year 2016 greater than zero?
No
Yes (receives AL component)
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Levels of Enrollment Offered
Was your institution in operation during the academic year 2015-16?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be able to specify the levels of enrollment offered at your institution during
2015-16 and to report 12-month enrollment during the fall collection.
No
Yes. Please specify the levels of enrollment offered during 2015-16.
Undergraduate
Graduate (not including doctor's-professional practice)
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Academic Library Contact
Other
hours
minutes
Name:
Email:
How long did it take to prepare
this survey component?
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
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Browsers Supported
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Section 508 Compliance
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IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or [email protected]
NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Instructions
date: 8/12/2016
IC Header Full Instructions for public 2-yr degree-granting institutions
Purpose of Institutional Characteristics Header Survey
Changes in Reporting
General instructions
Reporting Period for Institutional Characteristics Header
Context boxes
Coverage
Where to Get Help
Where the Data Will Appear
Reporting Directions
Part A - Educational Offerings
Part B - Organization
Control and Award Levels
Calendar System
Enrollment Levels and GRS cohort question
Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions
Open Admission
Library Expenses
Level of Enrollment
Part D - Branch Campus
Purpose of Survey
The primary purpose of the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics Header (IC-H) survey is to collect basic institutional
data including control or affiliation, calendar system, and award levels. These data are key to accurate reporting as
they are used to determine the reporting for other IPEDS surveys. Any errors in the IC-H survey can lead to further
errors in the data reporting process, so please be very careful in reporting these data correctly, and contact the IPEDS
Help Desk (877.225.2568) if you have any questions.
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Changes in reporting
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General instructions
Reporting period covered
Institutional Characteristics Header (IC-H) covers data for the current year with two exceptions.
•
•
Cohort data in B6 refer to a past cohort and are used to set the Graduation Rates component (GR).
For new institutions, the question about prior year operation refers to the prior academic year and is used to
determine the applicability of the 12-Month Enrollment (E12) component.
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Context Boxes
Context boxes are provided to allow institutions to provide more information regarding survey component items. Note
that some context boxes are posted on the College Navigator Website, which is the college search tool offered by
NCES. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting them on the
College Navigator Website, however, institutions should check grammar and spelling of their entries. Inappropriate or
repetitive contexts will be deleted.
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Coverage
Carefully read each question in the Institutional Characteristics Header survey to ensure you are reporting data for the
appropriate students. The student groups for which data are collected vary throughout the IC-H survey (e.g.,
undergraduate and graduate). In general, for each group, ensure that the guidelines below are met.
A. Who to include
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled in courses creditable toward a diploma, certificate, degree, or other formal award,
including those enrolled in off-campus centers
High school students taking regular college courses for credit
Full-time students taking remedial courses IF the student is considered degree-seeking for the purpose of
student financial aid determination
Students from overseas enrolled in U.S. courses for credit (e.g., online students)
Graduate students enrolled for thesis credits, even when zero credits are awarded, as these students are still
enrolled and seeking their degree
B. Who NOT to include
•
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled exclusively in courses not creditable toward a formal award
Students enrolled exclusively in Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Students exclusively auditing classes
Residents or interns in Doctor's - professional practice (previously first-professional), since they have already
received their Doctor's degree
Any student studying abroad (e.g., at a foreign university) if their enrollment at the 'home' institution is only
an administrative record and the fee is nominal
Students in any branch campus located in a foreign country
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Where to Get Help with Reporting
IPEDS Help Desk
Phone: 1-877-225-2568
Email: [email protected]
Web Tutorials
You can also consult the IPEDS Website Trainings & Outreach page which contains several tutorials on IPEDS data
collection, a self-paced overview of IPEDS tools, and other valuable resources.
IPEDS Resource Page
The IPEDS Website Reporting Tools page contains frequently asked questions, a link to data tip sheets, tutorials,
taxonomies, information centers (e.g., academic libraries, average net price, human resources, race/ethnicity, etc.),
and other valuable information.
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Where the Data Will Appear
Data collected through IPEDS will be accessible at the institution- and aggregate-levels.
At the institution-level, data will appear in the:
•
•
•
College Navigator Website (including the College Affordability and Transparency Center)
IPEDS Data Center
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
At the aggregate-level, data will appear in:
•
•
IPEDS First Looks
IPEDS Table Library
•
•
•
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
The Digest of Education Statistics
The Condition of Education
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Reporting Directions
Part A - Educational Offerings
Responses on this screen verify inclusion of the institution on the NCES/IPEDS list of institutions and agencies that
provide all types of postsecondary education. Postsecondary education is defined as the provision of a formal
instructional program whose curriculum is designed primarily for students beyond the compulsory age for high school.
This includes programs whose purpose is occupational, academic, or continuing professional education but excludes
avocational and adult basic education programs.
If you select only avocational and/or adult basic education programs, you will be contacted by IPEDS to confirm your
exemption from IPEDS reporting.
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Part B – Organization
Institutional Control or Affiliation
Indicate the appropriate control or affiliation under which the institution operates. If the institution has a religious
affiliation, select the denomination from the list provided in the drop-down box. Public institutions must designate a
primary control; identification of a secondary control is optional. If control of the institution differs from the prior year
or requires a change, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
Correct reporting of control or affiliation is KEY to IPEDS reporting. Errors in reporting control or affiliation cause you
to receive incorrect survey forms, misrepresents your institution to the public on College Navigator and other search
tools that use IPEDS data, and places your institution in incorrect groups in IPEDS publications and on the College
Affordability and Transparency Lists. If you do not know the control or affiliation of your institution, please call the
Help Desk.
Award Levels
Check applicable award levels for all credit programs offered at the institution. Award levels are identified based on
duration and/or awards.
•
•
•
•
•
Report using the number of CONTACT or CREDIT hours, as is appropriate to your calendar system (e.g.,
semester or quarter).
◦
References to length of study are the equivalent of full-time academic years; that is, at least 1 but less
than 2 years refers to the number of credits or the course load that would normally be completed by a
full-time student attending within the stated time period.
▪
One academic year equals 900 contact or clock hours of instruction, 30 semester credit hours
or its equivalent, or 45 quarter credit hours.
Award levels 1, 2, and 4 differ by length of programs and refer to completions below the baccalaureate degree.
Use the IPEDS designations, not institutionally defined designations, to describe these levels.
Award levels 3, 5, 7, 17, 18 and 19 indicate degree levels for which the institution is authorized to make
formal awards.
Award levels 6 and 8 indicate certificate levels.
If you cannot classify an award within the award levels indicated on the screen, check award level 12 (Other)
and specify or describe the award in the context box. Because there are few programs that fall under ‘Other’
please contact the Help Desk if you are considering selecting Level 12.
NOTE: Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they are
considered subbaccalaureate undergraduate programs. Check the applicable award level 1, 2, or 4, depending on the
length of the Teacher Preparation program.
Calendar System
Indicate the predominant calendar system under which the institution operates. If programs are offered on more
than one calendar, select the system under which most programs are offered. If there is no predominant calendar
system at your institution, select the option that best characterizes your institution.
If your calendar system differs from the prior year or requires a change, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at
877.225.2568.
Note: Calendar system selection determines reporting in many other IPEDS components. Be sure to choose the
calendar system you select accurately represents your institution. Contact the IPEDS Help Desk if you are not sure
which calendar system to select.
•
•
•
Standard academic terms (semesters, quarters, trimesters, 4-1-4)
◦
Use a fall cohort for Graduation Rates.
◦
Report tuition and fees and cost information based on a full academic year.
◦
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled as of October 15, or the official fall reporting
date used by the institution. This fall enrollment cohort will be preloaded into the next year's
Student Financial Aid component.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for an academic year.
Program-by-program or continuous enrollment basis
◦
Use a full-year cohort for Graduation Rates.
◦
Report tuition and fees and books and supplies information by program for the entire length of the
program. For living expenses, report costs for 4 weeks (1 month). Note: Living expenses are only
applicable to institutions with full-time, first-time students and are reported with the largest program.
◦
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled in the institution at any time between August 1
and October 31.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for the largest program for an academic year.
Hybrid academic calendar (If you are considering selecting the ‘Other academic calendar’ option, please
contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568 so they can confirm the appropriateness of this calendar system for
your institution.)
◦
Use a full-year cohort for Graduation Rates.
◦
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled in the institution at any time between August 1
and October 31.
◦
Report tuition and fees and cost information based on a full academic year.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for an academic year.
Student enrollment
Enrollment of full- and part-time students.
Indicate whether your institution enrolls any full-time or part-time students at the levels listed. Include all levels
offered, even if there are not any students currently enrolled at that level.
Responses to those categories will determine the screens generated for reporting academic year tuition charges in the
Institutional Characteristics survey during the Fall collection and enrollment data in the Fall Enrollment survey during
the Spring collection.
•
Make sure to check Yes for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students if applicable, as this
determines that your institution will report cost information on Institutional Characteristics screens in Part D
and Student Financial Aid information during the Winter collection.
Doctor's - professional practice
Indicate whether your institution offers any of the listed Doctor's - professional practice programs. If your institution
offers Doctor's -professional practice programs but does not offer any of the listed programs, indicate no.
GRS cohort question.
•
•
4-year institutions. Indicate if your institution had any full-time, first-time undergraduate students enrolled
in programs at the baccalaureate level or below in the academic year indicated on the screen. If you indicate
Yes, you must report Graduation Rates data in the Winter.
Less-than-4-year institutions. Indicate if your institution had any full-time, first-time degree/certificateseeking students enrolled in the academic year indicated on the screen. If you check Yes, you must report
Graduation Rates data in the Winter.
Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
If applicable, select from the provided list the multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs, or
controls the institution. If you do not see your multi-institution or multi-organization listed, please contact the Help
Desk.
A multi-institution or multi-campus organization includes organizations with two or more institutions or campuses.
Non-postsecondary education agencies that govern or control institutions include, but are not limited to, public school
districts, art organizations, hospitals and other medical/health organizations.
Do not include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
coordinating systems
single institution owner
single institution corporate name
single institution governing board
consortia
associations
religious affiliation (requested in control question)
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Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions
Open admission policy
Check Yes if your institution has an open admission policy.
If your institution requires only a high school diploma/equivalent and/or Ability to Benefit (or similar) test, and few
students are not admitted based on the test, your institution is still considered open admission. For example, if you
have students take the ATB test and allow 98% of those students to enroll, you are likely open admission. The 2%
that were not admitted had unusual circumstances that kept them from being admitted.
Note: IPEDS does not have a set percentage to determine open admission. Please review your institution's admission
policy or talk to someone in the admissions office if you are not sure whether your institution is open admission, or
contact the IPEDS Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
Library Access and Expenses
Indicate whether the institution has access to a library collection and/or the annual total library expenses at your
institution were greater than zero for Fiscal Year 2016. Fiscal Year 2016 is defined as the most recent 12-month period
that corresponds to your institution's fiscal year that ends before October 1, 2016.
A library collection is defined as “comprising documents held locally and remote resources for which permanent or
temporary access rights have been acquired. Access rights may be acquired by the library itself, by a consortium
and/or through external funding. Acquisition is to be understood as securing access rights and including it in the
library catalog, other library databases or discovery systems.”
Expenses include funds expended by the library (regardless of when received) from its regular budget and from all
other known sources; e.g., research grants, special projects, gifts and endowments, and fees for services. Those
libraries in consortia or those that share all their resources with another institution, please report whether the total
annual library expenses at YOUR institution were greater than zero in Fiscal Year 2016.
If the institution does not have access to a library collection and the institution's library expenses are equal to 0, you
will not be asked to complete the Academic Libraries (AL) component in the Spring.
Level of Enrollment
New institutions should indicate whether their institution was in operation during the prior academic year. If the
response is ‘Yes’, they should also indicate the levels that were offered.
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Part D - Branch campus
For branch campuses, refer to the instructions on the appropriate screen.
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date: 8/12/2016
Glossary
Term
Definition
4-1-4 (calendar system)
The 4-1-4 calendar usually consists of 4 courses taken for 4 months, 1 course taken for 1 month, and 4 courses
taken for 4 months. There may be an additional summer session.
Academic year
The period of time generally extending from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters or trimesters, 3
quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
Adult basic education
Courses designed primarily for students 16 years of age and older to improve basic skills in reading, writing, and
arithmetic. These courses are not intended to be part of a program leading to a high school credential, nor are they
part of any academic, occupational, or vocational program at the postsecondary level.
Associate's degree
An award that normally requires at least 2 but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college work.
Avocational programs
Instructional programs in personal interest and leisure categories whose expressed intent is not to produce
postsecondary credits , nor to lead to a formal award or an academic degree, nor result in occupationally specific
skills.
Bachelor's degree
An award (baccalaureate or equivalent degree, as determined by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education) that
normally requires at least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes all
bachelor's degrees conferred in a 5-year cooperative (work-study) program. A cooperative plan provides for
alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government; thus, it allows students to
combine actual work experience with their college studies. Also includes bachelor's degrees in which the normal 4
years of work are completed in 3 years.
Calendar system
The method by which an institution structures most of its courses for the academic year.
Certificate
A formal award certifying the satisfactory completion of a postsecondary education program.
Cohort
A specific group of students established for tracking purposes.
Contact hour
A unit of measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction given to students. Also referred to as clock hour.
Continuing professional
education
Programs and courses designed specifically for individuals who have completed a degree in a professional field (such
as law, medicine, dentistry, education, or social work) to obtain additional training in their particular field of study.
Continuous basis
A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that allow students to enroll/start classes at any time
during the year. For example, a cosmetology school or a word processing school might allow students to enroll and
begin studies at various times, with no requirement that classes begin on a certain date.
Control (of institution)
A classification of whether an institution is operated by publicly elected or appointed officials (public control) or by
privately elected or appointed officials and derives its major source of funds from private sources (private control).
Credit hour
A unit of measure representing the equivalent of an hour (50 minutes) of instruction per week over the entire term.
It is applied toward the total number of credit hours needed for completing the requirements of a degree, diploma,
certificate, or other formal award.
Degree
An award conferred by a college, university, or other postsecondary education institution as official recognition for
the successful completion of a program of studies.
Differs by program (calendar
system)
A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that have occupational/vocational programs of varying
lengths. These schools may enroll students at specific times depending on the program desired. For example, a
school might offer a 2-month program in January, March, May, September, and November; and a 3-month program
in January, April, and October.
Doctor's degree-other
A doctor's degree that does not meet the definition of a doctor's degree - research/scholarship or a doctor's degree professional practice.
Doctor's degree-professional
practice
A doctor's degree that is conferred upon completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for the
recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice. The degree is awarded after a period of study
such that the total time to the degree, including both pre-professional and professional preparation, equals at least
six full-time equivalent academic years. Some of these degrees were formerly classified as first-professional and
may include: Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.); Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.); Law (J.D.); Medicine (M.D.); Optometry
(O.D.); Osteopathic Medicine (D.O); Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); Podiatry (D.P.M., Pod.D., D.P.); or, Veterinary Medicine
(D.V.M.), and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Doctor's degreeresearch/scholarship
A Ph.D. or other doctor's degree that requires advanced work beyond the master's level, including the preparation
and defense of a dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original project
demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement. Some examples of this type of degree may include
Ed.D., D.M.A., D.B.A., D.Sc., D.A., or D.M, and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Educational offerings
Educational programs offered by postsecondary institutions that are occupational, academic, or continuing
professional that qualify as postsecondary education programs OR recreational or avocational, adult basic, remedial
instruction, high school equivalency, or high school programs that are not deemed postsecondary.
Fall cohort
The group of students entering in the fall term established for tracking purposes. For the Graduation Rates
component, this includes all students who enter an institution as full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking
undergraduate students during the fall term of a given year. For the Outcome Measures component, all
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who enter an institution during the fall term of a given year must
be placed in one of four cohorts: full-time, first-time; part-time, first-time; full-time, non-first-time; and part-time,
non-first-time.
First-time student
(undergraduate)
A student who has no prior postsecondary experience (except as noted below) attending any institution for the first
time at the undergraduate level. This includes students enrolled in academic or occupational programs. It also
includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and
students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school).
Full-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, or 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more
contact hours a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for 9 or more semester credits, or 9 or more quarter
credits, or a student involved in thesis or dissertation preparation that is considered full-time by the institution.
Doctor's degree - Professional practice - as defined by the institution.
Full-year cohort
The group of students entering at any time during the 12-month period September 1 through August 31 that is
established for tracking and reporting Graduation Rate (GR) and Outcome Measures (OM) data for institutions that
primarily offer occupational programs of varying lengths. Students must be full-time and first-time to be considered
in the cohort. For OM component, undergraduate students must enter in one of four cohorts: full-time, first-time;
part-time, first-time; full-time, non-first-time; and part-time, non-first-time.
Graduate student
A student who holds a bachelor's degree or above and is taking courses at the postbaccalaureate level. These
students may or may not be enrolled in graduate programs.
Institutional affiliation
A classification that indicates whether a private not-for-profit institution is associated with a religious group or
denomination. Private not-for-profit institutions may be either independent or religiously affiliated.
Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System
(IPEDS)
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), conducted by the NCES, began in 1986 and involves
annual institution-level data collections. All postsecondary institutions that have a Program Participation Agreement
with the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), U.S. Department of Education (throughout IPEDS referred to as
"Title IV") are required to report data using a web-based data collection system. IPEDS currently consists of the
following components: Institutional Characteristics (IC); 12-month Enrollment (E12);Completions (C); Admissions
(ADM); Student Financial Aid (SFA); Human Resources (HR) composed of Employees by Assigned Position, Fall Staff,
and Salaries; Fall Enrollment (EF); Graduation Rates (GR); Outcome Measures (OM); Finance (F); and Academic
Libraries (AL).
Less than 2-year institution
A postsecondary institution that offers programs of less than 2-years duration below the baccalaureate level.
Includes occupational and vocational schools with programs that do not exceed 1800 contact hours .
Levels of offering
Information collected in the Institutional Characteristics component which indicates all applicable levels for all credit
programs offered at an institution. Award levels are identified on the basis of recognition for their completion,
duration, or a combination thereof. Degree-designated award levels indicate those degree levels for which the
institution is authorized to make formal awards. Length of study is the equivalent of the number of full-time
academic years. For example, at least 1 but less than 2 years refers to the number of credits or the course load that
would normally be completed by a full-time student attending within the stated time period.
Library collections
Comprise of documents held locally and remote resources for which permanent or temporary access rights have
been acquired. Access rights may be acquired by the library itself, by a consortium and/or through external funding.
Acquisition is to be understood as securing access rights and including it in the library catalog, other library
databases or discovery systems.
Library expenses
Funds expended by the library (regardless of when received) from its regular budget and from all other sources;
e.g., research grants, special projects, gifts and endowments, and fees for services.
Master's degree
An award that requires the successful completion of a program of study of at least the full-time equivalent of 1 but
not more than 2 academic years of work beyond the bachelor's degree.
Some of these degrees, such as those in Theology (M.Div., M.H.L./Rav) that were formerly classified as "firstprofessional", may require more than two full-time equivalent academic years of work.
Occupational program
A program of study consisting of one or more courses, designed to provide the student with sufficient knowledge and
skills to perform in a specific occupation.
Other academic calendar
system
Category used to describe "non-traditional" calendar systems at 4-year and 2-year degree-granting institutions.
These can include schools that offer primarily on-line courses or "one course at a time."
Part-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for either less than 12 semester or quarter credits, or less than 24 contact hours
a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for less than 9 semester or quarter credits.
Post-master's certificate
An award that requires completion of an organized program beyond the master's degree, but does not meet the
requirements of academic degrees at the doctor's level.
Postbaccalaureate certificate
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study beyond the bachelor's. It is designed for
persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree, but does not meet the requirements of a master's degree.
NOTE: Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they
are considered subbacalaureate undergraduate programs, and students in these programs are undergraduate
students.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (at
least 1 but less than 2
academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in at least 1 but less than 2 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion
in at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit
hours, or in at least 900 but less than 1,800 contact or clock hours.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (at
least 2 but less than 4
academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in at least 2 but less than 4 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion
in at least 60 but less than 120 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 90 but less than 180 quarter credit
hours, or in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact or clock hours.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (less
than 1 academic year)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in less than 1 academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters), or designed for completion in less
than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or in less than 45 quarter credit hours, or in less than 900 contact or
clock hours.
Private for-profit institution
A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives compensation other than wages, rent, or
other expenses for the assumption of risk.
Private institution
An educational institution controlled by a private individual(s) or by a nongovernmental agency, usually supported
primarily by other than public funds, and operated by other than publicly elected or appointed officials. These
institutions may be either for-profit or not-for-profit.
Private not-for-profit
institution
A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives no compensation, other than wages,
rent, or other expenses for the assumption of risk. These include both independent not-for-profit schools and those
affiliated with a religious organization.
Program
A combination of courses and related activities organized for the attainment of broad educational objectives as
described by the institution.
Programs of at least 2 years
but less than 4 years
Programs requiring at least 2 years but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college level work, including
associate's degrees and programs that can be completed in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact hours to
obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Programs of at least 4 years
Programs designed to be completed in at least 8 semesters or 12 quarters to obtain a degree, diploma, or other
formal award. Includes programs resulting in all bachelor's degrees and other baccalaureate level or equivalent
degrees, as well as 5-year cooperative programs, and those programs in which the normal 4 years of work are
designed to be completed in 3 years.
Programs of less than 2 years
Programs requiring less than 2 years of full-time equivalent college level work (4 semesters or 6 quarters) or less
than 1,800 contact hours to obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Public institution
An educational institution whose programs and activities are operated by publicly elected or appointed school
officials and which is supported primarily by public funds.
Quarter (calendar system)
A calendar system in which the academic year consists of 3 sessions called quarters of about 12 weeks each. The
range may be from 10 to 15 weeks as defined by the institution. There may be an additional quarter in the summer.
Semester (calendar system)
A calendar system that consists of two sessions called semesters during the academic year with about 15 weeks for
each semester of instruction. There may be an additional summer session.
Title IV institution
An institution that has a written agreement with the Secretary of Education that allows the institution to participate
in any of the Title IV federal student financial assistance programs (other than the State Student Incentive Grant
(SSIG) and the National Early Intervention Scholarship and Partnership (NEISP) programs).
Trimester (calendar system)
An academic year consisting of 3 terms of about 15 weeks each.
Undergraduate
A student enrolled in a 4- or 5-year bachelor's degree program, an associate's degree program, or a vocational or
technical program below the baccalaureate.
U.S. Department of Education
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NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Form
IC Header for public 2-year non-degree-granting institutions
Overview
Institutional Characteristics Header Overview
Welcome to the Institutional Characteristics Header survey component (IC Header). This survey was introduced to
collect data that are key to reporting throughout the IPEDS data collection, and must be completed and locked before
any other survey can be started.
Some IC Header questions may require nothing more than a confirmation, if nothing has changed. Please make
changes as necessary, and complete items that do need a response (enrollment questions).
Remember, it is the responsibility of the keyholder to provide NCES with accurate data about the institution. Please
never hesitate to call the IPEDS Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568 and ask for help to make sure that you are reporting
correctly!
Changes to This Year's IC Header Component:
•
Because of the importance of the IC Header data in determining the screens you will receive in other surveys, be sure
to report correctly, and to contact the IPEDS Help Desk if you have ANY questions about what you need to report.
The IC Header data affect other survey components in the following ways:
•
The Educational Offerings question verifies your institution's inclusion in IPEDS.
•
The Control and Levels page is key to all survey components, especially to Finance (F) and Graduation
Rates (GR). Additionally, this is important information for students, impacts many federal reports, and is used
in placing institutions in appropriate net price groupings.
•
Calendar system selection impacts student charges data reported in Institutional Characteristics (IC), Fall
Enrollment (EF) data, GR data, and Student Financial Aid (SFA) data related to the net price calculation.
•
Enrollment levels impact student charges in IC and enrollment categories in the EF survey component.
•
The Open Admission question determines whether the Admissions component will be required in the Winter.
•
The Academic Libraries expenses question determines whether the Academic Libraries component will be
required in the Spring. This question is asked of degree-granting institutions only.
•
The operations question for new institutions determines reporting of 12-month enrollment (E12).
To download survey materials package for this component: Survey Materials
date: 8/12/2016
Part A - Educational Offerings
1. Which of the following types of instruction/programs are offered by your institution? [Check one or more]
If your institution does not offer occupational or academic programs, you are not expected to complete this or any other
IPEDS survey.
Occupational, may lead to a certificate, degree, or other formal award
Academic, leading to a certificate, degree, or diploma
Recreational or avocational (leisure) programs
Adult basic or remedial instruction or high school equivalency
Secondary (high school)
Part B - Organization - Control and Levels
1. What is your institutional control or affiliation?
Be sure to select the correct control for your institution. Errors on this question have an impact throughout the
IPEDS surveys, in federal reporting, in net price groupings, and on your institutions appearance to students. If
you reported incorrectly in a previous year, please contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568 to correct the error.
Public - Select
primary and or
secondary controls
below
Primary control
Secondary control (if applicable)
Select One
Select One
Private for-profit
Private not-for-profit independent (no religious affiliation)
Private not-for-profit religious affiliation - Select affiliation below
Select One
2. What award levels are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
When reporting award levels for sub baccalaureate certificates (levels 1, 2, and 4), determine program length by the
number of credit or contact hours, NOT the academic year length in parentheses. The academic year length is
meant only to provide context.
The 'Other' award level should not be used unless your program truly does not fit any of the other award levels. We
expect very few institutions to fit the 'Other' category.
Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they are
considered subbaccalaureate undergraduate programs. Check the applicable award level 1, 2, or 4, depending on the
length of the Teacher Preparation program.
Award Level
BELOW THE BACCALAUREATE:
1
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (less than one academic year)
- less than 900 contact or clock hours, or
- less than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or
- less than 45 quarter credit hours
2
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (at least one but less than two academic
years)
- at least 900 but less than 1800 contact or clock hours, or
- at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or
- at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit hours
3
Associate's degree
4
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (at least two but less than four academic
years)
- 1800 or more contact or clock hours, or
- 60 or more semester or trimester credit hours, or
- 90 or more quarter credit hours
BACCALAUREATE AND ABOVE:
5
Bachelor's degree or equivalent
6
Postbaccalaureate certificate
7
Master's degree
8
Post-master's certificate
17
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
18
Doctor's degree - professional practice
19
Doctor's degree - other
12
Other (specify in box below)
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above.
Part B - Organization - Calendar System
Your response to the next question determines how your institution reports Institutional Characteristics
student charges data in the fall, Student Financial Aid data in the winter, and Graduation Rates data in the
winter. It also impacts the net price calculation in the Student Financial Aid survey.
If the calendar system differs from prior year or requires a change, please contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
3. What is the predominant calendar system at the institution? [Choose one]
Academic Year Reporting Method (Standard academic terms)
Selecting one of the following calendar types determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and
Graduation Rates data based on a FALL COHORT and student charges data for a full ACADEMIC YEAR.
Semester
Quarter
Trimester
4-1-4 or similar plan
Program Reporting Method (Other calendar system)
Selecting one of the following calendar types determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and
Graduation Rates data based on a FULL-YEAR COHORT, and student charges data by PROGRAM.
Differs by program
Continuous basis (every 2 weeks, monthly, or other period)
Hybrid/Mixed Reporting Method (Standard academic terms, other academic calendar)
Selecting the hybrid calendar type determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and Graduation
Rates data based on a FULL-YEAR COHORT, and student charges data for a full ACADEMIC YEAR.
Hybrid (Other academic calendar)
Part B - Organization - Student Enrollment
4. Does your institution enroll any of the following types of students?
Include all levels offered by your institution, even if there are no students currently enrolled at that level.
Responses to this question determine which screens will be generated for reporting academic year tuition charges, and
for reporting Fall Enrollment during the spring collection. Additionally, checking Yes for full-time, first-time,
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students determines that your institution must report cost of attendance data
(on the IC component) and Student Financial Aid data for these students.
Full-time
Part-time
Undergraduate (academic or occupational programs)
First-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate
Graduate (not including doctor's-professional practice)
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
6. For academic year 2013-14, did your institution enroll any full-time, first-time students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be required to provide Graduation Rates data for the 2013-14 cohort in the
winter collection. If you answer No to this question, indicate the reason you are not required to report Graduation Rates
for the cohort year requested. If you reported any full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students on the 2013-14
Fall Enrollment survey, the data will be preloaded below.
No
This institution did not enroll full-time, first-time
degree/certificate-seeking students.
This institution was not in operation in 2013-14.
Yes
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students from 2013-14 Fall Enrollment survey (GR Cohort)
Part B - Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
7. Multi-institution or multi-campus organization
Is the institution part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs, or controls the
institution? Do NOT indicate a religious affiliation here; that information is collected separately.
If you need assistance, contact the Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568. You will not be able to lock your submission if this
question is blank.
No, this institution IS NOT a part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns,
governs, or controls the institution.
Yes, this institution IS a part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns,
governs, or controls the institution.
If yes, select the name of the multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs,
or controls the institution after clicking on 'Select System' below.
Select System
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Open Admission
2. Does your institution have an open admission policy for all or most entering first-time students?
If the only requirement for admission is a high school diploma or GED/other equivalent, your institution is still considered
open admission. Institutions that require only an Ability to Benefit or similar test beyond the diploma/equivalent, and only
reject a very small number of students based on the test, are also considered open admission.
If your institution does not have an open admission policy, you will be required to report Admissions component
regarding your admissions procedures and admissions yield.
No
Yes
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You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Levels of Enrollment Offered
Was your institution in operation during the academic year 2015-16?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be able to specify the levels of enrollment offered at your institution during
2015-16 and to report 12-month enrollment during the fall collection.
No
Yes. Please specify the levels of enrollment offered during 2015-16.
Undergraduate
Graduate (not including doctor's-professional practice)
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Academic Library Contact
Other
hours
minutes
Name:
Email:
How long did it take to prepare
this survey component?
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
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NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Instructions
date: 8/12/2016
IC Header Full Instructions for public 2-yr nondegree-granting institutions
Purpose of Institutional Characteristics Header Survey
Changes in Reporting
General instructions
Reporting Period for Institutional Characteristics Header
Context boxes
Coverage
Where to Get Help
Where the Data Will Appear
Reporting Directions
Part A - Educational Offerings
Part B - Organization
Control and Award Levels
Calendar System
Enrollment Levels and GRS cohort question
Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions
Open Admission
Level of Enrollment
Part D - Branch Campus
Purpose of Survey
The primary purpose of the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics Header (IC-H) survey is to collect basic institutional
data including control or affiliation, calendar system, and award levels. These data are key to accurate reporting as
they are used to determine the reporting for other IPEDS surveys. Any errors in the IC-H survey can lead to further
errors in the data reporting process, so please be very careful in reporting these data correctly, and contact the IPEDS
Help Desk (877.225.2568) if you have any questions.
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Changes in reporting
•
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General instructions
Reporting period covered
Institutional Characteristics Header (IC-H) covers data for the current year with two exceptions.
•
•
Cohort data in B6 refer to a past cohort and are used to set the Graduation Rates component (GR).
For new institutions, the question about prior year operation refers to the prior academic year and is used to
determine the applicability of the 12-Month Enrollment (E12) component.
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Context Boxes
Context boxes are provided to allow institutions to provide more information regarding survey component items. Note
that some context boxes are posted on the College Navigator Website, which is the college search tool offered by
NCES. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting them on the
College Navigator Website, however, institutions should check grammar and spelling of their entries. Inappropriate or
repetitive contexts will be deleted.
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Coverage
Carefully read each question in the Institutional Characteristics Header survey to ensure you are reporting data for the
appropriate students. The student groups for which data are collected vary throughout the IC-H survey (e.g.,
undergraduate and graduate). In general, for each group, ensure that the guidelines below are met.
A. Who to include
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled in courses creditable toward a diploma, certificate, degree, or other formal award,
including those enrolled in off-campus centers
High school students taking regular college courses for credit
Full-time students taking remedial courses IF the student is considered degree-seeking for the purpose of
student financial aid determination
Students from overseas enrolled in U.S. courses for credit (e.g., online students)
Graduate students enrolled for thesis credits, even when zero credits are awarded, as these students are still
enrolled and seeking their degree
B. Who NOT to include
•
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled exclusively in courses not creditable toward a formal award
Students enrolled exclusively in Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Students exclusively auditing classes
Residents or interns in Doctor's - professional practice (previously first-professional), since they have already
received their Doctor's degree
Any student studying abroad (e.g., at a foreign university) if their enrollment at the 'home' institution is only
an administrative record and the fee is nominal
Students in any branch campus located in a foreign country
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Where to Get Help with Reporting
IPEDS Help Desk
Phone: 1-877-225-2568
Email: [email protected]
Web Tutorials
You can also consult the IPEDS Website Trainings & Outreach page which contains several tutorials on IPEDS data
collection, a self-paced overview of IPEDS tools, and other valuable resources.
IPEDS Resource Page
The IPEDS Website Reporting Tools page contains frequently asked questions, a link to data tip sheets, tutorials,
taxonomies, information centers (e.g., academic libraries, average net price, human resources, race/ethnicity, etc.),
and other valuable information.
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Where the Data Will Appear
Data collected through IPEDS will be accessible at the institution- and aggregate-levels.
At the institution-level, data will appear in the:
•
•
•
College Navigator Website (including the College Affordability and Transparency Center)
IPEDS Data Center
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
At the aggregate-level, data will appear in:
•
•
•
•
•
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IPEDS First Looks
IPEDS Table Library
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
The Digest of Education Statistics
The Condition of Education
Reporting Directions
Part A - Educational Offerings
Responses on this screen verify inclusion of the institution on the NCES/IPEDS list of institutions and agencies that
provide all types of postsecondary education. Postsecondary education is defined as the provision of a formal
instructional program whose curriculum is designed primarily for students beyond the compulsory age for high school.
This includes programs whose purpose is occupational, academic, or continuing professional education but excludes
avocational and adult basic education programs.
If you select only avocational and/or adult basic education programs, you will be contacted by IPEDS to confirm your
exemption from IPEDS reporting.
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Part B – Organization
Institutional Control or Affiliation
Indicate the appropriate control or affiliation under which the institution operates. If the institution has a religious
affiliation, select the denomination from the list provided in the drop-down box. Public institutions must designate a
primary control; identification of a secondary control is optional. If control of the institution differs from the prior year
or requires a change, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
Correct reporting of control or affiliation is KEY to IPEDS reporting. Errors in reporting control or affiliation cause you
to receive incorrect survey forms, misrepresents your institution to the public on College Navigator and other search
tools that use IPEDS data, and places your institution in incorrect groups in IPEDS publications and on the College
Affordability and Transparency Lists. If you do not know the control or affiliation of your institution, please call the
Help Desk.
Award Levels
Check applicable award levels for all credit programs offered at the institution. Award levels are identified based on
duration and/or awards.
•
•
•
•
•
Report using the number of CONTACT or CREDIT hours, as is appropriate to your calendar system (e.g.,
semester or quarter).
◦
References to length of study are the equivalent of full-time academic years; that is, at least 1 but less
than 2 years refers to the number of credits or the course load that would normally be completed by a
full-time student attending within the stated time period.
▪
One academic year equals 900 contact or clock hours of instruction, 30 semester credit hours
or its equivalent, or 45 quarter credit hours.
Award levels 1, 2, and 4 differ by length of programs and refer to completions below the baccalaureate degree.
Use the IPEDS designations, not institutionally defined designations, to describe these levels.
Award levels 3, 5, 7, 17, 18 and 19 indicate degree levels for which the institution is authorized to make
formal awards.
Award levels 6 and 8 indicate certificate levels.
If you cannot classify an award within the award levels indicated on the screen, check award level 12 (Other)
and specify or describe the award in the context box. Because there are few programs that fall under ‘Other’
please contact the Help Desk if you are considering selecting Level 12.
NOTE: Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they are
considered subbaccalaureate undergraduate programs. Check the applicable award level 1, 2, or 4, depending on the
length of the Teacher Preparation program.
Calendar System
Indicate the predominant calendar system under which the institution operates. If programs are offered on more
than one calendar, select the system under which most programs are offered. If there is no predominant calendar
system at your institution, select the option that best characterizes your institution.
If your calendar system differs from the prior year or requires a change, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at
877.225.2568.
Note: Calendar system selection determines reporting in many other IPEDS components. Be sure to choose the
calendar system you select accurately represents your institution. Contact the IPEDS Help Desk if you are not sure
which calendar system to select.
•
Standard academic terms (semesters, quarters, trimesters, 4-1-4)
◦
◦
◦
•
•
Use a fall cohort for Graduation Rates.
Report tuition and fees and cost information based on a full academic year.
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled as of October 15, or the official fall reporting
date used by the institution. This fall enrollment cohort will be preloaded into the next year's
Student Financial Aid component.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for an academic year.
Program-by-program or continuous enrollment basis
◦
Use a full-year cohort for Graduation Rates.
◦
Report tuition and fees and books and supplies information by program for the entire length of the
program. For living expenses, report costs for 4 weeks (1 month). Note: Living expenses are only
applicable to institutions with full-time, first-time students and are reported with the largest program.
◦
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled in the institution at any time between August 1
and October 31.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for the largest program for an academic year.
Hybrid academic calendar (If you are considering selecting the ‘Other academic calendar’ option, please
contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568 so they can confirm the appropriateness of this calendar system for
your institution.)
◦
Use a full-year cohort for Graduation Rates.
◦
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled in the institution at any time between August 1
and October 31.
◦
Report tuition and fees and cost information based on a full academic year.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for an academic year.
Student enrollment
Enrollment of full- and part-time students.
Indicate whether your institution enrolls any full-time or part-time students at the levels listed. Include all levels
offered, even if there are not any students currently enrolled at that level.
Responses to those categories will determine the screens generated for reporting academic year tuition charges in the
Institutional Characteristics survey during the Fall collection and enrollment data in the Fall Enrollment survey during
the Spring collection.
•
Make sure to check Yes for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students if applicable, as this
determines that your institution will report cost information on Institutional Characteristics screens in Part D
and Student Financial Aid information during the Winter collection.
Doctor's - professional practice
Indicate whether your institution offers any of the listed Doctor's - professional practice programs. If your institution
offers Doctor's -professional practice programs but does not offer any of the listed programs, indicate no.
GRS cohort question.
•
•
4-year institutions. Indicate if your institution had any full-time, first-time undergraduate students enrolled
in programs at the baccalaureate level or below in the academic year indicated on the screen. If you indicate
Yes, you must report Graduation Rates data in the Winter.
Less-than-4-year institutions. Indicate if your institution had any full-time, first-time degree/certificateseeking students enrolled in the academic year indicated on the screen. If you check Yes, you must report
Graduation Rates data in the Winter.
Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
If applicable, select from the provided list the multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs, or
controls the institution. If you do not see your multi-institution or multi-organization listed, please contact the Help
Desk.
A multi-institution or multi-campus organization includes organizations with two or more institutions or campuses.
Non-postsecondary education agencies that govern or control institutions include, but are not limited to, public school
districts, art organizations, hospitals and other medical/health organizations.
Do not include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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coordinating systems
single institution owner
single institution corporate name
single institution governing board
consortia
associations
religious affiliation (requested in control question)
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions
Open admission policy
Check Yes if your institution has an open admission policy.
If your institution requires only a high school diploma/equivalent and/or Ability to Benefit (or similar) test, and few
students are not admitted based on the test, your institution is still considered open admission. For example, if you
have students take the ATB test and allow 98% of those students to enroll, you are likely open admission. The 2%
that were not admitted had unusual circumstances that kept them from being admitted.
Note: IPEDS does not have a set percentage to determine open admission. Please review your institution's admission
policy or talk to someone in the admissions office if you are not sure whether your institution is open admission, or
contact the IPEDS Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
Level of Enrollment
New institutions should indicate whether their institution was in operation during the prior academic year. If the
response is ‘Yes’, they should also indicate the levels that were offered.
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Part D - Branch campus
For branch campuses, refer to the instructions on the appropriate screen.
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date: 8/12/2016
Glossary
Term
Definition
4-1-4 (calendar system)
The 4-1-4 calendar usually consists of 4 courses taken for 4 months, 1 course taken for 1 month, and 4 courses
taken for 4 months. There may be an additional summer session.
Academic year
The period of time generally extending from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters or trimesters, 3
quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
Adult basic education
Courses designed primarily for students 16 years of age and older to improve basic skills in reading, writing, and
arithmetic. These courses are not intended to be part of a program leading to a high school credential, nor are they
part of any academic, occupational, or vocational program at the postsecondary level.
Associate's degree
An award that normally requires at least 2 but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college work.
Avocational programs
Instructional programs in personal interest and leisure categories whose expressed intent is not to produce
postsecondary credits , nor to lead to a formal award or an academic degree, nor result in occupationally specific
skills.
Bachelor's degree
An award (baccalaureate or equivalent degree, as determined by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education) that
normally requires at least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes all
bachelor's degrees conferred in a 5-year cooperative (work-study) program. A cooperative plan provides for
alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government; thus, it allows students to
combine actual work experience with their college studies. Also includes bachelor's degrees in which the normal 4
years of work are completed in 3 years.
Calendar system
The method by which an institution structures most of its courses for the academic year.
Certificate
A formal award certifying the satisfactory completion of a postsecondary education program.
Cohort
A specific group of students established for tracking purposes.
Contact hour
A unit of measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction given to students. Also referred to as clock hour.
Continuing professional
education
Programs and courses designed specifically for individuals who have completed a degree in a professional field (such
as law, medicine, dentistry, education, or social work) to obtain additional training in their particular field of study.
Continuous basis
A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that allow students to enroll/start classes at any time
during the year. For example, a cosmetology school or a word processing school might allow students to enroll and
begin studies at various times, with no requirement that classes begin on a certain date.
Control (of institution)
A classification of whether an institution is operated by publicly elected or appointed officials (public control) or by
privately elected or appointed officials and derives its major source of funds from private sources (private control).
Credit hour
A unit of measure representing the equivalent of an hour (50 minutes) of instruction per week over the entire term.
It is applied toward the total number of credit hours needed for completing the requirements of a degree, diploma,
certificate, or other formal award.
Degree
An award conferred by a college, university, or other postsecondary education institution as official recognition for
the successful completion of a program of studies.
Differs by program (calendar
system)
A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that have occupational/vocational programs of varying
lengths. These schools may enroll students at specific times depending on the program desired. For example, a
school might offer a 2-month program in January, March, May, September, and November; and a 3-month program
in January, April, and October.
Doctor's degree-other
A doctor's degree that does not meet the definition of a doctor's degree - research/scholarship or a doctor's degree professional practice.
Doctor's degree-professional
practice
A doctor's degree that is conferred upon completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for the
recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice. The degree is awarded after a period of study
such that the total time to the degree, including both pre-professional and professional preparation, equals at least
six full-time equivalent academic years. Some of these degrees were formerly classified as first-professional and
may include: Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.); Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.); Law (J.D.); Medicine (M.D.); Optometry
(O.D.); Osteopathic Medicine (D.O); Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); Podiatry (D.P.M., Pod.D., D.P.); or, Veterinary Medicine
(D.V.M.), and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Doctor's degreeresearch/scholarship
A Ph.D. or other doctor's degree that requires advanced work beyond the master's level, including the preparation
and defense of a dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original project
demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement. Some examples of this type of degree may include
Ed.D., D.M.A., D.B.A., D.Sc., D.A., or D.M, and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Educational offerings
Educational programs offered by postsecondary institutions that are occupational, academic, or continuing
professional that qualify as postsecondary education programs OR recreational or avocational, adult basic, remedial
instruction, high school equivalency, or high school programs that are not deemed postsecondary.
Fall cohort
The group of students entering in the fall term established for tracking purposes. For the Graduation Rates
component, this includes all students who enter an institution as full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking
undergraduate students during the fall term of a given year. For the Outcome Measures component, all
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who enter an institution during the fall term of a given year must
be placed in one of four cohorts: full-time, first-time; part-time, first-time; full-time, non-first-time; and part-time,
non-first-time.
First-time student
(undergraduate)
A student who has no prior postsecondary experience (except as noted below) attending any institution for the first
time at the undergraduate level. This includes students enrolled in academic or occupational programs. It also
includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and
students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school).
Full-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, or 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more
contact hours a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for 9 or more semester credits, or 9 or more quarter
credits, or a student involved in thesis or dissertation preparation that is considered full-time by the institution.
Doctor's degree - Professional practice - as defined by the institution.
Full-year cohort
The group of students entering at any time during the 12-month period September 1 through August 31 that is
established for tracking and reporting Graduation Rate (GR) and Outcome Measures (OM) data for institutions that
primarily offer occupational programs of varying lengths. Students must be full-time and first-time to be considered
in the cohort. For OM component, undergraduate students must enter in one of four cohorts: full-time, first-time;
part-time, first-time; full-time, non-first-time; and part-time, non-first-time.
Graduate student
A student who holds a bachelor's degree or above and is taking courses at the postbaccalaureate level. These
students may or may not be enrolled in graduate programs.
Institutional affiliation
A classification that indicates whether a private not-for-profit institution is associated with a religious group or
denomination. Private not-for-profit institutions may be either independent or religiously affiliated.
Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System
(IPEDS)
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), conducted by the NCES, began in 1986 and involves
annual institution-level data collections. All postsecondary institutions that have a Program Participation Agreement
with the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), U.S. Department of Education (throughout IPEDS referred to as
"Title IV") are required to report data using a web-based data collection system. IPEDS currently consists of the
following components: Institutional Characteristics (IC); 12-month Enrollment (E12);Completions (C); Admissions
(ADM); Student Financial Aid (SFA); Human Resources (HR) composed of Employees by Assigned Position, Fall Staff,
and Salaries; Fall Enrollment (EF); Graduation Rates (GR); Outcome Measures (OM); Finance (F); and Academic
Libraries (AL).
Less than 2-year institution
A postsecondary institution that offers programs of less than 2-years duration below the baccalaureate level.
Includes occupational and vocational schools with programs that do not exceed 1800 contact hours .
Levels of offering
Information collected in the Institutional Characteristics component which indicates all applicable levels for all credit
programs offered at an institution. Award levels are identified on the basis of recognition for their completion,
duration, or a combination thereof. Degree-designated award levels indicate those degree levels for which the
institution is authorized to make formal awards. Length of study is the equivalent of the number of full-time
academic years. For example, at least 1 but less than 2 years refers to the number of credits or the course load that
would normally be completed by a full-time student attending within the stated time period.
Library collections
Comprise of documents held locally and remote resources for which permanent or temporary access rights have
been acquired. Access rights may be acquired by the library itself, by a consortium and/or through external funding.
Acquisition is to be understood as securing access rights and including it in the library catalog, other library
databases or discovery systems.
Library expenses
Funds expended by the library (regardless of when received) from its regular budget and from all other sources;
e.g., research grants, special projects, gifts and endowments, and fees for services.
Master's degree
An award that requires the successful completion of a program of study of at least the full-time equivalent of 1 but
not more than 2 academic years of work beyond the bachelor's degree.
Some of these degrees, such as those in Theology (M.Div., M.H.L./Rav) that were formerly classified as "firstprofessional", may require more than two full-time equivalent academic years of work.
Occupational program
A program of study consisting of one or more courses, designed to provide the student with sufficient knowledge and
skills to perform in a specific occupation.
Other academic calendar
system
Category used to describe "non-traditional" calendar systems at 4-year and 2-year degree-granting institutions.
These can include schools that offer primarily on-line courses or "one course at a time."
Part-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for either less than 12 semester or quarter credits, or less than 24 contact hours
a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for less than 9 semester or quarter credits.
Post-master's certificate
An award that requires completion of an organized program beyond the master's degree, but does not meet the
requirements of academic degrees at the doctor's level.
Postbaccalaureate certificate
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study beyond the bachelor's. It is designed for
persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree, but does not meet the requirements of a master's degree.
NOTE: Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they
are considered subbacalaureate undergraduate programs, and students in these programs are undergraduate
students.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (at
least 1 but less than 2
academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in at least 1 but less than 2 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion
in at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit
hours, or in at least 900 but less than 1,800 contact or clock hours.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (at
least 2 but less than 4
academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in at least 2 but less than 4 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion
in at least 60 but less than 120 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 90 but less than 180 quarter credit
hours, or in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact or clock hours.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (less
than 1 academic year)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in less than 1 academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters), or designed for completion in less
than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or in less than 45 quarter credit hours, or in less than 900 contact or
clock hours.
Private for-profit institution
A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives compensation other than wages, rent, or
other expenses for the assumption of risk.
Private institution
An educational institution controlled by a private individual(s) or by a nongovernmental agency, usually supported
primarily by other than public funds, and operated by other than publicly elected or appointed officials. These
institutions may be either for-profit or not-for-profit.
Private not-for-profit
institution
A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives no compensation, other than wages,
rent, or other expenses for the assumption of risk. These include both independent not-for-profit schools and those
affiliated with a religious organization.
Program
A combination of courses and related activities organized for the attainment of broad educational objectives as
described by the institution.
Programs of at least 2 years
but less than 4 years
Programs requiring at least 2 years but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college level work, including
associate's degrees and programs that can be completed in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact hours to
obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Programs of at least 4 years
Programs designed to be completed in at least 8 semesters or 12 quarters to obtain a degree, diploma, or other
formal award. Includes programs resulting in all bachelor's degrees and other baccalaureate level or equivalent
degrees, as well as 5-year cooperative programs, and those programs in which the normal 4 years of work are
designed to be completed in 3 years.
Programs of less than 2 years
Programs requiring less than 2 years of full-time equivalent college level work (4 semesters or 6 quarters) or less
than 1,800 contact hours to obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Public institution
An educational institution whose programs and activities are operated by publicly elected or appointed school
officials and which is supported primarily by public funds.
Quarter (calendar system)
A calendar system in which the academic year consists of 3 sessions called quarters of about 12 weeks each. The
range may be from 10 to 15 weeks as defined by the institution. There may be an additional quarter in the summer.
Semester (calendar system)
A calendar system that consists of two sessions called semesters during the academic year with about 15 weeks for
each semester of instruction. There may be an additional summer session.
Title IV institution
An institution that has a written agreement with the Secretary of Education that allows the institution to participate
in any of the Title IV federal student financial assistance programs (other than the State Student Incentive Grant
(SSIG) and the National Early Intervention Scholarship and Partnership (NEISP) programs).
Trimester (calendar system)
An academic year consisting of 3 terms of about 15 weeks each.
Undergraduate
A student enrolled in a 4- or 5-year bachelor's degree program, an associate's degree program, or a vocational or
technical program below the baccalaureate.
U.S. Department of Education
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2016-17 Survey Materials > Form
IC Header for private 2-year degree-granting institutions
Overview
Institutional Characteristics Header Overview
Welcome to the Institutional Characteristics Header survey component (IC Header). This survey was introduced to
collect data that are key to reporting throughout the IPEDS data collection, and must be completed and locked before
any other survey can be started.
Some IC Header questions may require nothing more than a confirmation, if nothing has changed. Please make
changes as necessary, and complete items that do need a response (enrollment questions).
Remember, it is the responsibility of the keyholder to provide NCES with accurate data about the institution. Please
never hesitate to call the IPEDS Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568 and ask for help to make sure that you are reporting
correctly!
Changes to This Year's IC Header Component:
•
Because of the importance of the IC Header data in determining the screens you will receive in other surveys, be sure
to report correctly, and to contact the IPEDS Help Desk if you have ANY questions about what you need to report.
The IC Header data affect other survey components in the following ways:
•
The Educational Offerings question verifies your institution's inclusion in IPEDS.
•
The Control and Levels page is key to all survey components, especially to Finance (F) and Graduation
Rates (GR). Additionally, this is important information for students, impacts many federal reports, and is used
in placing institutions in appropriate net price groupings.
•
Calendar system selection impacts student charges data reported in Institutional Characteristics (IC), Fall
Enrollment (EF) data, GR data, and Student Financial Aid (SFA) data related to the net price calculation.
•
Enrollment levels impact student charges in IC and enrollment categories in the EF survey component.
•
The Open Admission question determines whether the Admissions component will be required in the Winter.
•
The Academic Libraries expenses question determines whether the Academic Libraries component will be
required in the Spring. This question is asked of degree-granting institutions only.
•
The operations question for new institutions determines reporting of 12-month enrollment (E12).
To download survey materials package for this component: Survey Materials
date: 8/12/2016
Part A - Educational Offerings
1. Which of the following types of instruction/programs are offered by your institution? [Check one or more]
If your institution does not offer occupational or academic programs, you are not expected to complete this or any other
IPEDS survey.
Occupational, may lead to a certificate, degree, or other formal award
Academic, leading to a certificate, degree, or diploma
Recreational or avocational (leisure) programs
Adult basic or remedial instruction or high school equivalency
Secondary (high school)
Part B - Organization - Control and Levels
1. What is your institutional control or affiliation?
Be sure to select the correct control for your institution. Errors on this question have an impact throughout the
IPEDS surveys, in federal reporting, in net price groupings, and on your institutions appearance to students. If
you reported incorrectly in a previous year, please contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568 to correct the error.
Public - Select
primary and or
secondary controls
below
Primary control
Secondary control (if applicable)
Select One
Select One
Private for-profit
Private not-for-profit independent (no religious affiliation)
Private not-for-profit religious affiliation - Select affiliation below
Select One
2. What award levels are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
When reporting award levels for sub baccalaureate certificates (levels 1, 2, and 4), determine program length by the
number of credit or contact hours, NOT the academic year length in parentheses. The academic year length is
meant only to provide context.
The 'Other' award level should not be used unless your program truly does not fit any of the other award levels. We
expect very few institutions to fit the 'Other' category.
Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they are
considered subbaccalaureate undergraduate programs. Check the applicable award level 1, 2, or 4, depending on the
length of the Teacher Preparation program.
Award Level
BELOW THE BACCALAUREATE:
1
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (less than one academic year)
- less than 900 contact or clock hours, or
- less than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or
- less than 45 quarter credit hours
2
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (at least one but less than two academic
years)
- at least 900 but less than 1800 contact or clock hours, or
- at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or
- at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit hours
3
Associate's degree
4
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (at least two but less than four academic
years)
- 1800 or more contact or clock hours, or
- 60 or more semester or trimester credit hours, or
- 90 or more quarter credit hours
BACCALAUREATE AND ABOVE:
5
Bachelor's degree or equivalent
6
Postbaccalaureate certificate
7
Master's degree
8
Post-master's certificate
17
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
18
Doctor's degree - professional practice
19
Doctor's degree - other
12
Other (specify in box below)
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above.
Part B - Organization - Calendar System
Your response to the next question determines how your institution reports Institutional Characteristics
student charges data in the fall, Student Financial Aid data in the winter, and Graduation Rates data in the
winter. It also impacts the net price calculation in the Student Financial Aid survey.
If the calendar system differs from prior year or requires a change, please contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
3. What is the predominant calendar system at the institution? [Choose one]
Academic Year Reporting Method (Standard academic terms)
Selecting one of the following calendar types determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and
Graduation Rates data based on a FALL COHORT and student charges data for a full ACADEMIC YEAR.
Semester
Quarter
Trimester
4-1-4 or similar plan
Program Reporting Method (Other calendar system)
Selecting one of the following calendar types determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and
Graduation Rates data based on a FULL-YEAR COHORT, and student charges data by PROGRAM.
Differs by program
Continuous basis (every 2 weeks, monthly, or other period)
Hybrid/Mixed Reporting Method (Standard academic terms, other academic calendar)
Selecting the hybrid calendar type determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and Graduation
Rates data based on a FULL-YEAR COHORT, and student charges data for a full ACADEMIC YEAR.
Hybrid (Other academic calendar)
Part B - Organization - Student Enrollment
4. Does your institution enroll any of the following types of students?
Include all levels offered by your institution, even if there are no students currently enrolled at that level.
Responses to this question determine which screens will be generated for reporting academic year tuition charges, and
for reporting Fall Enrollment during the spring collection. Additionally, checking Yes for full-time, first-time,
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students determines that your institution must report cost of attendance data
(on the IC component) and Student Financial Aid data for these students.
Full-time
Part-time
Students in academic or occupational programs
First-time students
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
6. For academic year 2013-14, did your institution enroll any full-time, first-time students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be required to provide Graduation Rates data for the 2013-14 cohort in the
winter collection. If you answer No to this question, indicate the reason you are not required to report Graduation Rates
for the cohort year requested. If you reported any full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students on the 2013-14
Fall Enrollment survey, the data will be preloaded below.
No
This institution did not enroll full-time, first-time
degree/certificate-seeking students.
This institution was not in operation in 2013-14.
Yes
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students from 2013-14 Fall Enrollment survey (GR Cohort)
Part B - Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
7. Multi-institution or multi-campus organization
Is the institution part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs, or controls the
institution? Do NOT indicate a religious affiliation here; that information is collected separately.
If you need assistance, contact the Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568. You will not be able to lock your submission if this
question is blank.
No, this institution IS NOT a part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns,
governs, or controls the institution.
Yes, this institution IS a part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns,
governs, or controls the institution.
If yes, select the name of the multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs,
or controls the institution after clicking on 'Select System' below.
Select System
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Open Admission
2. Does your institution have an open admission policy for all or most entering first-time students?
If the only requirement for admission is a high school diploma or GED/other equivalent, your institution is still considered
open admission. Institutions that require only an Ability to Benefit or similar test beyond the diploma/equivalent, and only
reject a very small number of students based on the test, are also considered open admission.
If your institution does not have an open admission policy, you will be required to report Admissions component
regarding your admissions procedures and admissions yield.
No
Yes
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You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Library Access and Expenses
Does your institution have access to a library collection?
No
Yes (receives AL
component)
Were your annual total library expenses for Fiscal Year 2016 greater than zero?
No
Yes (receives AL component)
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Levels of Enrollment Offered
Was your institution in operation during the academic year 2015-16?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be able to specify the levels of enrollment offered at your institution during
2015-16 and to report 12-month enrollment during the fall collection.
No
Yes. Please specify the levels of enrollment offered during 2015-16.
Undergraduate
Graduate (not including doctor's-professional practice)
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Academic Library Contact
Other
hours
minutes
Name:
Email:
How long did it take to prepare
this survey component?
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
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2016-17 Survey Materials > Instructions
date: 8/12/2016
IC Header Full Instructions for private 2-yr degree-granting institutions
Purpose of Institutional Characteristics Header Survey
Changes in Reporting
General instructions
Reporting Period for Institutional Characteristics Header
Context boxes
Coverage
Where to Get Help
Where the Data Will Appear
Reporting Directions
Part A - Educational Offerings
Part B - Organization
Control and Award Levels
Calendar System
Enrollment Levels and GRS cohort question
Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions
Open Admission
Library Expenses
Level of Enrollment
Part D - Branch Campus
Purpose of Survey
The primary purpose of the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics Header (IC-H) survey is to collect basic institutional
data including control or affiliation, calendar system, and award levels. These data are key to accurate reporting as
they are used to determine the reporting for other IPEDS surveys. Any errors in the IC-H survey can lead to further
errors in the data reporting process, so please be very careful in reporting these data correctly, and contact the IPEDS
Help Desk (877.225.2568) if you have any questions.
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Changes in reporting
•
•
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General instructions
Reporting period covered
Institutional Characteristics Header (IC-H) covers data for the current year with two exceptions.
•
•
Cohort data in B6 refer to a past cohort and are used to set the Graduation Rates component (GR).
For new institutions, the question about prior year operation refers to the prior academic year and is used to
determine the applicability of the 12-Month Enrollment (E12) component.
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Context Boxes
Context boxes are provided to allow institutions to provide more information regarding survey component items. Note
that some context boxes are posted on the College Navigator Website, which is the college search tool offered by
NCES. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting them on the
College Navigator Website, however, institutions should check grammar and spelling of their entries. Inappropriate or
repetitive contexts will be deleted.
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Coverage
Carefully read each question in the Institutional Characteristics Header survey to ensure you are reporting data for the
appropriate students. The student groups for which data are collected vary throughout the IC-H survey (e.g.,
undergraduate and graduate). In general, for each group, ensure that the guidelines below are met.
A. Who to include
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled in courses creditable toward a diploma, certificate, degree, or other formal award,
including those enrolled in off-campus centers
High school students taking regular college courses for credit
Full-time students taking remedial courses IF the student is considered degree-seeking for the purpose of
student financial aid determination
Students from overseas enrolled in U.S. courses for credit (e.g., online students)
Graduate students enrolled for thesis credits, even when zero credits are awarded, as these students are still
enrolled and seeking their degree
B. Who NOT to include
•
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled exclusively in courses not creditable toward a formal award
Students enrolled exclusively in Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Students exclusively auditing classes
Residents or interns in Doctor's - professional practice (previously first-professional), since they have already
received their Doctor's degree
Any student studying abroad (e.g., at a foreign university) if their enrollment at the 'home' institution is only
an administrative record and the fee is nominal
Students in any branch campus located in a foreign country
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Where to Get Help with Reporting
IPEDS Help Desk
Phone: 1-877-225-2568
Email: [email protected]
Web Tutorials
You can also consult the IPEDS Website Trainings & Outreach page which contains several tutorials on IPEDS data
collection, a self-paced overview of IPEDS tools, and other valuable resources.
IPEDS Resource Page
The IPEDS Website Reporting Tools page contains frequently asked questions, a link to data tip sheets, tutorials,
taxonomies, information centers (e.g., academic libraries, average net price, human resources, race/ethnicity, etc.),
and other valuable information.
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Where the Data Will Appear
Data collected through IPEDS will be accessible at the institution- and aggregate-levels.
At the institution-level, data will appear in the:
•
•
•
College Navigator Website (including the College Affordability and Transparency Center)
IPEDS Data Center
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
At the aggregate-level, data will appear in:
•
•
•
•
•
IPEDS First Looks
IPEDS Table Library
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
The Digest of Education Statistics
The Condition of Education
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Reporting Directions
Part A - Educational Offerings
Responses on this screen verify inclusion of the institution on the NCES/IPEDS list of institutions and agencies that
provide all types of postsecondary education. Postsecondary education is defined as the provision of a formal
instructional program whose curriculum is designed primarily for students beyond the compulsory age for high school.
This includes programs whose purpose is occupational, academic, or continuing professional education but excludes
avocational and adult basic education programs.
If you select only avocational and/or adult basic education programs, you will be contacted by IPEDS to confirm your
exemption from IPEDS reporting.
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Part B – Organization
Institutional Control or Affiliation
Indicate the appropriate control or affiliation under which the institution operates. If the institution has a religious
affiliation, select the denomination from the list provided in the drop-down box. Public institutions must designate a
primary control; identification of a secondary control is optional. If control of the institution differs from the prior year
or requires a change, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
Correct reporting of control or affiliation is KEY to IPEDS reporting. Errors in reporting control or affiliation cause you
to receive incorrect survey forms, misrepresents your institution to the public on College Navigator and other search
tools that use IPEDS data, and places your institution in incorrect groups in IPEDS publications and on the College
Affordability and Transparency Lists. If you do not know the control or affiliation of your institution, please call the
Help Desk.
Award Levels
Check applicable award levels for all credit programs offered at the institution. Award levels are identified based on
duration and/or awards.
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Report using the number of CONTACT or CREDIT hours, as is appropriate to your calendar system (e.g.,
semester or quarter).
◦
References to length of study are the equivalent of full-time academic years; that is, at least 1 but less
than 2 years refers to the number of credits or the course load that would normally be completed by a
full-time student attending within the stated time period.
▪
One academic year equals 900 contact or clock hours of instruction, 30 semester credit hours
or its equivalent, or 45 quarter credit hours.
Award levels 1, 2, and 4 differ by length of programs and refer to completions below the baccalaureate degree.
Use the IPEDS designations, not institutionally defined designations, to describe these levels.
Award levels 3, 5, 7, 17, 18 and 19 indicate degree levels for which the institution is authorized to make
formal awards.
Award levels 6 and 8 indicate certificate levels.
If you cannot classify an award within the award levels indicated on the screen, check award level 12 (Other)
and specify or describe the award in the context box. Because there are few programs that fall under ‘Other’
please contact the Help Desk if you are considering selecting Level 12.
NOTE: Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they are
considered subbaccalaureate undergraduate programs. Check the applicable award level 1, 2, or 4, depending on the
length of the Teacher Preparation program.
Calendar System
Indicate the predominant calendar system under which the institution operates. If programs are offered on more
than one calendar, select the system under which most programs are offered. If there is no predominant calendar
system at your institution, select the option that best characterizes your institution.
If your calendar system differs from the prior year or requires a change, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at
877.225.2568.
Note: Calendar system selection determines reporting in many other IPEDS components. Be sure to choose the
calendar system you select accurately represents your institution. Contact the IPEDS Help Desk if you are not sure
which calendar system to select.
•
Standard academic terms (semesters, quarters, trimesters, 4-1-4)
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Use a fall cohort for Graduation Rates.
Report tuition and fees and cost information based on a full academic year.
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled as of October 15, or the official fall reporting
date used by the institution. This fall enrollment cohort will be preloaded into the next year's
Student Financial Aid component.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for an academic year.
Program-by-program or continuous enrollment basis
◦
Use a full-year cohort for Graduation Rates.
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Report tuition and fees and books and supplies information by program for the entire length of the
program. For living expenses, report costs for 4 weeks (1 month). Note: Living expenses are only
applicable to institutions with full-time, first-time students and are reported with the largest program.
◦
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled in the institution at any time between August 1
and October 31.
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For Student Financial Aid, report aid for the largest program for an academic year.
Hybrid academic calendar (If you are considering selecting the ‘Other academic calendar’ option, please
contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568 so they can confirm the appropriateness of this calendar system for
your institution.)
◦
Use a full-year cohort for Graduation Rates.
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Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled in the institution at any time between August 1
and October 31.
◦
Report tuition and fees and cost information based on a full academic year.
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For Student Financial Aid, report aid for an academic year.
Student enrollment
Enrollment of full- and part-time students.
Indicate whether your institution enrolls any full-time or part-time students at the levels listed. Include all levels
offered, even if there are not any students currently enrolled at that level.
Responses to those categories will determine the screens generated for reporting academic year tuition charges in the
Institutional Characteristics survey during the Fall collection and enrollment data in the Fall Enrollment survey during
the Spring collection.
•
Make sure to check Yes for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students if applicable, as this
determines that your institution will report cost information on Institutional Characteristics screens in Part D
and Student Financial Aid information during the Winter collection.
Doctor's - professional practice
Indicate whether your institution offers any of the listed Doctor's - professional practice programs. If your institution
offers Doctor's -professional practice programs but does not offer any of the listed programs, indicate no.
GRS cohort question.
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4-year institutions. Indicate if your institution had any full-time, first-time undergraduate students enrolled
in programs at the baccalaureate level or below in the academic year indicated on the screen. If you indicate
Yes, you must report Graduation Rates data in the Winter.
Less-than-4-year institutions. Indicate if your institution had any full-time, first-time degree/certificateseeking students enrolled in the academic year indicated on the screen. If you check Yes, you must report
Graduation Rates data in the Winter.
Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
If applicable, select from the provided list the multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs, or
controls the institution. If you do not see your multi-institution or multi-organization listed, please contact the Help
Desk.
A multi-institution or multi-campus organization includes organizations with two or more institutions or campuses.
Non-postsecondary education agencies that govern or control institutions include, but are not limited to, public school
districts, art organizations, hospitals and other medical/health organizations.
Do not include:
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coordinating systems
single institution owner
single institution corporate name
single institution governing board
consortia
associations
religious affiliation (requested in control question)
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions
Open admission policy
Check Yes if your institution has an open admission policy.
If your institution requires only a high school diploma/equivalent and/or Ability to Benefit (or similar) test, and few
students are not admitted based on the test, your institution is still considered open admission. For example, if you
have students take the ATB test and allow 98% of those students to enroll, you are likely open admission. The 2%
that were not admitted had unusual circumstances that kept them from being admitted.
Note: IPEDS does not have a set percentage to determine open admission. Please review your institution's admission
policy or talk to someone in the admissions office if you are not sure whether your institution is open admission, or
contact the IPEDS Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
Library Access and Expenses
Indicate whether the institution has access to a library collection and/or the annual total library expenses at your
institution were greater than zero for Fiscal Year 2016. Fiscal Year 2016 is defined as the most recent 12-month period
that corresponds to your institution's fiscal year that ends before October 1, 2016.
A library collection is defined as “comprising documents held locally and remote resources for which permanent or
temporary access rights have been acquired. Access rights may be acquired by the library itself, by a consortium
and/or through external funding. Acquisition is to be understood as securing access rights and including it in the
library catalog, other library databases or discovery systems.”
Expenses include funds expended by the library (regardless of when received) from its regular budget and from all
other known sources; e.g., research grants, special projects, gifts and endowments, and fees for services. Those
libraries in consortia or those that share all their resources with another institution, please report whether the total
annual library expenses at YOUR institution were greater than zero in Fiscal Year 2016.
If the institution does not have access to a library collection and the institution's library expenses are equal to 0, you
will not be asked to complete the Academic Libraries (AL) component in the Spring.
Level of Enrollment
New institutions should indicate whether their institution was in operation during the prior academic year. If the
response is ‘Yes’, they should also indicate the levels that were offered.
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Part D - Branch campus
For branch campuses, refer to the instructions on the appropriate screen.
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date: 8/12/2016
Glossary
Term
Definition
4-1-4 (calendar system)
The 4-1-4 calendar usually consists of 4 courses taken for 4 months, 1 course taken for 1 month, and 4 courses
taken for 4 months. There may be an additional summer session.
Academic year
The period of time generally extending from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters or trimesters, 3
quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
Adult basic education
Courses designed primarily for students 16 years of age and older to improve basic skills in reading, writing, and
arithmetic. These courses are not intended to be part of a program leading to a high school credential, nor are they
part of any academic, occupational, or vocational program at the postsecondary level.
Associate's degree
An award that normally requires at least 2 but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college work.
Avocational programs
Instructional programs in personal interest and leisure categories whose expressed intent is not to produce
postsecondary credits , nor to lead to a formal award or an academic degree, nor result in occupationally specific
skills.
Bachelor's degree
An award (baccalaureate or equivalent degree, as determined by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education) that
normally requires at least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes all
bachelor's degrees conferred in a 5-year cooperative (work-study) program. A cooperative plan provides for
alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government; thus, it allows students to
combine actual work experience with their college studies. Also includes bachelor's degrees in which the normal 4
years of work are completed in 3 years.
Calendar system
The method by which an institution structures most of its courses for the academic year.
Certificate
A formal award certifying the satisfactory completion of a postsecondary education program.
Cohort
A specific group of students established for tracking purposes.
Contact hour
A unit of measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction given to students. Also referred to as clock hour.
Continuing professional
education
Programs and courses designed specifically for individuals who have completed a degree in a professional field (such
as law, medicine, dentistry, education, or social work) to obtain additional training in their particular field of study.
Continuous basis
A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that allow students to enroll/start classes at any time
during the year. For example, a cosmetology school or a word processing school might allow students to enroll and
begin studies at various times, with no requirement that classes begin on a certain date.
Control (of institution)
A classification of whether an institution is operated by publicly elected or appointed officials (public control) or by
privately elected or appointed officials and derives its major source of funds from private sources (private control).
Credit hour
A unit of measure representing the equivalent of an hour (50 minutes) of instruction per week over the entire term.
It is applied toward the total number of credit hours needed for completing the requirements of a degree, diploma,
certificate, or other formal award.
Degree
An award conferred by a college, university, or other postsecondary education institution as official recognition for
the successful completion of a program of studies.
Differs by program (calendar
system)
A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that have occupational/vocational programs of varying
lengths. These schools may enroll students at specific times depending on the program desired. For example, a
school might offer a 2-month program in January, March, May, September, and November; and a 3-month program
in January, April, and October.
Doctor's degree-other
A doctor's degree that does not meet the definition of a doctor's degree - research/scholarship or a doctor's degree professional practice.
Doctor's degree-professional
practice
A doctor's degree that is conferred upon completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for the
recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice. The degree is awarded after a period of study
such that the total time to the degree, including both pre-professional and professional preparation, equals at least
six full-time equivalent academic years. Some of these degrees were formerly classified as first-professional and
may include: Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.); Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.); Law (J.D.); Medicine (M.D.); Optometry
(O.D.); Osteopathic Medicine (D.O); Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); Podiatry (D.P.M., Pod.D., D.P.); or, Veterinary Medicine
(D.V.M.), and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Doctor's degreeresearch/scholarship
A Ph.D. or other doctor's degree that requires advanced work beyond the master's level, including the preparation
and defense of a dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original project
demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement. Some examples of this type of degree may include
Ed.D., D.M.A., D.B.A., D.Sc., D.A., or D.M, and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Educational offerings
Educational programs offered by postsecondary institutions that are occupational, academic, or continuing
professional that qualify as postsecondary education programs OR recreational or avocational, adult basic, remedial
instruction, high school equivalency, or high school programs that are not deemed postsecondary.
Fall cohort
The group of students entering in the fall term established for tracking purposes. For the Graduation Rates
component, this includes all students who enter an institution as full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking
undergraduate students during the fall term of a given year. For the Outcome Measures component, all
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who enter an institution during the fall term of a given year must
be placed in one of four cohorts: full-time, first-time; part-time, first-time; full-time, non-first-time; and part-time,
non-first-time.
First-time student
(undergraduate)
A student who has no prior postsecondary experience (except as noted below) attending any institution for the first
time at the undergraduate level. This includes students enrolled in academic or occupational programs. It also
includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and
students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school).
Full-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, or 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more
contact hours a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for 9 or more semester credits, or 9 or more quarter
credits, or a student involved in thesis or dissertation preparation that is considered full-time by the institution.
Doctor's degree - Professional practice - as defined by the institution.
Full-year cohort
The group of students entering at any time during the 12-month period September 1 through August 31 that is
established for tracking and reporting Graduation Rate (GR) and Outcome Measures (OM) data for institutions that
primarily offer occupational programs of varying lengths. Students must be full-time and first-time to be considered
in the cohort. For OM component, undergraduate students must enter in one of four cohorts: full-time, first-time;
part-time, first-time; full-time, non-first-time; and part-time, non-first-time.
Graduate student
A student who holds a bachelor's degree or above and is taking courses at the postbaccalaureate level. These
students may or may not be enrolled in graduate programs.
Institutional affiliation
A classification that indicates whether a private not-for-profit institution is associated with a religious group or
denomination. Private not-for-profit institutions may be either independent or religiously affiliated.
Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System
(IPEDS)
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), conducted by the NCES, began in 1986 and involves
annual institution-level data collections. All postsecondary institutions that have a Program Participation Agreement
with the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), U.S. Department of Education (throughout IPEDS referred to as
"Title IV") are required to report data using a web-based data collection system. IPEDS currently consists of the
following components: Institutional Characteristics (IC); 12-month Enrollment (E12);Completions (C); Admissions
(ADM); Student Financial Aid (SFA); Human Resources (HR) composed of Employees by Assigned Position, Fall Staff,
and Salaries; Fall Enrollment (EF); Graduation Rates (GR); Outcome Measures (OM); Finance (F); and Academic
Libraries (AL).
Less than 2-year institution
A postsecondary institution that offers programs of less than 2-years duration below the baccalaureate level.
Includes occupational and vocational schools with programs that do not exceed 1800 contact hours .
Levels of offering
Information collected in the Institutional Characteristics component which indicates all applicable levels for all credit
programs offered at an institution. Award levels are identified on the basis of recognition for their completion,
duration, or a combination thereof. Degree-designated award levels indicate those degree levels for which the
institution is authorized to make formal awards. Length of study is the equivalent of the number of full-time
academic years. For example, at least 1 but less than 2 years refers to the number of credits or the course load that
would normally be completed by a full-time student attending within the stated time period.
Library collections
Comprise of documents held locally and remote resources for which permanent or temporary access rights have
been acquired. Access rights may be acquired by the library itself, by a consortium and/or through external funding.
Acquisition is to be understood as securing access rights and including it in the library catalog, other library
databases or discovery systems.
Library expenses
Funds expended by the library (regardless of when received) from its regular budget and from all other sources;
e.g., research grants, special projects, gifts and endowments, and fees for services.
Master's degree
An award that requires the successful completion of a program of study of at least the full-time equivalent of 1 but
not more than 2 academic years of work beyond the bachelor's degree.
Some of these degrees, such as those in Theology (M.Div., M.H.L./Rav) that were formerly classified as "firstprofessional", may require more than two full-time equivalent academic years of work.
Occupational program
A program of study consisting of one or more courses, designed to provide the student with sufficient knowledge and
skills to perform in a specific occupation.
Other academic calendar
system
Category used to describe "non-traditional" calendar systems at 4-year and 2-year degree-granting institutions.
These can include schools that offer primarily on-line courses or "one course at a time."
Part-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for either less than 12 semester or quarter credits, or less than 24 contact hours
a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for less than 9 semester or quarter credits.
Post-master's certificate
An award that requires completion of an organized program beyond the master's degree, but does not meet the
requirements of academic degrees at the doctor's level.
Postbaccalaureate certificate
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study beyond the bachelor's. It is designed for
persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree, but does not meet the requirements of a master's degree.
NOTE: Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they
are considered subbacalaureate undergraduate programs, and students in these programs are undergraduate
students.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (at
least 1 but less than 2
academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in at least 1 but less than 2 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion
in at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit
hours, or in at least 900 but less than 1,800 contact or clock hours.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (at
least 2 but less than 4
academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in at least 2 but less than 4 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion
in at least 60 but less than 120 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 90 but less than 180 quarter credit
hours, or in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact or clock hours.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (less
than 1 academic year)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in less than 1 academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters), or designed for completion in less
than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or in less than 45 quarter credit hours, or in less than 900 contact or
clock hours.
Private for-profit institution
A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives compensation other than wages, rent, or
other expenses for the assumption of risk.
Private institution
An educational institution controlled by a private individual(s) or by a nongovernmental agency, usually supported
primarily by other than public funds, and operated by other than publicly elected or appointed officials. These
institutions may be either for-profit or not-for-profit.
Private not-for-profit
institution
A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives no compensation, other than wages,
rent, or other expenses for the assumption of risk. These include both independent not-for-profit schools and those
affiliated with a religious organization.
Program
A combination of courses and related activities organized for the attainment of broad educational objectives as
described by the institution.
Programs of at least 2 years
but less than 4 years
Programs requiring at least 2 years but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college level work, including
associate's degrees and programs that can be completed in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact hours to
obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Programs of at least 4 years
Programs designed to be completed in at least 8 semesters or 12 quarters to obtain a degree, diploma, or other
formal award. Includes programs resulting in all bachelor's degrees and other baccalaureate level or equivalent
degrees, as well as 5-year cooperative programs, and those programs in which the normal 4 years of work are
designed to be completed in 3 years.
Programs of less than 2 years
Programs requiring less than 2 years of full-time equivalent college level work (4 semesters or 6 quarters) or less
than 1,800 contact hours to obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Public institution
An educational institution whose programs and activities are operated by publicly elected or appointed school
officials and which is supported primarily by public funds.
Quarter (calendar system)
A calendar system in which the academic year consists of 3 sessions called quarters of about 12 weeks each. The
range may be from 10 to 15 weeks as defined by the institution. There may be an additional quarter in the summer.
Semester (calendar system)
A calendar system that consists of two sessions called semesters during the academic year with about 15 weeks for
each semester of instruction. There may be an additional summer session.
Title IV institution
An institution that has a written agreement with the Secretary of Education that allows the institution to participate
in any of the Title IV federal student financial assistance programs (other than the State Student Incentive Grant
(SSIG) and the National Early Intervention Scholarship and Partnership (NEISP) programs).
Trimester (calendar system)
An academic year consisting of 3 terms of about 15 weeks each.
Undergraduate
A student enrolled in a 4- or 5-year bachelor's degree program, an associate's degree program, or a vocational or
technical program below the baccalaureate.
U.S. Department of Education
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2016-17 Survey Materials > Form
IC Header for private 2-year non-degree-granting institutions
Overview
Institutional Characteristics Header Overview
Welcome to the Institutional Characteristics Header survey component (IC Header). This survey was introduced to
collect data that are key to reporting throughout the IPEDS data collection, and must be completed and locked before
any other survey can be started.
Some IC Header questions may require nothing more than a confirmation, if nothing has changed. Please make
changes as necessary, and complete items that do need a response (enrollment questions).
Remember, it is the responsibility of the keyholder to provide NCES with accurate data about the institution. Please
never hesitate to call the IPEDS Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568 and ask for help to make sure that you are reporting
correctly!
Changes to This Year's IC Header Component:
•
Because of the importance of the IC Header data in determining the screens you will receive in other surveys, be sure
to report correctly, and to contact the IPEDS Help Desk if you have ANY questions about what you need to report.
The IC Header data affect other survey components in the following ways:
•
The Educational Offerings question verifies your institution's inclusion in IPEDS.
•
The Control and Levels page is key to all survey components, especially to Finance (F) and Graduation
Rates (GR). Additionally, this is important information for students, impacts many federal reports, and is used
in placing institutions in appropriate net price groupings.
•
Calendar system selection impacts student charges data reported in Institutional Characteristics (IC), Fall
Enrollment (EF) data, GR data, and Student Financial Aid (SFA) data related to the net price calculation.
•
Enrollment levels impact student charges in IC and enrollment categories in the EF survey component.
•
The Open Admission question determines whether the Admissions component will be required in the Winter.
•
The Academic Libraries expenses question determines whether the Academic Libraries component will be
required in the Spring. This question is asked of degree-granting institutions only.
•
The operations question for new institutions determines reporting of 12-month enrollment (E12).
To download survey materials package for this component: Survey Materials
date: 8/12/2016
Part A - Educational Offerings
1. Which of the following types of instruction/programs are offered by your institution? [Check one or more]
If your institution does not offer occupational or academic programs, you are not expected to complete this or any other
IPEDS survey.
Occupational, may lead to a certificate, degree, or other formal award
Academic, leading to a certificate, degree, or diploma
Recreational or avocational (leisure) programs
Adult basic or remedial instruction or high school equivalency
Secondary (high school)
Part B - Organization - Control and Levels
1. What is your institutional control or affiliation?
Be sure to select the correct control for your institution. Errors on this question have an impact throughout the
IPEDS surveys, in federal reporting, in net price groupings, and on your institutions appearance to students. If
you reported incorrectly in a previous year, please contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568 to correct the error.
Public - Select
primary and or
secondary controls
below
Primary control
Secondary control (if applicable)
Select One
Select One
Private for-profit
Private not-for-profit independent (no religious affiliation)
Private not-for-profit religious affiliation - Select affiliation below
Select One
2. What award levels are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
When reporting award levels for sub baccalaureate certificates (levels 1, 2, and 4), determine program length by the
number of credit or contact hours, NOT the academic year length in parentheses. The academic year length is
meant only to provide context.
The 'Other' award level should not be used unless your program truly does not fit any of the other award levels. We
expect very few institutions to fit the 'Other' category.
Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they are
considered subbaccalaureate undergraduate programs. Check the applicable award level 1, 2, or 4, depending on the
length of the Teacher Preparation program.
Award Level
BELOW THE BACCALAUREATE:
1
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (less than one academic year)
- less than 900 contact or clock hours, or
- less than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or
- less than 45 quarter credit hours
2
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (at least one but less than two academic
years)
- at least 900 but less than 1800 contact or clock hours, or
- at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or
- at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit hours
3
Associate's degree
4
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (at least two but less than four academic
years)
- 1800 or more contact or clock hours, or
- 60 or more semester or trimester credit hours, or
- 90 or more quarter credit hours
BACCALAUREATE AND ABOVE:
5
Bachelor's degree or equivalent
6
Postbaccalaureate certificate
7
Master's degree
8
Post-master's certificate
17
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
18
Doctor's degree - professional practice
19
Doctor's degree - other
12
Other (specify in box below)
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above.
Part B - Organization - Calendar System
Your response to the next question determines how your institution reports Institutional Characteristics
student charges data in the fall, Student Financial Aid data in the winter, and Graduation Rates data in the
winter. It also impacts the net price calculation in the Student Financial Aid survey.
If the calendar system differs from prior year or requires a change, please contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
3. What is the predominant calendar system at the institution? [Choose one]
Academic Year Reporting Method (Standard academic terms)
Selecting one of the following calendar types determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and
Graduation Rates data based on a FALL COHORT and student charges data for a full ACADEMIC YEAR.
Semester
Quarter
Trimester
4-1-4 or similar plan
Program Reporting Method (Other calendar system)
Selecting one of the following calendar types determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and
Graduation Rates data based on a FULL-YEAR COHORT, and student charges data by PROGRAM.
Differs by program
Continuous basis (every 2 weeks, monthly, or other period)
Hybrid/Mixed Reporting Method (Standard academic terms, other academic calendar)
Selecting the hybrid calendar type determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and Graduation
Rates data based on a FULL-YEAR COHORT, and student charges data for a full ACADEMIC YEAR.
Hybrid (Other academic calendar)
Part B - Organization - Student Enrollment
4. Does your institution enroll any of the following types of students?
Include all levels offered by your institution, even if there are no students currently enrolled at that level.
Responses to this question determine which screens will be generated for reporting academic year tuition charges, and
for reporting Fall Enrollment during the spring collection. Additionally, checking Yes for full-time, first-time,
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students determines that your institution must report cost of attendance data
(on the IC component) and Student Financial Aid data for these students.
Full-time
Part-time
Students in academic or occupational programs
First-time students
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
6. For academic year 2013-14, did your institution enroll any full-time, first-time students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be required to provide Graduation Rates data for the 2013-14 cohort in the
winter collection. If you answer No to this question, indicate the reason you are not required to report Graduation Rates
for the cohort year requested. If you reported any full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students on the 2013-14
Fall Enrollment survey, the data will be preloaded below.
No
This institution did not enroll full-time, first-time
degree/certificate-seeking students.
This institution was not in operation in 2013-14.
Yes
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students from 2013-14 Fall Enrollment survey (GR Cohort)
Part B - Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
7. Multi-institution or multi-campus organization
Is the institution part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs, or controls the
institution? Do NOT indicate a religious affiliation here; that information is collected separately.
If you need assistance, contact the Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568. You will not be able to lock your submission if this
question is blank.
No, this institution IS NOT a part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns,
governs, or controls the institution.
Yes, this institution IS a part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns,
governs, or controls the institution.
If yes, select the name of the multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs,
or controls the institution after clicking on 'Select System' below.
Select System
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Open Admission
2. Does your institution have an open admission policy for all or most entering first-time students?
If the only requirement for admission is a high school diploma or GED/other equivalent, your institution is still considered
open admission. Institutions that require only an Ability to Benefit or similar test beyond the diploma/equivalent, and only
reject a very small number of students based on the test, are also considered open admission.
If your institution does not have an open admission policy, you will be required to report Admissions component
regarding your admissions procedures and admissions yield.
No
Yes
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These
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You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Levels of Enrollment Offered
Was your institution in operation during the academic year 2015-16?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be able to specify the levels of enrollment offered at your institution during
2015-16 and to report 12-month enrollment during the fall collection.
No
Yes. Please specify the levels of enrollment offered during 2015-16.
Undergraduate
Graduate (not including doctor's-professional practice)
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Academic Library Contact
Other
hours
minutes
Name:
Email:
How long did it take to prepare
this survey component?
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
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Software Provider Resources
Browsers Supported
Use of Cookies
Troubleshooting
Section 508 Compliance
NCES Privacy Policy
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IPEDS Help Desk
(877) 225-2568 or [email protected]
NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Instructions
date: 8/12/2016
IC Header Full Instructions for private 2-yr nondegree-granting institutions
Purpose of Institutional Characteristics Header Survey
Changes in Reporting
General instructions
Reporting Period for Institutional Characteristics Header
Context boxes
Coverage
Where to Get Help
Where the Data Will Appear
Reporting Directions
Part A - Educational Offerings
Part B - Organization
Control and Award Levels
Calendar System
Enrollment Levels and GRS cohort question
Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions
Open Admission
Level of Enrollment
Part D - Branch Campus
Purpose of Survey
The primary purpose of the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics Header (IC-H) survey is to collect basic institutional
data including control or affiliation, calendar system, and award levels. These data are key to accurate reporting as
they are used to determine the reporting for other IPEDS surveys. Any errors in the IC-H survey can lead to further
errors in the data reporting process, so please be very careful in reporting these data correctly, and contact the IPEDS
Help Desk (877.225.2568) if you have any questions.
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Changes in reporting
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General instructions
Reporting period covered
Institutional Characteristics Header (IC-H) covers data for the current year with two exceptions.
•
•
Cohort data in B6 refer to a past cohort and are used to set the Graduation Rates component (GR).
For new institutions, the question about prior year operation refers to the prior academic year and is used to
determine the applicability of the 12-Month Enrollment (E12) component.
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Context Boxes
Context boxes are provided to allow institutions to provide more information regarding survey component items. Note
that some context boxes are posted on the College Navigator Website, which is the college search tool offered by
NCES. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting them on the
College Navigator Website, however, institutions should check grammar and spelling of their entries. Inappropriate or
repetitive contexts will be deleted.
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Coverage
Carefully read each question in the Institutional Characteristics Header survey to ensure you are reporting data for the
appropriate students. The student groups for which data are collected vary throughout the IC-H survey (e.g.,
undergraduate and graduate). In general, for each group, ensure that the guidelines below are met.
A. Who to include
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled in courses creditable toward a diploma, certificate, degree, or other formal award,
including those enrolled in off-campus centers
High school students taking regular college courses for credit
Full-time students taking remedial courses IF the student is considered degree-seeking for the purpose of
student financial aid determination
Students from overseas enrolled in U.S. courses for credit (e.g., online students)
Graduate students enrolled for thesis credits, even when zero credits are awarded, as these students are still
enrolled and seeking their degree
B. Who NOT to include
•
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled exclusively in courses not creditable toward a formal award
Students enrolled exclusively in Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Students exclusively auditing classes
Residents or interns in Doctor's - professional practice (previously first-professional), since they have already
received their Doctor's degree
Any student studying abroad (e.g., at a foreign university) if their enrollment at the 'home' institution is only
an administrative record and the fee is nominal
Students in any branch campus located in a foreign country
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Where to Get Help with Reporting
IPEDS Help Desk
Phone: 1-877-225-2568
Email: [email protected]
Web Tutorials
You can also consult the IPEDS Website Trainings & Outreach page which contains several tutorials on IPEDS data
collection, a self-paced overview of IPEDS tools, and other valuable resources.
IPEDS Resource Page
The IPEDS Website Reporting Tools page contains frequently asked questions, a link to data tip sheets, tutorials,
taxonomies, information centers (e.g., academic libraries, average net price, human resources, race/ethnicity, etc.),
and other valuable information.
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Where the Data Will Appear
Data collected through IPEDS will be accessible at the institution- and aggregate-levels.
At the institution-level, data will appear in the:
•
•
•
College Navigator Website (including the College Affordability and Transparency Center)
IPEDS Data Center
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
At the aggregate-level, data will appear in:
•
•
•
•
•
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IPEDS First Looks
IPEDS Table Library
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
The Digest of Education Statistics
The Condition of Education
Reporting Directions
Part A - Educational Offerings
Responses on this screen verify inclusion of the institution on the NCES/IPEDS list of institutions and agencies that
provide all types of postsecondary education. Postsecondary education is defined as the provision of a formal
instructional program whose curriculum is designed primarily for students beyond the compulsory age for high school.
This includes programs whose purpose is occupational, academic, or continuing professional education but excludes
avocational and adult basic education programs.
If you select only avocational and/or adult basic education programs, you will be contacted by IPEDS to confirm your
exemption from IPEDS reporting.
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Part B – Organization
Institutional Control or Affiliation
Indicate the appropriate control or affiliation under which the institution operates. If the institution has a religious
affiliation, select the denomination from the list provided in the drop-down box. Public institutions must designate a
primary control; identification of a secondary control is optional. If control of the institution differs from the prior year
or requires a change, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
Correct reporting of control or affiliation is KEY to IPEDS reporting. Errors in reporting control or affiliation cause you
to receive incorrect survey forms, misrepresents your institution to the public on College Navigator and other search
tools that use IPEDS data, and places your institution in incorrect groups in IPEDS publications and on the College
Affordability and Transparency Lists. If you do not know the control or affiliation of your institution, please call the
Help Desk.
Award Levels
Check applicable award levels for all credit programs offered at the institution. Award levels are identified based on
duration and/or awards.
•
•
•
•
•
Report using the number of CONTACT or CREDIT hours, as is appropriate to your calendar system (e.g.,
semester or quarter).
◦
References to length of study are the equivalent of full-time academic years; that is, at least 1 but less
than 2 years refers to the number of credits or the course load that would normally be completed by a
full-time student attending within the stated time period.
▪
One academic year equals 900 contact or clock hours of instruction, 30 semester credit hours
or its equivalent, or 45 quarter credit hours.
Award levels 1, 2, and 4 differ by length of programs and refer to completions below the baccalaureate degree.
Use the IPEDS designations, not institutionally defined designations, to describe these levels.
Award levels 3, 5, 7, 17, 18 and 19 indicate degree levels for which the institution is authorized to make
formal awards.
Award levels 6 and 8 indicate certificate levels.
If you cannot classify an award within the award levels indicated on the screen, check award level 12 (Other)
and specify or describe the award in the context box. Because there are few programs that fall under ‘Other’
please contact the Help Desk if you are considering selecting Level 12.
NOTE: Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they are
considered subbaccalaureate undergraduate programs. Check the applicable award level 1, 2, or 4, depending on the
length of the Teacher Preparation program.
Calendar System
Indicate the predominant calendar system under which the institution operates. If programs are offered on more
than one calendar, select the system under which most programs are offered. If there is no predominant calendar
system at your institution, select the option that best characterizes your institution.
If your calendar system differs from the prior year or requires a change, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at
877.225.2568.
Note: Calendar system selection determines reporting in many other IPEDS components. Be sure to choose the
calendar system you select accurately represents your institution. Contact the IPEDS Help Desk if you are not sure
which calendar system to select.
•
Standard academic terms (semesters, quarters, trimesters, 4-1-4)
◦
◦
◦
•
•
Use a fall cohort for Graduation Rates.
Report tuition and fees and cost information based on a full academic year.
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled as of October 15, or the official fall reporting
date used by the institution. This fall enrollment cohort will be preloaded into the next year's
Student Financial Aid component.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for an academic year.
Program-by-program or continuous enrollment basis
◦
Use a full-year cohort for Graduation Rates.
◦
Report tuition and fees and books and supplies information by program for the entire length of the
program. For living expenses, report costs for 4 weeks (1 month). Note: Living expenses are only
applicable to institutions with full-time, first-time students and are reported with the largest program.
◦
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled in the institution at any time between August 1
and October 31.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for the largest program for an academic year.
Hybrid academic calendar (If you are considering selecting the ‘Other academic calendar’ option, please
contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568 so they can confirm the appropriateness of this calendar system for
your institution.)
◦
Use a full-year cohort for Graduation Rates.
◦
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled in the institution at any time between August 1
and October 31.
◦
Report tuition and fees and cost information based on a full academic year.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for an academic year.
Student enrollment
Enrollment of full- and part-time students.
Indicate whether your institution enrolls any full-time or part-time students at the levels listed. Include all levels
offered, even if there are not any students currently enrolled at that level.
Responses to those categories will determine the screens generated for reporting academic year tuition charges in the
Institutional Characteristics survey during the Fall collection and enrollment data in the Fall Enrollment survey during
the Spring collection.
•
Make sure to check Yes for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students if applicable, as this
determines that your institution will report cost information on Institutional Characteristics screens in Part D
and Student Financial Aid information during the Winter collection.
Doctor's - professional practice
Indicate whether your institution offers any of the listed Doctor's - professional practice programs. If your institution
offers Doctor's -professional practice programs but does not offer any of the listed programs, indicate no.
GRS cohort question.
•
•
4-year institutions. Indicate if your institution had any full-time, first-time undergraduate students enrolled
in programs at the baccalaureate level or below in the academic year indicated on the screen. If you indicate
Yes, you must report Graduation Rates data in the Winter.
Less-than-4-year institutions. Indicate if your institution had any full-time, first-time degree/certificateseeking students enrolled in the academic year indicated on the screen. If you check Yes, you must report
Graduation Rates data in the Winter.
Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
If applicable, select from the provided list the multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs, or
controls the institution. If you do not see your multi-institution or multi-organization listed, please contact the Help
Desk.
A multi-institution or multi-campus organization includes organizations with two or more institutions or campuses.
Non-postsecondary education agencies that govern or control institutions include, but are not limited to, public school
districts, art organizations, hospitals and other medical/health organizations.
Do not include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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coordinating systems
single institution owner
single institution corporate name
single institution governing board
consortia
associations
religious affiliation (requested in control question)
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions
Open admission policy
Check Yes if your institution has an open admission policy.
If your institution requires only a high school diploma/equivalent and/or Ability to Benefit (or similar) test, and few
students are not admitted based on the test, your institution is still considered open admission. For example, if you
have students take the ATB test and allow 98% of those students to enroll, you are likely open admission. The 2%
that were not admitted had unusual circumstances that kept them from being admitted.
Note: IPEDS does not have a set percentage to determine open admission. Please review your institution's admission
policy or talk to someone in the admissions office if you are not sure whether your institution is open admission, or
contact the IPEDS Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
Level of Enrollment
New institutions should indicate whether their institution was in operation during the prior academic year. If the
response is ‘Yes’, they should also indicate the levels that were offered.
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Part D - Branch campus
For branch campuses, refer to the instructions on the appropriate screen.
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date: 8/12/2016
Glossary
Term
Definition
4-1-4 (calendar system)
The 4-1-4 calendar usually consists of 4 courses taken for 4 months, 1 course taken for 1 month, and 4 courses
taken for 4 months. There may be an additional summer session.
Academic year
The period of time generally extending from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters or trimesters, 3
quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
Adult basic education
Courses designed primarily for students 16 years of age and older to improve basic skills in reading, writing, and
arithmetic. These courses are not intended to be part of a program leading to a high school credential, nor are they
part of any academic, occupational, or vocational program at the postsecondary level.
Associate's degree
An award that normally requires at least 2 but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college work.
Avocational programs
Instructional programs in personal interest and leisure categories whose expressed intent is not to produce
postsecondary credits , nor to lead to a formal award or an academic degree, nor result in occupationally specific
skills.
Bachelor's degree
An award (baccalaureate or equivalent degree, as determined by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education) that
normally requires at least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes all
bachelor's degrees conferred in a 5-year cooperative (work-study) program. A cooperative plan provides for
alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government; thus, it allows students to
combine actual work experience with their college studies. Also includes bachelor's degrees in which the normal 4
years of work are completed in 3 years.
Calendar system
The method by which an institution structures most of its courses for the academic year.
Certificate
A formal award certifying the satisfactory completion of a postsecondary education program.
Cohort
A specific group of students established for tracking purposes.
Contact hour
A unit of measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction given to students. Also referred to as clock hour.
Continuing professional
education
Programs and courses designed specifically for individuals who have completed a degree in a professional field (such
as law, medicine, dentistry, education, or social work) to obtain additional training in their particular field of study.
Continuous basis
A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that allow students to enroll/start classes at any time
during the year. For example, a cosmetology school or a word processing school might allow students to enroll and
begin studies at various times, with no requirement that classes begin on a certain date.
Control (of institution)
A classification of whether an institution is operated by publicly elected or appointed officials (public control) or by
privately elected or appointed officials and derives its major source of funds from private sources (private control).
Credit hour
A unit of measure representing the equivalent of an hour (50 minutes) of instruction per week over the entire term.
It is applied toward the total number of credit hours needed for completing the requirements of a degree, diploma,
certificate, or other formal award.
Degree
An award conferred by a college, university, or other postsecondary education institution as official recognition for
the successful completion of a program of studies.
Differs by program (calendar
system)
A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that have occupational/vocational programs of varying
lengths. These schools may enroll students at specific times depending on the program desired. For example, a
school might offer a 2-month program in January, March, May, September, and November; and a 3-month program
in January, April, and October.
Doctor's degree-other
A doctor's degree that does not meet the definition of a doctor's degree - research/scholarship or a doctor's degree professional practice.
Doctor's degree-professional
practice
A doctor's degree that is conferred upon completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for the
recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice. The degree is awarded after a period of study
such that the total time to the degree, including both pre-professional and professional preparation, equals at least
six full-time equivalent academic years. Some of these degrees were formerly classified as first-professional and
may include: Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.); Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.); Law (J.D.); Medicine (M.D.); Optometry
(O.D.); Osteopathic Medicine (D.O); Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); Podiatry (D.P.M., Pod.D., D.P.); or, Veterinary Medicine
(D.V.M.), and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Doctor's degreeresearch/scholarship
A Ph.D. or other doctor's degree that requires advanced work beyond the master's level, including the preparation
and defense of a dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original project
demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement. Some examples of this type of degree may include
Ed.D., D.M.A., D.B.A., D.Sc., D.A., or D.M, and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Educational offerings
Educational programs offered by postsecondary institutions that are occupational, academic, or continuing
professional that qualify as postsecondary education programs OR recreational or avocational, adult basic, remedial
instruction, high school equivalency, or high school programs that are not deemed postsecondary.
Fall cohort
The group of students entering in the fall term established for tracking purposes. For the Graduation Rates
component, this includes all students who enter an institution as full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking
undergraduate students during the fall term of a given year. For the Outcome Measures component, all
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who enter an institution during the fall term of a given year must
be placed in one of four cohorts: full-time, first-time; part-time, first-time; full-time, non-first-time; and part-time,
non-first-time.
First-time student
(undergraduate)
A student who has no prior postsecondary experience (except as noted below) attending any institution for the first
time at the undergraduate level. This includes students enrolled in academic or occupational programs. It also
includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and
students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school).
Full-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, or 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more
contact hours a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for 9 or more semester credits, or 9 or more quarter
credits, or a student involved in thesis or dissertation preparation that is considered full-time by the institution.
Doctor's degree - Professional practice - as defined by the institution.
Full-year cohort
The group of students entering at any time during the 12-month period September 1 through August 31 that is
established for tracking and reporting Graduation Rate (GR) and Outcome Measures (OM) data for institutions that
primarily offer occupational programs of varying lengths. Students must be full-time and first-time to be considered
in the cohort. For OM component, undergraduate students must enter in one of four cohorts: full-time, first-time;
part-time, first-time; full-time, non-first-time; and part-time, non-first-time.
Graduate student
A student who holds a bachelor's degree or above and is taking courses at the postbaccalaureate level. These
students may or may not be enrolled in graduate programs.
Institutional affiliation
A classification that indicates whether a private not-for-profit institution is associated with a religious group or
denomination. Private not-for-profit institutions may be either independent or religiously affiliated.
Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System
(IPEDS)
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), conducted by the NCES, began in 1986 and involves
annual institution-level data collections. All postsecondary institutions that have a Program Participation Agreement
with the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), U.S. Department of Education (throughout IPEDS referred to as
"Title IV") are required to report data using a web-based data collection system. IPEDS currently consists of the
following components: Institutional Characteristics (IC); 12-month Enrollment (E12);Completions (C); Admissions
(ADM); Student Financial Aid (SFA); Human Resources (HR) composed of Employees by Assigned Position, Fall Staff,
and Salaries; Fall Enrollment (EF); Graduation Rates (GR); Outcome Measures (OM); Finance (F); and Academic
Libraries (AL).
Less than 2-year institution
A postsecondary institution that offers programs of less than 2-years duration below the baccalaureate level.
Includes occupational and vocational schools with programs that do not exceed 1800 contact hours .
Levels of offering
Information collected in the Institutional Characteristics component which indicates all applicable levels for all credit
programs offered at an institution. Award levels are identified on the basis of recognition for their completion,
duration, or a combination thereof. Degree-designated award levels indicate those degree levels for which the
institution is authorized to make formal awards. Length of study is the equivalent of the number of full-time
academic years. For example, at least 1 but less than 2 years refers to the number of credits or the course load that
would normally be completed by a full-time student attending within the stated time period.
Library collections
Comprise of documents held locally and remote resources for which permanent or temporary access rights have
been acquired. Access rights may be acquired by the library itself, by a consortium and/or through external funding.
Acquisition is to be understood as securing access rights and including it in the library catalog, other library
databases or discovery systems.
Library expenses
Funds expended by the library (regardless of when received) from its regular budget and from all other sources;
e.g., research grants, special projects, gifts and endowments, and fees for services.
Master's degree
An award that requires the successful completion of a program of study of at least the full-time equivalent of 1 but
not more than 2 academic years of work beyond the bachelor's degree.
Some of these degrees, such as those in Theology (M.Div., M.H.L./Rav) that were formerly classified as "firstprofessional", may require more than two full-time equivalent academic years of work.
Occupational program
A program of study consisting of one or more courses, designed to provide the student with sufficient knowledge and
skills to perform in a specific occupation.
Other academic calendar
system
Category used to describe "non-traditional" calendar systems at 4-year and 2-year degree-granting institutions.
These can include schools that offer primarily on-line courses or "one course at a time."
Part-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for either less than 12 semester or quarter credits, or less than 24 contact hours
a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for less than 9 semester or quarter credits.
Post-master's certificate
An award that requires completion of an organized program beyond the master's degree, but does not meet the
requirements of academic degrees at the doctor's level.
Postbaccalaureate certificate
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study beyond the bachelor's. It is designed for
persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree, but does not meet the requirements of a master's degree.
NOTE: Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they
are considered subbacalaureate undergraduate programs, and students in these programs are undergraduate
students.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (at
least 1 but less than 2
academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in at least 1 but less than 2 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion
in at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit
hours, or in at least 900 but less than 1,800 contact or clock hours.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (at
least 2 but less than 4
academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in at least 2 but less than 4 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion
in at least 60 but less than 120 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 90 but less than 180 quarter credit
hours, or in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact or clock hours.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (less
than 1 academic year)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in less than 1 academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters), or designed for completion in less
than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or in less than 45 quarter credit hours, or in less than 900 contact or
clock hours.
Private for-profit institution
A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives compensation other than wages, rent, or
other expenses for the assumption of risk.
Private institution
An educational institution controlled by a private individual(s) or by a nongovernmental agency, usually supported
primarily by other than public funds, and operated by other than publicly elected or appointed officials. These
institutions may be either for-profit or not-for-profit.
Private not-for-profit
institution
A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives no compensation, other than wages,
rent, or other expenses for the assumption of risk. These include both independent not-for-profit schools and those
affiliated with a religious organization.
Program
A combination of courses and related activities organized for the attainment of broad educational objectives as
described by the institution.
Programs of at least 2 years
but less than 4 years
Programs requiring at least 2 years but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college level work, including
associate's degrees and programs that can be completed in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact hours to
obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Programs of at least 4 years
Programs designed to be completed in at least 8 semesters or 12 quarters to obtain a degree, diploma, or other
formal award. Includes programs resulting in all bachelor's degrees and other baccalaureate level or equivalent
degrees, as well as 5-year cooperative programs, and those programs in which the normal 4 years of work are
designed to be completed in 3 years.
Programs of less than 2 years
Programs requiring less than 2 years of full-time equivalent college level work (4 semesters or 6 quarters) or less
than 1,800 contact hours to obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Public institution
An educational institution whose programs and activities are operated by publicly elected or appointed school
officials and which is supported primarily by public funds.
Quarter (calendar system)
A calendar system in which the academic year consists of 3 sessions called quarters of about 12 weeks each. The
range may be from 10 to 15 weeks as defined by the institution. There may be an additional quarter in the summer.
Semester (calendar system)
A calendar system that consists of two sessions called semesters during the academic year with about 15 weeks for
each semester of instruction. There may be an additional summer session.
Title IV institution
An institution that has a written agreement with the Secretary of Education that allows the institution to participate
in any of the Title IV federal student financial assistance programs (other than the State Student Incentive Grant
(SSIG) and the National Early Intervention Scholarship and Partnership (NEISP) programs).
Trimester (calendar system)
An academic year consisting of 3 terms of about 15 weeks each.
Undergraduate
A student enrolled in a 4- or 5-year bachelor's degree program, an associate's degree program, or a vocational or
technical program below the baccalaureate.
U.S. Department of Education
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NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Form
IC Header for less-than-2-year institutions
Overview
Institutional Characteristics Header Overview
Welcome to the Institutional Characteristics Header survey component (IC Header). This survey was introduced to
collect data that are key to reporting throughout the IPEDS data collection, and must be completed and locked before
any other survey can be started.
Some IC Header questions may require nothing more than a confirmation, if nothing has changed. Please make
changes as necessary, and complete items that do need a response (enrollment questions).
Remember, it is the responsibility of the keyholder to provide NCES with accurate data about the institution. Please
never hesitate to call the IPEDS Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568 and ask for help to make sure that you are reporting
correctly!
Changes to This Year's IC Header Component:
•
Because of the importance of the IC Header data in determining the screens you will receive in other surveys, be sure
to report correctly, and to contact the IPEDS Help Desk if you have ANY questions about what you need to report.
The IC Header data affect other survey components in the following ways:
•
The Educational Offerings question verifies your institution's inclusion in IPEDS.
•
The Control and Levels page is key to all survey components, especially to Finance (F) and Graduation
Rates (GR). Additionally, this is important information for students, impacts many federal reports, and is used
in placing institutions in appropriate net price groupings.
•
Calendar system selection impacts student charges data reported in Institutional Characteristics (IC), Fall
Enrollment (EF) data, GR data, and Student Financial Aid (SFA) data related to the net price calculation.
•
Enrollment levels impact student charges in IC and enrollment categories in the EF survey component.
•
The Open Admission question determines whether the Admissions component will be required in the Winter.
•
The Academic Libraries expenses question determines whether the Academic Libraries component will be
required in the Spring. This question is asked of degree-granting institutions only.
•
The operations question for new institutions determines reporting of 12-month enrollment (E12).
To download survey materials package for this component: Survey Materials
date: 8/12/2016
Part A - Educational Offerings
1. Which of the following types of instruction/programs are offered by your institution? [Check one or more]
If your institution does not offer occupational or academic programs, you are not expected to complete this or any other
IPEDS survey.
Occupational, may lead to a certificate, degree, or other formal award
Academic, leading to a certificate, degree, or diploma
Recreational or avocational (leisure) programs
Adult basic or remedial instruction or high school equivalency
Secondary (high school)
Part B - Organization - Control and Levels
1. What is your institutional control or affiliation?
Be sure to select the correct control for your institution. Errors on this question have an impact throughout the
IPEDS surveys, in federal reporting, in net price groupings, and on your institutions appearance to students. If
you reported incorrectly in a previous year, please contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568 to correct the error.
Public - Select
primary and or
secondary controls
below
Primary control
Secondary control (if applicable)
Select One
Select One
Private for-profit
Private not-for-profit independent (no religious affiliation)
Private not-for-profit religious affiliation - Select affiliation below
Select One
2. What award levels are offered by your institution? [Check all that apply]
When reporting award levels for sub baccalaureate certificates (levels 1, 2, and 4), determine program length by the
number of credit or contact hours, NOT the academic year length in parentheses. The academic year length is meant
only to provide context.
The 'Other' award level should not be used unless your program truly does not fit any of the other award levels. We
expect very few institutions to fit the 'Other' category.
Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they are
considered subbaccalaureate undergraduate programs. Check the applicable award level 1, 2, or 4, depending on the
length of the Teacher Preparation program.
Award Level
1
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (less than one academic year)
- less than 900 contact or clock hours, or
- less than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or
- less than 45 quarter credit hours
2
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (at least one but less than two academic
years)
- at least 900 but less than 1800 contact or clock hours, or
- at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or
- at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit hours
3
Associate's degree
4
12
Postsecondary award, certificate, or diploma of (at least two but less than four academic
years)
- 1800 or more contact or clock hours, or
- 60 or more semester or trimester credit hours, or
- 90 or more quarter credit hours
Other (specify in box below)
You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above.
Part B - Organization - Calendar System
Your response to the next question determines how your institution reports Institutional Characteristics
student charges data in the fall, Student Financial Aid data in the winter, and Graduation Rates data in the
winter. It also impacts the net price calculation in the Student Financial Aid survey.
If the calendar system differs from prior year or requires a change, please contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
3. What is the predominant calendar system at the institution? [Choose one]
Program Reporting Method (Other calendar system)
Selecting one of the following calendar types determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and
Graduation Rates data based on a FULL-YEAR COHORT, and student charges data by PROGRAM.
Differs by program
Continuous basis (every 2 weeks, monthly, or other period)
Academic Year Reporting Method (Standard academic terms)
Selecting one of the following calendar types determines that your institution will provide Student Financial Aid and
Graduation Rates data based on a FALL COHORT and student charges data for a full ACADEMIC YEAR.
Semester
Quarter
Trimester
4-1-4 or similar plan
Part B - Organization - Student Enrollment
4. Does your institution enroll any of the following types of students?
Include all levels offered by your institution, even if there are no students currently enrolled at that level.
Responses to this question determine which screens will be generated for reporting academic year tuition charges, and
for reporting Fall Enrollment during the spring collection. Additionally, checking Yes for full-time, first-time,
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students determines that your institution must report cost of attendance data
(on the IC component) and Student Financial Aid data for these students.
Full-time
Part-time
Students in academic or occupational programs
First-time students
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
6. For academic year 2013-14, did your institution enroll any full-time, first-time students?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be required to provide Graduation Rates data for the 2013-14 cohort in the
winter collection. If you answer No to this question, indicate the reason you are not required to report Graduation Rates
for the cohort year requested. If you reported any full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students on the 2013-14
Fall Enrollment survey, the data will be preloaded below.
No
This institution did not enroll full-time, first-time
degree/certificate-seeking students.
This institution was not in operation in 2013-14.
Yes
Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students from 2013-14 Fall Enrollment survey (GR Cohort)
Part B - Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
7. Multi-institution or multi-campus organization
Is the institution part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs, or controls the
institution? Do NOT indicate a religious affiliation here; that information is collected separately.
If you need assistance, contact the Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568. You will not be able to lock your submission if this
question is blank.
No, this institution IS NOT a part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns,
governs, or controls the institution.
Yes, this institution IS a part of a multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns,
governs, or controls the institution.
If yes, select the name of the multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs,
or controls the institution after clicking on 'Select System' below.
Select System
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Open Admission
2. Does your institution have an open admission policy for all or most entering first-time students?
If the only requirement for admission is a high school diploma or GED/other equivalent, your institution is still considered
open admission. Institutions that require only an Ability to Benefit or similar test beyond the diploma/equivalent, and only
reject a very small number of students based on the test, are also considered open admission.
If your institution does not have an open admission policy, you will be required to report Admissions component
regarding your admissions procedures and admissions yield.
No
Yes
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You may use the space below to provide context for the data you've reported above. These context notes
will be posted on the College Navigator website, and should be written to be understood by students and
parents.
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions - Levels of Enrollment Offered
Was your institution in operation during the academic year 2015-16?
If you answer Yes to this question, you will be able to specify the levels of enrollment offered at your institution during
2015-16 and to report 12-month enrollment during the fall collection.
No
Yes. Please specify the levels of enrollment offered during 2015-16.
Undergraduate
Graduate (not including doctor's-professional practice)
Prepared by
This survey component was prepared by:
Keyholder
Finance Contact
SFA Contact
HR Contact
Academic Library Contact
Other
hours
minutes
Name:
Email:
How long did it take to prepare
this survey component?
The name of the preparer is being collected so that we can follow up with the appropriate person in the event that there
are questions concerning the data. The Keyholder will be copied on all email correspondence to other preparers.
The time it took to prepare this component is being collected so that we can continue to improve our estimate of the
reporting burden associated with IPEDS. Please include in your estimate the time it took for you to review instructions,
query and search data sources, complete and review the component, and submit the data through the Data Collection
System.
Thank you for your assistance.
U.S. Department of Education
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NCES National Center for Education Statistics
2016-17 Survey Materials > Instructions
date: 8/12/2016
IC Header Full Instructions for less than 2-year institutions
Purpose of Institutional Characteristics Header Survey
Changes in Reporting
General instructions
Reporting Period for Institutional Characteristics Header
Context boxes
Coverage
Where to Get Help
Where the Data Will Appear
Reporting Directions
Part A - Educational Offerings
Part B - Organization
Control and Award Levels
Calendar System
Enrollment Levels and GRS cohort question
Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions
Open Admission
Level of Enrollment
Part D - Branch Campus
Purpose of Survey
The primary purpose of the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics Header (IC-H) survey is to collect basic institutional
data including control or affiliation, calendar system, and award levels. These data are key to accurate reporting as
they are used to determine the reporting for other IPEDS surveys. Any errors in the IC-H survey can lead to further
errors in the data reporting process, so please be very careful in reporting these data correctly, and contact the IPEDS
Help Desk (877.225.2568) if you have any questions.
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Changes in reporting
The following changes were implemented for the 2016-17 data collection period:
•
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General instructions
Reporting period covered
Institutional Characteristics Header (IC-H) covers data for the current year with two exceptions.
•
•
Cohort data in B6 refer to a past cohort and are used to set the Graduation Rates component (GR).
For new institutions, the question about prior year operation refers to the prior academic year and is used to
determine the applicability of the 12-Month Enrollment (E12) component.
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Context Boxes
Context boxes are provided to allow institutions to provide more information regarding survey component items. Note
that some context boxes are posted on the College Navigator Website, which is the college search tool offered by
NCES. NCES will review entries in these context boxes for applicability and appropriateness before posting them on the
College Navigator Website, however, institutions should check grammar and spelling of their entries. Inappropriate or
repetitive contexts will be deleted.
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Coverage
Carefully read each question in the Institutional Characteristics Header survey to ensure you are reporting data for the
appropriate students. The student groups for which data are collected vary throughout the IC-H survey (e.g.,
undergraduate and graduate). In general, for each group, ensure that the guidelines below are met.
A. Who to include
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled in courses creditable toward a diploma, certificate, degree, or other formal award,
including those enrolled in off-campus centers
High school students taking regular college courses for credit
Full-time students taking remedial courses IF the student is considered degree-seeking for the purpose of
student financial aid determination
Students from overseas enrolled in U.S. courses for credit (e.g., online students)
Graduate students enrolled for thesis credits, even when zero credits are awarded, as these students are still
enrolled and seeking their degree
B. Who NOT to include
•
•
•
•
•
•
Students enrolled exclusively in courses not creditable toward a formal award
Students enrolled exclusively in Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
Students exclusively auditing classes
Residents or interns in Doctor's - professional practice (previously first-professional), since they have already
received their Doctor's degree
Any student studying abroad (e.g., at a foreign university) if their enrollment at the 'home' institution is only
an administrative record and the fee is nominal
Students in any branch campus located in a foreign country
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Where to Get Help with Reporting
IPEDS Help Desk
Phone: 1-877-225-2568
Email: [email protected]
Web Tutorials
You can also consult the IPEDS Website Trainings & Outreach page which contains several tutorials on IPEDS data
collection, a self-paced overview of IPEDS tools, and other valuable resources.
IPEDS Resource Page
The IPEDS Website Reporting Tools page contains frequently asked questions, a link to data tip sheets, tutorials,
taxonomies, information centers (e.g., academic libraries, average net price, human resources, race/ethnicity, etc.),
and other valuable information.
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Where the Data Will Appear
Data collected through IPEDS will be accessible at the institution- and aggregate-levels.
At the institution-level, data will appear in the:
•
•
•
College Navigator Website (including the College Affordability and Transparency Center)
IPEDS Data Center
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
At the aggregate-level, data will appear in:
•
•
•
•
•
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IPEDS First Looks
IPEDS Table Library
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
The Digest of Education Statistics
The Condition of Education
Reporting Directions
Part A - Educational Offerings
Responses on this screen verify inclusion of the institution on the NCES/IPEDS list of institutions and agencies that
provide all types of postsecondary education. Postsecondary education is defined as the provision of a formal
instructional program whose curriculum is designed primarily for students beyond the compulsory age for high school.
This includes programs whose purpose is occupational, academic, or continuing professional education but excludes
avocational and adult basic education programs.
If you select only avocational and/or adult basic education programs, you will be contacted by IPEDS to confirm your
exemption from IPEDS reporting.
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Part B – Organization
Institutional Control or Affiliation
Indicate the appropriate control or affiliation under which the institution operates. If the institution has a religious
affiliation, select the denomination from the list provided in the drop-down box. Public institutions must designate a
primary control; identification of a secondary control is optional. If control of the institution differs from the prior year
or requires a change, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
Correct reporting of control or affiliation is KEY to IPEDS reporting. Errors in reporting control or affiliation cause you
to receive incorrect survey forms, misrepresents your institution to the public on College Navigator and other search
tools that use IPEDS data, and places your institution in incorrect groups in IPEDS publications and on the College
Affordability and Transparency Lists. If you do not know the control or affiliation of your institution, please call the
Help Desk.
Award Levels
Check applicable award levels for all credit programs offered at the institution. Award levels are identified based on
duration and/or awards.
•
•
•
•
•
Report using the number of CONTACT or CREDIT hours, as is appropriate to your calendar system (e.g.,
semester or quarter).
◦
References to length of study are the equivalent of full-time academic years; that is, at least 1 but less
than 2 years refers to the number of credits or the course load that would normally be completed by a
full-time student attending within the stated time period.
▪
One academic year equals 900 contact or clock hours of instruction, 30 semester credit hours
or its equivalent, or 45 quarter credit hours.
Award levels 1, 2, and 4 differ by length of programs and refer to completions below the baccalaureate degree.
Use the IPEDS designations, not institutionally defined designations, to describe these levels.
Award levels 3, 5, 7, 17, 18 and 19 indicate degree levels for which the institution is authorized to make
formal awards.
Award levels 6 and 8 indicate certificate levels.
If you cannot classify an award within the award levels indicated on the screen, check award level 12 (Other)
and specify or describe the award in the context box. Because there are few programs that fall under ‘Other’
please contact the Help Desk if you are considering selecting Level 12.
NOTE: Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they are
considered subbaccalaureate undergraduate programs. Check the applicable award level 1, 2, or 4, depending on the
length of the Teacher Preparation program.
Calendar System
Indicate the predominant calendar system under which the institution operates. If programs are offered on more
than one calendar, select the system under which most programs are offered. If there is no predominant calendar
system at your institution, select the option that best characterizes your institution.
If your calendar system differs from the prior year or requires a change, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at
877.225.2568.
Note: Calendar system selection determines reporting in many other IPEDS components. Be sure to choose the
calendar system you select accurately represents your institution. Contact the IPEDS Help Desk if you are not sure
which calendar system to select.
•
Standard academic terms (semesters, quarters, trimesters, 4-1-4)
◦
◦
◦
•
•
Use a fall cohort for Graduation Rates.
Report tuition and fees and cost information based on a full academic year.
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled as of October 15, or the official fall reporting
date used by the institution. This fall enrollment cohort will be preloaded into the next year's
Student Financial Aid component.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for an academic year.
Program-by-program or continuous enrollment basis
◦
Use a full-year cohort for Graduation Rates.
◦
Report tuition and fees and books and supplies information by program for the entire length of the
program. For living expenses, report costs for 4 weeks (1 month). Note: Living expenses are only
applicable to institutions with full-time, first-time students and are reported with the largest program.
◦
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled in the institution at any time between August 1
and October 31.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for the largest program for an academic year.
Hybrid academic calendar (If you are considering selecting the ‘Other academic calendar’ option, please
contact the Help Desk at 877.225.2568 so they can confirm the appropriateness of this calendar system for
your institution.)
◦
Use a full-year cohort for Graduation Rates.
◦
Report Fall Enrollment using students enrolled in the institution at any time between August 1
and October 31.
◦
Report tuition and fees and cost information based on a full academic year.
◦
For Student Financial Aid, report aid for an academic year.
Student enrollment
Enrollment of full- and part-time students.
Indicate whether your institution enrolls any full-time or part-time students at the levels listed. Include all levels
offered, even if there are not any students currently enrolled at that level.
Responses to those categories will determine the screens generated for reporting academic year tuition charges in the
Institutional Characteristics survey during the Fall collection and enrollment data in the Fall Enrollment survey during
the Spring collection.
•
Make sure to check Yes for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking students if applicable, as this
determines that your institution will report cost information on Institutional Characteristics screens in Part D
and Student Financial Aid information during the Winter collection.
Doctor's - professional practice
Indicate whether your institution offers any of the listed Doctor's - professional practice programs. If your institution
offers Doctor's -professional practice programs but does not offer any of the listed programs, indicate no.
GRS cohort question.
•
•
4-year institutions. Indicate if your institution had any full-time, first-time undergraduate students enrolled
in programs at the baccalaureate level or below in the academic year indicated on the screen. If you indicate
Yes, you must report Graduation Rates data in the Winter.
Less-than-4-year institutions. Indicate if your institution had any full-time, first-time degree/certificateseeking students enrolled in the academic year indicated on the screen. If you check Yes, you must report
Graduation Rates data in the Winter.
Multi-institution or Multi-campus Organization
If applicable, select from the provided list the multi-institution or multi-campus organization that owns, governs, or
controls the institution. If you do not see your multi-institution or multi-organization listed, please contact the Help
Desk.
A multi-institution or multi-campus organization includes organizations with two or more institutions or campuses.
Non-postsecondary education agencies that govern or control institutions include, but are not limited to, public school
districts, art organizations, hospitals and other medical/health organizations.
Do not include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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coordinating systems
single institution owner
single institution corporate name
single institution governing board
consortia
associations
religious affiliation (requested in control question)
Part C - Other Survey Screening Questions
Open admission policy
Check Yes if your institution has an open admission policy.
If your institution requires only a high school diploma/equivalent and/or Ability to Benefit (or similar) test, and few
students are not admitted based on the test, your institution is still considered open admission. For example, if you
have students take the ATB test and allow 98% of those students to enroll, you are likely open admission. The 2%
that were not admitted had unusual circumstances that kept them from being admitted.
Note: IPEDS does not have a set percentage to determine open admission. Please review your institution's admission
policy or talk to someone in the admissions office if you are not sure whether your institution is open admission, or
contact the IPEDS Help Desk at 877.225.2568.
Level of Enrollment
New institutions should indicate whether their institution was in operation during the prior academic year. If the
response is ‘Yes’, they should also indicate the levels that were offered.
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Part D - Branch campus
For branch campuses, refer to the instructions on the appropriate screen.
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date: 8/12/2016
Glossary
Term
Definition
4-1-4 (calendar system)
The 4-1-4 calendar usually consists of 4 courses taken for 4 months, 1 course taken for 1 month, and 4 courses
taken for 4 months. There may be an additional summer session.
Academic year
The period of time generally extending from September to June; usually equated to 2 semesters or trimesters, 3
quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system.
Adult basic education
Courses designed primarily for students 16 years of age and older to improve basic skills in reading, writing, and
arithmetic. These courses are not intended to be part of a program leading to a high school credential, nor are they
part of any academic, occupational, or vocational program at the postsecondary level.
Associate's degree
An award that normally requires at least 2 but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college work.
Avocational programs
Instructional programs in personal interest and leisure categories whose expressed intent is not to produce
postsecondary credits , nor to lead to a formal award or an academic degree, nor result in occupationally specific
skills.
Bachelor's degree
An award (baccalaureate or equivalent degree, as determined by the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education) that
normally requires at least 4 but not more than 5 years of full-time equivalent college-level work. This includes all
bachelor's degrees conferred in a 5-year cooperative (work-study) program. A cooperative plan provides for
alternate class attendance and employment in business, industry, or government; thus, it allows students to
combine actual work experience with their college studies. Also includes bachelor's degrees in which the normal 4
years of work are completed in 3 years.
Calendar system
The method by which an institution structures most of its courses for the academic year.
Certificate
A formal award certifying the satisfactory completion of a postsecondary education program.
Cohort
A specific group of students established for tracking purposes.
Contact hour
A unit of measure that represents an hour of scheduled instruction given to students. Also referred to as clock hour.
Continuing professional
education
Programs and courses designed specifically for individuals who have completed a degree in a professional field (such
as law, medicine, dentistry, education, or social work) to obtain additional training in their particular field of study.
Continuous basis
A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that allow students to enroll/start classes at any time
during the year. For example, a cosmetology school or a word processing school might allow students to enroll and
begin studies at various times, with no requirement that classes begin on a certain date.
Control (of institution)
A classification of whether an institution is operated by publicly elected or appointed officials (public control) or by
privately elected or appointed officials and derives its major source of funds from private sources (private control).
Credit hour
A unit of measure representing the equivalent of an hour (50 minutes) of instruction per week over the entire term.
It is applied toward the total number of credit hours needed for completing the requirements of a degree, diploma,
certificate, or other formal award.
Degree
An award conferred by a college, university, or other postsecondary education institution as official recognition for
the successful completion of a program of studies.
Differs by program (calendar
system)
A calendar system classification that is used by institutions that have occupational/vocational programs of varying
lengths. These schools may enroll students at specific times depending on the program desired. For example, a
school might offer a 2-month program in January, March, May, September, and November; and a 3-month program
in January, April, and October.
Doctor's degree-other
A doctor's degree that does not meet the definition of a doctor's degree - research/scholarship or a doctor's degree professional practice.
Doctor's degree-professional
practice
A doctor's degree that is conferred upon completion of a program providing the knowledge and skills for the
recognition, credential, or license required for professional practice. The degree is awarded after a period of study
such that the total time to the degree, including both pre-professional and professional preparation, equals at least
six full-time equivalent academic years. Some of these degrees were formerly classified as first-professional and
may include: Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.); Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.); Law (J.D.); Medicine (M.D.); Optometry
(O.D.); Osteopathic Medicine (D.O); Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); Podiatry (D.P.M., Pod.D., D.P.); or, Veterinary Medicine
(D.V.M.), and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Doctor's degreeresearch/scholarship
A Ph.D. or other doctor's degree that requires advanced work beyond the master's level, including the preparation
and defense of a dissertation based on original research, or the planning and execution of an original project
demonstrating substantial artistic or scholarly achievement. Some examples of this type of degree may include
Ed.D., D.M.A., D.B.A., D.Sc., D.A., or D.M, and others, as designated by the awarding institution.
Educational offerings
Educational programs offered by postsecondary institutions that are occupational, academic, or continuing
professional that qualify as postsecondary education programs OR recreational or avocational, adult basic, remedial
instruction, high school equivalency, or high school programs that are not deemed postsecondary.
Fall cohort
The group of students entering in the fall term established for tracking purposes. For the Graduation Rates
component, this includes all students who enter an institution as full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking
undergraduate students during the fall term of a given year. For the Outcome Measures component, all
degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who enter an institution during the fall term of a given year must
be placed in one of four cohorts: full-time, first-time; part-time, first-time; full-time, non-first-time; and part-time,
non-first-time.
First-time student
(undergraduate)
A student who has no prior postsecondary experience (except as noted below) attending any institution for the first
time at the undergraduate level. This includes students enrolled in academic or occupational programs. It also
includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the first time in the prior summer term, and
students who entered with advanced standing (college credits earned before graduation from high school).
Full-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for 12 or more semester credits, or 12 or more quarter credits, or 24 or more
contact hours a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for 9 or more semester credits, or 9 or more quarter
credits, or a student involved in thesis or dissertation preparation that is considered full-time by the institution.
Doctor's degree - Professional practice - as defined by the institution.
Full-year cohort
The group of students entering at any time during the 12-month period September 1 through August 31 that is
established for tracking and reporting Graduation Rate (GR) and Outcome Measures (OM) data for institutions that
primarily offer occupational programs of varying lengths. Students must be full-time and first-time to be considered
in the cohort. For OM component, undergraduate students must enter in one of four cohorts: full-time, first-time;
part-time, first-time; full-time, non-first-time; and part-time, non-first-time.
Graduate student
A student who holds a bachelor's degree or above and is taking courses at the postbaccalaureate level. These
students may or may not be enrolled in graduate programs.
Institutional affiliation
A classification that indicates whether a private not-for-profit institution is associated with a religious group or
denomination. Private not-for-profit institutions may be either independent or religiously affiliated.
Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System
(IPEDS)
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), conducted by the NCES, began in 1986 and involves
annual institution-level data collections. All postsecondary institutions that have a Program Participation Agreement
with the Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE), U.S. Department of Education (throughout IPEDS referred to as
"Title IV") are required to report data using a web-based data collection system. IPEDS currently consists of the
following components: Institutional Characteristics (IC); 12-month Enrollment (E12);Completions (C); Admissions
(ADM); Student Financial Aid (SFA); Human Resources (HR) composed of Employees by Assigned Position, Fall Staff,
and Salaries; Fall Enrollment (EF); Graduation Rates (GR); Outcome Measures (OM); Finance (F); and Academic
Libraries (AL).
Less than 2-year institution
A postsecondary institution that offers programs of less than 2-years duration below the baccalaureate level.
Includes occupational and vocational schools with programs that do not exceed 1800 contact hours .
Levels of offering
Information collected in the Institutional Characteristics component which indicates all applicable levels for all credit
programs offered at an institution. Award levels are identified on the basis of recognition for their completion,
duration, or a combination thereof. Degree-designated award levels indicate those degree levels for which the
institution is authorized to make formal awards. Length of study is the equivalent of the number of full-time
academic years. For example, at least 1 but less than 2 years refers to the number of credits or the course load that
would normally be completed by a full-time student attending within the stated time period.
Library collections
Comprise of documents held locally and remote resources for which permanent or temporary access rights have
been acquired. Access rights may be acquired by the library itself, by a consortium and/or through external funding.
Acquisition is to be understood as securing access rights and including it in the library catalog, other library
databases or discovery systems.
Library expenses
Funds expended by the library (regardless of when received) from its regular budget and from all other sources;
e.g., research grants, special projects, gifts and endowments, and fees for services.
Master's degree
An award that requires the successful completion of a program of study of at least the full-time equivalent of 1 but
not more than 2 academic years of work beyond the bachelor's degree.
Some of these degrees, such as those in Theology (M.Div., M.H.L./Rav) that were formerly classified as "firstprofessional", may require more than two full-time equivalent academic years of work.
Occupational program
A program of study consisting of one or more courses, designed to provide the student with sufficient knowledge and
skills to perform in a specific occupation.
Other academic calendar
system
Category used to describe "non-traditional" calendar systems at 4-year and 2-year degree-granting institutions.
These can include schools that offer primarily on-line courses or "one course at a time."
Part-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for either less than 12 semester or quarter credits, or less than 24 contact hours
a week each term. Graduate: A student enrolled for less than 9 semester or quarter credits.
Post-master's certificate
An award that requires completion of an organized program beyond the master's degree, but does not meet the
requirements of academic degrees at the doctor's level.
Postbaccalaureate certificate
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study beyond the bachelor's. It is designed for
persons who have completed a baccalaureate degree, but does not meet the requirements of a master's degree.
NOTE: Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's degree for admission, they
are considered subbacalaureate undergraduate programs, and students in these programs are undergraduate
students.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (at
least 1 but less than 2
academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in at least 1 but less than 2 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion
in at least 30 but less than 60 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 45 but less than 90 quarter credit
hours, or in at least 900 but less than 1,800 contact or clock hours.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (at
least 2 but less than 4
academic years)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in at least 2 but less than 4 full-time equivalent academic years , or designed for completion
in at least 60 but less than 120 semester or trimester credit hours, or in at least 90 but less than 180 quarter credit
hours, or in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact or clock hours.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (less
than 1 academic year)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the
baccalaureate degree) in less than 1 academic year (2 semesters or 3 quarters), or designed for completion in less
than 30 semester or trimester credit hours, or in less than 45 quarter credit hours, or in less than 900 contact or
clock hours.
Private for-profit institution
A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives compensation other than wages, rent, or
other expenses for the assumption of risk.
Private institution
An educational institution controlled by a private individual(s) or by a nongovernmental agency, usually supported
primarily by other than public funds, and operated by other than publicly elected or appointed officials. These
institutions may be either for-profit or not-for-profit.
Private not-for-profit
institution
A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control receives no compensation, other than wages,
rent, or other expenses for the assumption of risk. These include both independent not-for-profit schools and those
affiliated with a religious organization.
Program
A combination of courses and related activities organized for the attainment of broad educational objectives as
described by the institution.
Programs of at least 2 years
but less than 4 years
Programs requiring at least 2 years but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college level work, including
associate's degrees and programs that can be completed in at least 1,800 but less than 3,600 contact hours to
obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Programs of at least 4 years
Programs designed to be completed in at least 8 semesters or 12 quarters to obtain a degree, diploma, or other
formal award. Includes programs resulting in all bachelor's degrees and other baccalaureate level or equivalent
degrees, as well as 5-year cooperative programs, and those programs in which the normal 4 years of work are
designed to be completed in 3 years.
Programs of less than 2 years
Programs requiring less than 2 years of full-time equivalent college level work (4 semesters or 6 quarters) or less
than 1,800 contact hours to obtain a degree, diploma, certificate, or other formal award.
Public institution
An educational institution whose programs and activities are operated by publicly elected or appointed school
officials and which is supported primarily by public funds.
Quarter (calendar system)
A calendar system in which the academic year consists of 3 sessions called quarters of about 12 weeks each. The
range may be from 10 to 15 weeks as defined by the institution. There may be an additional quarter in the summer.
Semester (calendar system)
A calendar system that consists of two sessions called semesters during the academic year with about 15 weeks for
each semester of instruction. There may be an additional summer session.
Title IV institution
An institution that has a written agreement with the Secretary of Education that allows the institution to participate
in any of the Title IV federal student financial assistance programs (other than the State Student Incentive Grant
(SSIG) and the National Early Intervention Scholarship and Partnership (NEISP) programs).
Trimester (calendar system)
An academic year consisting of 3 terms of about 15 weeks each.
Undergraduate
A student enrolled in a 4- or 5-year bachelor's degree program, an associate's degree program, or a vocational or
technical program below the baccalaureate.
U.S. Department of Education
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201617 Survey Materials > FAQ
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IC Header
Click one of the following questions to view the answer.
General
1)
If my institution offers an award level but currently does not have any students
enrolled at that level how should I report?
2)
Can I change my Institutional Characteristics Header data during the winter or spring
surveys if I made a mistake in the fall?
3)
In what award level category should Teachers Preparation certificates be reported?
4)
My institution has a system office. Does the system office need to complete an
Institutional Characteristics Header survey?
Answers:
General
1)
If my institution offers an award level but currently does not have any
students enrolled at that level how should I report?
You should indicate all levels of awards that your institution is authorized to grant.
2)
Can I change my Institutional Characteristics Header data during the winter
or spring surveys if I made a mistake in the fall?
It is important to report IC Header data correctly the first time, as changes to this
component affect all of the other surveys. If you made an error that impacts your
ability to respond appropriately to other components, call the Help Desk at 877225
2568, and they will change the necessary data. For example, if you indicated that
you do not enroll any fulltime, firsttime students (thus no GRS or SFA surveys are
generated), you may correct your answer so that you can complete this survey.
3)
In what award level category should Teachers Preparation certificates be
reported?
Even though Teacher Preparation certificate programs may require a bachelor's
degree for admission, they are considered subbaccalaureate undergraduate
programs, and students in these programs are undergraduate students.
4)
My institution has a system office. Does the system office need to complete
an Institutional Characteristics Header survey?
Any system or central office that employs 15 or more fulltime staff OR has its own
budget (and therefore must report IPEDS Finance data) must also complete the
Institutional Characteristics Header survey. The administrative
office must indicate all types and levels of instruction and programs offered at all of
the institutions in its system. This will ensure that each institution in the system is
represented.
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| File Type | application/pdf |
| Author | Authorised User |
| File Modified | 2016-11-01 |
| File Created | 2016-11-01 |