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pdfOutcome Measures
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
2019-20 to 2021-22
Changes are detailed in the Change Memo. Dates are also updated to
reflect the current data collection.
6/29/2021
IPEDS Data Collection System
2021-22
Data Collection System
IPEDS HELP DESK
(877) 225-2568 | [email protected]
OMB NO. 1850-0582 v.27 : Approval Expires 8/31/2022
2021-22 Survey Materials Package
Outcome Measures
Overview
Outcome Measures Overview
Welcome to the IPEDS Outcome Measures (OM) survey component. The OM component collects award and enrollment data from degree-granting institutions on
four undergraduate cohorts and eight undergraduate subcohorts at three status points: four-years, six-years, and eight-years after entry.
The four cohorts of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates are:
First-time, full-time entering (FTFT)
First-time, part-time entering (FTPT)
Non-first-time, full-time entering (NFTFT)
Non-first-time, part-time entering (NFTPT)
For each cohort, two subcohort groups have been added to the OM component - Pell Grant recipients and Non-Pell Grant recipients - resulting in eight
undergraduate subcohorts.
Data Reporting Reminders:
Report data to accurately reflect the time period corresponding with the IPEDS survey component, even if such reporting is seemingly inconsistent with prioryear reporting. For example, if a summer term began later than usual due to Coronavirus Pandemic postponements, continue to report using the timeframes
as defined in the IPEDS instructions. NCES expects that some data reported during the 2021-22 data collection year will vary from established prior trends
due to the impacts of Coronavirus Pandemic. If an error edit is triggered even when submitting accurate data, please indicate in the corresponding context
box or verbally to the Help Desk that the seemingly inconsistent data are accurate and reflect the effects of Coronavirus Pandemic.
All institutions must report on a FULL-YEAR cohort. The OM cohort year is 2013-14. The full-year cohort coverage period is July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014.
Institutions will establish their OM cohorts based on their subcohorts of entering Pell Grant recipients and Non-Pell Grant recipients. Institutions should first
identify their entering degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates during the cohort coverage period of July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014, and place each student in
the appropriate subcohort. Each student should be reported only once.
All institutions are required to report transfer-out student data.
For each status point, institutions will report the highest type of award conferred to a student for each subcohort. The three award categories are certificates,
Associate's degree, and Bachelor's degree.
Institutions should report exclusions for the entire eight year period only on the "Establishing Cohorts" screen. Additional exclusions cannot be reported on
the status point screens (i.e., four-years, six-years, or eight-years after entry).
IPEDS will ask for an estimated time it took to complete the OM component. Include in that estimate the time to review instructions, research data sources
(i.e., coordinate with IT and Student Aid offices), complete and review the component, and submit the data.
Changes to reporting for 2021-22:
New FAQ has been added to clarify reporting of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates across EF, E12, and OM survey components.
Important Dates to Remember:All reporting institutions will report on degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates who entered the 2013-14 cohort year: (July 1,
2013-June 30, 2014).
Four-year status point was as of August 31, 2017
Six-year status point was as of August 31, 2019
Eight-year status point was as of August 31, 2021
Reporting Tips
Carefully read each OM FAQ before reporting your institution's data. There are FAQs regarding the major updates to OM 2018-19 collection, such as academic
reporters now reporting on a full-year cohort, summer terms starting prior July 1, reporting awards at different status points, and Pell Grant and Non-Pell Grant
recipient subcohorts.
Resources:
To download the survey materials for this component: Survey Materials
To access your prior year data submission for this component: Reported Data
If you have questions about completing this survey, please contact the IPEDS Help Desk at (877) 225-2568.
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Establishing Cohorts
2013-14 Entering Undergraduate Cohort
July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014: Full Year
Begin by identifying your entering degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates for the full year of July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014.
Then report each student under one of the eight subcohorts (Pell or Non-Pell Grant recipients FTFT, FTPT, NFTFT, NFTPT).
Each entering student should be reported only once.
The four cohorts and total entering students will be calculated based on your subcohort reporting.
NOTE: Once a student is in the cohort, the student remains in the cohort, even if the student's attendance status changes (i.e., full-time to part-time, or vice versa) or
if the student drops out, transfers out, or transfers back into the institution during the eight-year period. However, institutions can make adjustments to the cohort for
allowable exclusions, which include the death of a student, permanent disability, military deployment, or service on an official church mission or with a foreign aid
service of the Federal government.
Exclusions are for the ENTIRE eight years for the entering 2013-14 cohort.
Degree/Certificate-Seeking
Undergraduate Students
Exclusions to
2013-14 cohort
2013-14 cohort
Adjusted
2013-14 cohort
Prior year
Adjusted cohort
First-time entering
Full-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Part-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Non-First-time entering
Full-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Part-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Total Entering
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
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Award Status at Four Years
Award Status at Four Years After Entry 2013-14 Entering Undergraduate Cohort
(July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014: Full Year)
Directions: From the adjusted 2013-14 cohort, report the number of students who earned an award at four years after entry for each subcohort. Report the highest
award earned for each degree/certificate-seeking student for the four-year status point (August 31, 2017) even if a student earns multiple awards.
Number of students conferred an award
by your institution
(Highest Award by August 31, 2017)
Adjusted
2013-14 cohort
Undergraduate Students
Certificates
First-time entering
Full-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Part-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Full-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Part-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Total Entering
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Bachelor's
Percent of adjusted
cohort that received
an award from your
institution
Non-First-time entering
Associate's
Total number of
adjusted cohort
that received an award
from your institution
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Award Status at Six Years
Award Status at Six Years After Entry 2013-14 Entering Undergraduate Cohort
(July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014: Full Year)
Directions: From the adjusted 2013-14 cohort, report the number of students who earned an award at six years after entry for each subcohort. Report the highest
award earned for each degree/certificate-seeking student for the six-year status point (August 31, 2019) even if a student earns multiple awards.
Number of students conferred an award
by your institution
(Highest Award through August 31, 2019)
Adjusted
2013-14 cohort
Undergraduate Students
Certificates
First-time entering
Full-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Part-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Full-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Part-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Total Entering
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Bachelor's
Percent of adjusted
cohort that received
an award from your
institution
Non-First-time entering
Associate's
Total number of
adjusted cohort
that received an award
from your institution
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Award and Enrollment Status at Eight Years
Award and Enrollment Status at Eight Years After Entry: 2013-14 Entering Undergraduate Cohort
(July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014: Full Year)
From the adjusted 2013-14 cohort, report the number of students who earned an award at eight years after entry for each subcohort.
Report the highest award earned for each degree/certificate-seeking student for the eight-year status point (August 31, 2021) even if a student earns multiple
awards.
For students who did not receive an award from your institution, first report the number of students who are still enrolled at your institution, and then report the
number of students who had enrolled at another institution over the eight-year period.
Award Status at Eight Years After Entry
Number of students conferred an
award by your institution
(From Entry through August 31,
2021)
Total
number of
Adjusted
adjusted
cohort
Undergraduate Students 2013-14
that
cohort
received
an award
Certificates Associate's Bachelor's
from your
institution
Percent
of
adjusted
cohort
that
received
an award
from your
institution
Enrollment Status at Eight Years After Entry
Number of students who did not receive an
award from your institution
Prior Year
(From entry through August 31, 2021)
Total
number of
Number
adjusted
Total
who
Number of
cohort
number
Number enrolled
students
that
who did
still
at another
whose
received
not
an award enrolled institution subsequent
receive
after
enrollment
from your at your
an award
status is
institution institution leaving
from your
your
unknown
institution
institution
Percent of
adjusted
cohort that did
not receive an
award, but are
still enrolled at
your institution
or enrolled at
another
institution after
leaving
your institution
First-time entering
Full-time
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Pell Grant recipients
Non‑Pell Grant recipients
Part-time
Non-First-time entering
Full-time
Part-time
Total Entering
You may use the box below to provide additional context for the data you have reported above. Context notes will be posted on the College Navigator website.
Therefore, you should write all context notes using proper grammar (e.g., complete sentences with punctuation) and common language that can be easily
understood by students and parents (e.g., spell out acronyms).
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Outcome Measures
Purpose of Survey
Changes in Reporting
General Instructions
Reporting Period Covered
Context Boxes
Coverage
Where to Get Help
Where the Data Will Appear
Reporting Instructions
A. Establishing Cohorts
B. Award Status at Four Years
C. Award Status at Six Years
D. Award and Enrollment Status at Eight Years
Purpose of Survey
The purpose of the IPEDS Outcome Measures (OM) survey component is to provide the award and enrollment statuses of four degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduate student cohorts and eight subcohorts at degree-granting institutions. Student completion awarded by the reporting institution are collected at the
four-years, six-years, and eight-years status points after they entered the reporting institution. The enrollment status of students who did not earn an award is
also collected at the eight-years status point.
Changes in reporting
New FAQ has been added to clarify reporting of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates across EF, E12, and OM survey components.
As a reminder, when reporting the Outcome Measures component, all degree-granting institutions will report on:
1. full-year cohorts (e.g., July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014),
2. the Pell Grant and Non-Pell Grant recipients subcohorts for each of the four OM cohorts. First-time, full-time (FTFT); First-time, part-time (FTPT); Non-First-Time,
Full-time(NFTFT), and Non-First-Time, Part-time (NFTPT),
3. three status points (four-years, six-years, and eight-years),
4. the highest undergraduate award (i.e., certificate award, Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree) for each status point, and
5. all students who transferred out.
General Instructions
Reporting Period Covered
This OM component requests data on four cohorts of entering degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates enrolled in your institution during the cohort coverage
period between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014. To report data on the four cohorts, institutions will report on eight subcohorts of undergraduates who either
received a Pell Grant or did not during the OM coverage cohort period. Institutions are to report the award status of these students as of August 31, 2017
(Four-Years Status) and August 31, 2019 (Six-Years Status), and the award and enrollment status of these students as of August 31, 2021 (Eight-Years
Status).
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
The Outcome Measures component collects data from degree-granting institutions on the following degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate student cohorts and
subcohorts:
First-time, full-time entering students (FTFT)
Pell Grant recipients
Non-Pell Grant recipients
First-time, part-time entering students (FTPT)
Pell Grant recipients
Non-Pell Grant recipients
Non-first-time, full-time entering students (NFTFT)
Pell Grant recipients
Non-Pell Grant recipients
Non-first-time, part-time entering students (NFTPT)
Pell Grant recipients
Non-Pell Grant recipients
Each of the four cohorts will be calculated from the reported Pell Grant and Non-Pell Grant recipient subcohorts.
Who to Include in the Cohorts
All degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students entering the institution (during the 12-month period as described in the "Reporting Period Covered"
section above) should be reported in one of the subcohorts. All institutions will report using a full-year cohort, which counts all students who entered the
institution between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014 (i.e., the coverage cohort year). For academic reporting institutions, report students who were enrolled
through the term's Census Date for enrollment purposes. For program/hybrid reporting institutions, report students who were enrolled for at least 15 days in a
program of up to, and including, one year in length, or 30 days in a program of greater than one year in length.
Students must be enrolled in courses creditable toward a degree, diploma, certificate, or other recognized postsecondary credential. Include students enrolled
in courses that are part of a vocational or occupational program, INCLUDING those enrolled in off-campus centers and those enrolled in distance learning/home
study programs.
Be sure to include students taking remedial courses if the student is considered degree-seeking for the purpose of student financial aid determination.
A student who is designated as a member of a cohort remains in that cohort, even if the student:
Started as either a full-time or part-time student and later changes enrollment intensity.
Transfers to another institution.
Drops out of the institution.
Stops out of the institution.
Has not fulfilled the institution's requirements to receive a degree or certificate.
Went on a study abroad program the first year upon entering the institution.
Who to Exclude from the Cohort
DO NOT include students in the cohort who are:
Enrolled exclusively in courses not creditable toward a recognized postsecondary credential or the completion of a vocational program.
Exclusively taking Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
Exclusively auditing classes.
Foreign students who are only taking coursework at a host institution (e.g., an American institution overseas), if these students are not enrolled at a U.S.
institution.
Students in Experimental Pell Programs
Where to Get Help with Reporting
IPEDS Help Desk
Phone: (877) 225-2568
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Tutorials
You can consult the IPEDS Website's 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's 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.
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 Use the Data portal
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
College Affordability and Transparency Center Website
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At the aggregate-level, data will appear in:
IPEDS Data Explorer
IPEDS Data Feedback Reports
The Digest of Education Statistics
The Condition of Education
Reporting Instructions
A. Establishing Cohorts
OM has four cohorts: FTFT, FTPT, NFTFT, and NFTPT. OM also has eight subcohorts based on a student's Pell Grant recipient status. Students are
reported only once in one of the subcohorts.
1. Report on a Full Year Cohort
1. Regardless of reporting type (i.e., academic, program, or hybrid), all institutions will report to OM using a full-year cohort of students. Do not use a fall
cohort. Entering students are identified as those students who entered the institution between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014 - the coverage cohort year.
2. Determine if a student enters the OM cohort year based on official enrollment procedures. For academic reporters, include undergraduate students who
were enrolled in your institution's official census date for their entering term (i.e., semester or quarter). For program/hybrid reporters, report students
who were enrolled for at least 15 days in a program of up to, and including, one year in length, or 30 days in a program of greater than one year in
length.
2. Determining Attendance Level
1. The cohort attendance level of students is determined on the first full term (i.e., semester or quarter) at entry. For example, if a transfer-in student
entered an institution in the Spring term of the coverage cohort year as part-time, this student should be in OM's part-time, non-first-time cohort.
2. Degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who take a summer term preceding the start of OM coverage cohort year (July 1, 2013 and June 30,
2014) should be reported in the full year 2013-14 cohort. The cohort attendance level of a summer term student is determined by that student's
immediate full-term enrollment. For example, a first-time student takes a summer term that starts May 31, 2013 and enrolls the following fall term as a
full-time student. This student should be in OM's full-time, first-time cohort.
3. Pell Grant and Non-Pell Grant Recipient Subcohorts
1. Each OM cohort (FTFT, FTPT, NFTFT, and NFTPT) has two subcohorts of Pell Grant and Non-Pell Grant recipients. For each subcohort, report the number of
students that received a Pell Grant and those that did not receive a Pell Grant (i.e., Non-Pell Grant recipients).
2. Students with disbursed Pell Grants during the OM coverage cohort year of July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014 are reported in a Pell Grant subcohort.
3. Students who did not receive a disbursed Pell Grant during the cohort coverage period, but received a Pell Grant after the coverage cohort year (i.e., July
1, 2014 to August 31, 2021) are excluded from a Pell Grant subcohort. Report these students in a Non-Pell Grant subcohort.
4. Students, who were awarded but not disbursed a Pell Grant during the coverage cohort year, should be excluded from a Pell Grant subcohort, and reported
in a Non-Pell Grant subcohort.
5. Students, who receive any other forms of student aid, but no Pell Grant during the coverage cohort year, should be reported in the Non-Pell Grant
subcohort.
4. Exclusions to the 2013-14 Cohort (from entry through August 31, 2021)
Institutions may choose to exclude students who left your institution after the point of entry through August 31, 2021 for one of the following
allowable reasons:
1. The student is deceased or is permanently disabled and thus unable to return to school.
2. The student left school to serve in the armed forces or was called to active duty. (DO NOT include students already in the military who transfer to another
duty station.)
3. The student left school to serve with a foreign aid service of the Federal Government, such as the Peace Corps.
4. The student left school to serve on an official church mission.
NOTE: Students who leave the institution for one of the reasons noted in 2, 3, or 4 above, but return before the status date of August 31,
2021, may be subtracted from the cohort. Review FAQ #12 for more information on OM exclusions.
5. Adjusted 2013-14 Cohort
For each cohort and subcohort, the adjusted cohort is calculated by subtracting the "Exclusions to 2013-14 cohort" from the "2013-14 cohort".
B. Award Status at Four Years
For each subcohort of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students, report the number of students that received an award by four years after entering
your institution.
All students entering in the 2013-14 full-year cohort should be reported in one of the eight subcohorts. Report each student only once.
The adjusted 2013-14 Cohort has been brought forward to this screen from the "Establishing Cohorts" screen. The adjusted cohort is calculated by
subtracting the eight-year exclusions from the 2013-14 cohort.
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Number of students conferred an award by your institution (highest award through August 31, 2017): From the adjusted 2013-14 cohort, report
the number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who earned an award (i.e., certificates, associate's or bachelor's) by four years after entry for
each subcohort. If a student earned multiple awards, count the student once and report the highest award conferred to the student by the status point
(August 31, 2017).
Include non-degree awards in the "certificates" column. Report the highest award conferred by your institution at the four-year status point even if the
students are still enrolled at your institution or have transferred to another institution. DO NOT include graduate awards conferred to undergraduate students.
Total number of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution: This column will calculate total number of highest awards conferred by
your institution by the four-year status point (August 31, 2017).
Percent of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution by August 31, 2017: This column will calculate the proportion of entering
students who received an award from your institution for each adjusted subcohort. This four-year award rate is derived from the Total number of adjusted
cohort that received an award from your institution divided by Adjusted 2013-14 Cohort.
C. Award Status at Six Years
For each subcohort of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students, report the number of students that received an award by six years after entering
your institution.
All students entering in the 2013-14 full-year cohort should be reported in one of the eight subcohorts. Report each student only once.
The adjusted 2013-14 Cohort has been brought forward to this screen from the "Establishing Cohorts" screen. The adjusted cohort is calculated by
subtracting the eight-year exclusions from the 2013-14 cohort.
Number of students conferred an award by your institution (highest award through August 31, 2019): From the adjusted 2013-14 cohort, report
the number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who earned an award (i.e., certificates, associate's or bachelor's) by six years after entry for
each subcohort. If a student earned multiple awards, count the student once and report the highest award conferred to the student by the status point
(August 31, 2019).
Include non-degree awards in the "certificates" column. Report the highest award conferred by your institution at the 6-year status point even if the students
are still enrolled at your institution or have transferred to another institution. DO NOT include graduate awards conferred to undergraduate students.
Total number of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution: This column will calculate total number of highest awards conferred by
your institution by the six-year status point (August 31, 2019).
Percent of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution by August 31, 2019: This column will calculate the proportion of entering
students who received an award from your institution for each adjusted subcohort. This six-year award rate is derived from the Total number of adjusted cohort
that received an award from your institution divided by Adjusted 2013-14 Cohort.
D. Award and Enrollment Status at Eight Years
1. Award Status at Eight Years After Entry
For each subcohort of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students, report the number of students that received an award by eight years after entering
your institution.
All students entering in 2013-14 full-year cohort should be reported in one of the eight subcohorts. Report each student only once.
The adjusted 2013-14 Cohort has been brought forward to this screen from the "Establishing Cohorts" screen. The adjusted cohort is calculated by
subtracting the eight-year exclusions from the 2013-14 cohort.
Number of students conferred an award by your institution (highest award through August 31, 2021): From the adjusted 2013-14 cohort, report
the number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students who earned an award (i.e., certificates, associate's or bachelor's) by eight years after entry
for each subcohort. If a student earned multiple awards, count the student once and report the highest award conferred to the student by the status point
(August 31, 2021).
Include non-degree awards in the "certificates" column. Report the highest award conferred by your institution at the eight-year status point even if the
students are still enrolled at your institution or have transferred to another institution. DO NOT include graduate awards conferred to undergraduate students.
Total number of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution: This column will calculate total number of highest awards conferred by
your institution by the eight-year status point (August 31, 2021).
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Percent of adjusted cohort that received an award from your institution by August 31, 2021: This column will calculate the proportion of entering
students who received an award from your institution for each adjusted subcohort. This eight-year award rate is derived from the Total number of adjusted
cohort that received an award from your institution divided by Adjusted 2013-14 Cohort.
2. Enrollment Status at Eight Years After Entry
For the remaining students in your adjusted subcohorts who have not earned an award from your institution by August 31, 2021, report each of these students
in the one of the enrollment status columns.
Number of students who did not receive an award from your institution (from entry through August 31, 2021):
Number still enrolled at your institution: Report the number of students still enrolled at your institution as of August 31, 2021. Do not include any
students who have received an award by August 31, 2021. You may include students who you know are enrolling at your institution in the fall term
immediately following August 31, 2021.
Number who enrolled at another institution after leaving your institution: Report the total number of students who transferred out of your
institution without an award (i.e., a degree, diploma, certificate, or other recognized postsecondary credential) and enrolled in another institution at any
time from point of entry through August 31, 2021. You may include students who you know are enrolling at the other institution in the fall term immediately
following August 31, 2021. Only include students for whom you have confirmed subsequent enrollment.
Number of students whose subsequent enrollment status is unknown: This column will be calculated by subtracting the sum of the Number still
enrolled at your institution, the Number who enrolled at another institution after leaving your institution, and the Total number of adjusted cohort that
received an award from your institution (through August 31, 2021) from the Adjusted 2013-14 cohort.
Total number of students who did not receive an award from your institution: The total number of students who did not receive an award by
August 31, 2021 will be calculated by summing three columns: Number still enrolled at your institution, Number who enrolled at another institution after
leaving your institution, and Number of students whose subsequent enrollment status is unknown.
Percent of the adjusted cohort that did not receive an award, but are still enrolled at your institution or enrolled at another institution after
leaving your institution: This column will calculate the proportion of students who are still enrolled at your institution as of August 31, 2021, or left your
institution and subsequently enrolled at another institution. The sum of the values from the Number still enrolled at your institution and Number who enrolled
at another institution after leaving your institution are divided by Adjusted 2013-14 Cohort.
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Glossary
date: 06/29/2021
Term
Definition
Adjusted cohort
The result of removing any allowable exclusions from a cohort (or subcohort). For the Fall Enrollment component, it is the
cohort for calculating retention rate; for the Graduation Rates component, this is the cohort from which graduation and transferout rates are calculated; and for the Outcome Measures component, these are the four cohorts (first-time, full-time; first-time,
part-time; non-first-time, full-time; or non-first-time, part-time) for which outcomes rates are calculated at 4, 6, and 8 years.
Associate's degree
An award that normally requires at least 2 but less than 4 years of full-time equivalent college work.
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.
Calculated value (CV)
Calculated value (CV) is used to designate fields that are generated (or calculated) based on data provided on other lines within
the same part of a survey component. For example, a "balance" line or "other (detail)" line will be calculated as the difference
between the total line and the sum of the remaining detail.
Certificate
A recognized postsecondary credential that is conferred upon the satisfactory completion of a postsecondary education
program.
Cohort
A specific group of students established for tracking purposes.
Cohort year
The year that a cohort of students begins attending college.
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.
Degree/certificate-seeking
students
Students enrolled in courses for credit who are seeking a degree, certificate, or other recognized postsecondary credential. 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.
Exclusions
Those students who may be removed (deleted) from a cohort (or subcohort). For the Graduation Rates, Outcome Measures,
and Fall Enrollment retention rate reporting, students may be removed from a cohort if they left the institution for one of the
following reasons: death or total and permanent disability; service in the armed forces (including those called to active duty);
service with a foreign aid service of the federal government, such as the Peace Corps; or service on official church missions.
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 or recognized postsecondary credential 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 clock 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
This is a group of students entering at any time during the 12-month period for tracking and reporting. For Graduation Rate (GR),
a full-year cohort is from September 1 through August 31 and is used primarily by institutions that offer occupational programs
of varying lengths. Students must be full-time and first-time to be considered in the cohort. For Outcome Measures (OM)
component, all degree-granting institutions report on a full-year cohort from July 1 through June 30. Students are reported once
in one of the four OM cohorts: first-time, full-time; first-time, part-time: non-first-time, full-time; or non-first-time, part-time.
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).
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Non-first-time entering
student (undergraduate)
A student who has prior postsecondary experience before attending the reporting IPEDS institution. This cohort of students may
closely reflect the transfer-in (non-first-time entering) enrollment from Fall Enrollment (EF), 12-month Enrollment (E12) and
Outcomes Measures (OM) components.
Outcome Measures (OM)
This annual component aims to improve the collection of student progression and completion data on a more diverse group of
undergraduate students at degree-granting institutions. Award and enrollment statuses are collected on four cohorts (first-time,
full-time; first-time, part-time; non-first-time, full-time; and non-first-time, part-time) and on eight subcohorts (based on Pell Grant
recipient status) of degree/certificate-seeking students at three points of time (four-, six-, and eight-years after entering the
institution).
Part-time student
Undergraduate: A student enrolled for either less than 12 semester or quarter credits, or less than 24 clock hours a week each
term. Graduate: A student enrolled for less than 9 semester or quarter credits.
Pell Grant program
(Higher Education Act of 1965, Title IV, Part A, Subpart I, as amended.) Provides grant assistance to eligible undergraduate
postsecondary students with demonstrated financial need to help meet education expenses.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (1,800
or more clock hours, 60 or
more semester or trimester
credit hours, or 90 or more
quarter credit hours)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate
degree) designed for completion in 1,800 or more clock hours, or 60 or more semester or trimester credit hours, or 90 or more
quarter credit hours. Beginning in 2020-21, references to academic year equivalencies were removed from all levels of
subbaccalaureate certificates.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (300899 clock hours, 9-29
semester or trimester credit
hours, or 13-44 quarter credit
hours)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate
degree) designed for completion in at least 300 but less than 900 clock hours, or in at least 9 but less 30 semester or trimester
credit hours, or in at least 13 but less than 45 quarter credit hours. Beginning in 2020-21, this award level category was one of
two added options for reporting certificates of less than one academic year in length.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (9001,800 clock hours, 30-60
semester or trimester credit
hours, or 45-90 quarter credit
hours)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate
degree) designed for completion in at least 900 but less than 1,800 clock hours, or 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. Beginning in 2020-21, references to academic year
equivalencies were removed from all levels of subbaccalaureate certificates.
Postsecondary award,
certificate, or diploma (less
than 300 clock hours, 9
semester or trimester credit
hours, or 13 quarter credit
hours)
An award that requires completion of an organized program of study at the postsecondary level (below the baccalaureate
degree) designed for completion in less than 300 clock hours, or in less than 9 semester or trimester credit hours, or less than
13 quarter credit hours. Beginning in 2020-21, this award level category was one of two added options for reporting certificates
of less than one academic year in length.
Recognized postsecondary
credential
A recognized postsecondary credential includes any credential that is received after completion of a program that is eligible for
Title IV federal student aid or that is awarded in recognition of an individual's attainment of measurable technical or
industry/occupational skills necessary to obtain employment or advance within an industry/occupation. These technical or
industry/occupational skills generally are based on standards developed or endorsed by employers or industry associations.
Subcohort
A predefined subset of the initial cohort or the revised cohort established for tracking purposes. Degree/certificate-seeking
students in the bachelor's degree-seeking group in the Graduation Rates (GR) component and Pell-Grant, non-first-time, parttime students in the Outcome Measures (OM) component are examples of subcohorts.
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).
Transfer-in (non-first-time
entering) student
A student entering the reporting institution for the first time but known to have previously attended a postsecondary institution
at the same level (e.g., undergraduate, graduate). This includes new students enrolled in the fall term who transferred into the
reporting institution the prior summer term. The student may transfer with or without credit. For systems of coordinated
institutions (multi-campus system), students are to be identified as transfer-in students upon entering an institution from
another institution within the same coordinated system.
Transfer-out student
A student that leaves the reporting institution and enrolls at another institution. For systems of coordinated institutions (multicampus system), students are to be identified as transfer-out students when leaving an institution to enroll into another
institution within the same coordinated system.
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Transfer-preparatory program
A program designed specifically to provide a student with the basic knowledge needed to transfer into a higher level program.
For example, this may be the first 2 years of a baccalaureate level program for which the institution does not offer an award, or 2
years of undergraduate study needed for entrance into a first-professional program, or 1 or more years of undergraduate study
needed for entrance into health services fields.
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.
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Outcome Measures
Click one of the following questions to view the answer.
General
1) Who is the best institutional representative to complete the Outcome Measures (OM) survey?
2) Will race/ethnicity and gender be required in future years?
3) Is the Outcome Measures survey component similar to the Student Achievement Measure (SAM) project?
OM Terminology Clarified
4) What is a “still enrolled” degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate student?
5) What is a “non-first-time” degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate student?
6) Are the Outcome Measures 4-years, 6-years and 8-years status points the same as Graduation Rates’ 150% and 200% of normal time?
Cohorts
7) Does OM have two different cohort years for 4-year and 2-year institutions in the same fashion as Graduation Rates cohort years?
8) Should students who enter in the spring term (semester system) or winter and spring terms (quarter system) be included in the full-year cohort?
9)
If we are reporting on a full-year cohort that enters between July 1 and June 30 (OM coverage cohort year), what happens if a student switches their attendance
levels (e.g., full-time or part-time) during the OM coverage cohort year?
10)
I have a group of degree-seeking undergraduate students who took a summer term in 2013. However, the start date of the summer term was prior to Outcome
Measures coverage cohort year start date of July 1. In which cohort year should these students be reported?
11) I have a student that attended class for a day or a short portion of the term, should this student be included in the OM cohorts?
12)
A student qualified as an exclusion during the 8 year time period, but received an award prior to the student’s qualification, do I exclude this student from the
cohort?
Degree-granting Status
13)
If an institution was not a degree-granting institution in 2013-14, but later became a degree-granting institution, will that institution be required to complete the
Outcome Measures survey component?
Degree-seeking and Non-degree-seeking Students
14) Should students be included in Outcome Measures cohorts if degree/certificate-seeking intent is not explicitly stated?
15) How can I ensure consistent reporting of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates across EF, E12, and OM survey components?
16)
If I am a program or hybrid reporter, how do I report students who begin at my institution as non-degree/certificate-seeking students, but the following year they
become degree/certificate-seeking?
17)
How do I report students who were non-degree-seeking at another institution and subsequently enrolled at my institution as degree/certificate-seeking students?
Award Related Questions
18) What does “award” mean?
19) How would a student who transfers from a 4-year institution to a 2-year institution and then completes a lower-level degree/certificate be counted?
20) If a student earns multiple awards at my institution, do I count the higher award?
21) If a student transfers-in with an award from another institution, and then earns an award at my institution, which award do I count?
22) How do I count students seeking a second baccalaureate degree?
23) How should I report a student who left my institution and is known to have received an award at a subsequent institution?
24) Does transfer-prep count as an award?
25) Can stackable credentials count as an award?
26) Can institutions report graduate levels awards in OM?
27) Which award is higher between a certificate that is more than 2 years, but less than 4 years or an Associate’s degree?
Counting Transfer-in and Transfer-out Students
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28) How should I count transfer-in students?
29) Won’t there be double counting of a student if two institutions are counting the same student who earned an award?
30) Are first-time or non-first-time students who transfer-out to another institution included in the non-first-time entering cohort of the transfer-in institution?
31)
How do I report a degree-seeking student who starts out at my institution, transfers to another institution, but then returns to my institution within the 8-year
timeframe?
32) Are institutions required to report transfer-out
undergraduate students?
Students Without a High School Diploma or Equivalent
33) How do I count students in a dual enrollment program? What about students who received early admissions to my institution?
34)
How do I count adult learners who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent, but are certificate-seeking students taking credit-bearing undergraduate
courses?
Tracking Subsequent Enrollment
35)
Are institutions required to subscribe to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) in order to obtain data needed to report the number of students that
subsequently enrolled at another institution?
36) Can social media be used to confirm the enrollment at subsequent institutions?
37) What other resources are available to help me report on subsequent enrollment?
Subcohorts: Pell-Grant and Non-Pell Grant Recipients
38) Who is considered a “recipient” of a Pell Grant?
39) How are Pell Grant recipients reported in OM subcohorts?
40) What is a Non-Pell Grant recipient? What if I have students that did not get a Pell Grant, but received other forms of student aid?
41)
Should my institution, which is participating as an experimental site, report high school students who have received a Pell Grant while taking college coursework?
42) For transfer-in students, do I need to track their Pell Grant awards prior to entering my institution (i.e., the Pell Grant was awarded by another institution)?
General
1)
Who is the best institutional representative to complete the Outcome Measures (OM) survey?
The individual who completes the Graduation Rates (GR), Graduation Rates 200 (GR200), Completions (C), and Student Financial Aid (SFA) survey components may
be the best person to complete the Outcome Measures survey. This individual will most likely have to work closely with the registrar officers, enrollment managers,
and student financial aid administrators.
2)
Will race/ethnicity and gender be required in future years?
There are currently no plans to collect race/ethnicity and gender for Outcome Measures.
3)
Is the Outcome Measures survey component similar to the Student Achievement Measure (SAM) project?
OM is similar to SAM in that both have the same goal of measuring postsecondary success and progression of undergraduate students. However, the
methodologies used to measure the outcomes are different. First, OM is part of the mandatory IPEDS collection compared to SAM’s voluntary participation. Second,
OM has 4 cohorts with 8 subcohorts and SAM has up to 7 cohorts. Lastly, the time points for SAM varies depending on the cohorts compared to OM’s use of a
standard 4-year, 6-year and 8-year time points for all cohorts. For more information on SAM, see http://www.studentachievementmeasure.org/resources.
OM Terminology Clarified
4)
What is a “still enrolled” degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate student?
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For academic year reporters, a degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate student who is actively enrolled for credit at the institution during the most recent term
(spring or summer) is considered still enrolled. For program and hybrid reporters, a still enrolled degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate is an undergraduate
student who was enrolled for credit during the previous year.
5)
What is a “non-first-time” degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate student?
A non-first-time degree/certificate undergraduate student is new to your institution, but has prior postsecondary experience. This term will most likely refer to
students who transferred-in during the entry year of the cohort. Transfer-in students may enter with or without credit.
6)
Are the Outcome Measures 4-years, 6-years and 8-years status points the same as Graduation Rates’ 150% and 200% of normal time?
No, these are not the same. Graduation rates of 100%, 150%, and 200% of normal time are accumulated progress of time-to-degree. The 4-years, 6-years, and 8-years
up-to-the-specified date snapshots used in OM provide the status of awards and enrollment at 4-, 6-, and 8-years after a cohort enters the institution. More
specifically, OM counts the highest award conferred regardless of the length of time it took the student to complete the program relative to the “normal” time to
complete. OM requires institutions to report the award/enrollment status for the student cohorts, and there are no specific reporting requirements as to how quickly
an award must be earned. Do not equate or use Graduation Rates’ “normal time to degree” as the same period of time for Outcome Measures’ 4-, 6-, and 8-years
status points.
Cohorts
7)
Does OM have two different cohort years for 4-year and 2-year institutions in the same fashion as Graduation Rates cohort years?
No. OM has only one cohort year for both 2-year and 4-year institutions. Furthermore, the OM survey forms for 2-year and 4-year institutions are the same. For
the 2021-22 collection year, all degree-granting institutions, regardless of institution level, will report on undergraduate students who entered their institutions during
the full year of July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014. All institutions will report on a full-year cohort.
8)
Should students who enter in the spring term (semester system) or winter and spring terms (quarter system) be included in the full-year cohort?
Yes, these students must be included in a full-year cohort reporting if they entered anytime between the July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014 cohort year.
9)
If we are reporting on a full-year cohort that enters between July 1 and June 30 (OM coverage cohort year), what happens if a student switches their attendance
levels (e.g., full-time or part-time) during the OM coverage cohort year?
The attendance level is determined on the first full term at entry. The student remains in the cohort even if there is a change in attendance levels in subsequent
terms or years.
10)
I have a group of degree-seeking undergraduate students who took a summer term in 2013. However, the start date of the summer term was prior to Outcome
Measures coverage cohort year start date of July 1. In which cohort year should these students be reported?
For the 2013-14 cohort(s), institutions should include students who entered between July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014.
For students who start in the summer, the summer term is typically not considered a full term. Please use the following guidance:
1) If a student starts in the summer of 2013 (prior to July 1), and they do NOT enroll in any additional terms in 2013-14, they are not to be included in the July 1,
2013 - June 30, 2014 cohort because they would have been included in the prior OM cohort year.
2) If a student starts in the summer of 2013 (after July 1), and they do NOT enroll in any additional terms in 2013-14, they are still included in the 2013-14 cohort, at
the enrollment level (full-time or part-time) in which they were enrolled during the summer.
3) If a student starts in the summer of 2013 (prior to July 1 OR after July 1), and the student continues enrollment beyond summer, either into the fall term or reenrolls in the spring term, the institution should use the full term (e.g., fall or spring) to determine if the student is full-time or part-time, and the student should be
included in the 2013-14 cohort.
Please note: OM cohorts should be accurate based on a student's attendance level (e.g., full-time or part-time) based on the first full term and not based on a
summer term, which is not a full term.
11)
I have a student that attended class for a day or a short portion of the term, should this student be included in the OM cohorts?
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At entry of the first full term (i.e., Fall semester or quarter), report these students if they have met your institution’s official Census Date for being counted in
enrollment, otherwise they should be excluded.
12)
A student qualified as an exclusion during the 8 year time period, but received an award prior to the student’s qualification, do I exclude this student from the cohort?
Per the OM instructions on exclusions, institutions may choose to exclude students if they meet one of the allowable reasons: student is deceased or permanently
and totally disabled, student left to serve in the armed forces or was called to active duty, student left to serve in a foreign aid service, or student left to serve on an
official church mission. NCES recommends that institutions do NOT exclude students who had already earned an award because such information could better
inform the public of an institution’s completion rate. However, an institution may choose to exclude such a student.
Degree-granting Status
13)
If an institution was not a degree-granting institution in 2013-14, but later became a degree-granting institution, will that institution be required to complete the
Outcome Measures survey component?
Yes. All degree-granting institutions are required to complete the OM survey component, including those that were non-degree-granting in 2013-14.
Degree-seeking and Non-degree-seeking Students
14)
Should students be included in Outcome Measures cohorts if degree/certificate-seeking intent is not explicitly stated?
The institution should try to determine, to the greatest extent possible, whether the student is degree/certificate-seeking. For example, students must be
degree/certificate-seeking to receive federal student aid. Students who are eligible for federal student aid but decide not to receive aid are still considered
degree/certificate-seeking and should be included in the appropriate Outcome Measures cohort. Students who are not eligible for federal student aid and who have
not clearly stated their degree/certificate-seeking intent should be excluded from OM.
15)
How can I ensure consistent reporting of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates across EF, E12, and OM survey components?
The Fall Enrollment (EF) survey component is a “snapshot” of the institution’s enrollment in the fall. The 12-month Enrollment (E12) survey component
captures the institution’s total unduplicated headcount enrollment for an entire 12-month period (July 1 to June 30).
EF enrollment counts are a subset of the E12 enrollment counts, as the E12 survey component captures students enrolled in the fall plus any other
unduplicated students not captured in the EF survey component (e.g., students who first enroll in the spring term or enroll only in the summer term).
Because the EF survey component is a subset of the E12 survey component, all student enrollment counts (total and by disaggregate) reported in the
current year’s E12 survey component should be greater than or equal to the prior year’s EF survey component. Note that the prior year’s EF survey
component matches the “data year” of the current year’s E12 survey because there is a greater “time lag” in reporting E12 data.
Because the fall term is considered a full term for IPEDS reporting purposes, students enrolled in the fall term and captured in the EF survey component
should retain their same enrollment statuses (e.g., part-time or full-time, first-time or non-first-time, degree/certificate-seeking or non-degree/non-certificate
seeking, undergraduate or graduate) in the E12 survey component.
For example, a full-time, first-time student reported on the EF survey would also be reported as a full-time, first-time student in the E12 survey. Similarly,
a part-time, non-degree/non-certificate-seeking student reported in the EF survey component would retain those statuses in the E12 survey component.
For both program reporters and academic reporters, student enrollment statuses as reported on the current-year EF survey should be retained for E12
reporting in the following data collection year when the data coverage periods align (i.e., you should not change students’ statuses between EF and E12
reporting).
For students not reported on the EF survey component (i.e., not enrolled in the fall and therefore not captured), default to the student’s first full term at
entry to determine enrollment statuses (typically spring in this scenario). If the student enrolls only in the summer and at no other time during the 12month reporting period, then the summer term may be used to determine student statuses.
While the E12 survey component captures unduplicated enrollment counts during the 12-month period of July 1 to June 30, the Outcome Measures (OM)
survey component captures the 4-, 6-, and 8-year academic outcomes for the cohort of degree/certificate-seeking students during the same 12-month period.
Like the E12 survey component, students’ statuses (i.e., first-time/non-first-time, Pell/Non-Pell, full-time/part-time) are determined by students’ first full term
(i.e., fall or spring).
Unlike the E12 survey component, the OM survey component captures only degree/certificate-seeking students. For this reason, students’ statuses for OM
reporting purposes are determined in their first full term as a degree/certificate-seeking student. For example, students enter as non-degree/non-certificateseeking students in the fall and in the following spring term enroll as degree/certificate-seeking students, these students would be reported as:
In EF as non-degree/non-certificate-seeking students with the statuses (e.g., full-time/part-time) determined at their first full term (i.e., fall term).
In E12 as non-degree/non-certificate-seeking students with the statuses (e.g., full-time/part-time) determined at their first full term (i.e., fall term). Note
that students reported on both the EF and E12 survey components should be reported with the same enrollment statuses (i.e., they do not change).
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In OM as degree/certificate-seeking students with the statuses (i.e., first-time/non-first-time, Pell/non-Pell, full-time/part-time) determined at their first
full term as degree/certificate-seeking students (i.e., spring term). Because the OM survey component is designed to capture academic outcomes for
degree/certificate-seeking students, students who are non-degree/non-certificate-seeking in the fall (and reported as such for both EF and 12 survey
components) but then become degree/certificate-seeking after the fall term should be reported for OM reporting purposes. Only in this scenario and
only for OM reporting purposes should fall-enrolled students’ enrollment statuses then be determined from a non-fall term to align with when they
became degree/certificate-seeking.
Therefore, OM counts should be same or slightly greater than degree/certificate-seeking student counts reported in E12 because there is the potential for
some students to enroll as non-degree/non-certificate-seeking in the fall term (and reported as such for EF and E12 survey components) but then change their
enrollment to degree/certificate-seeking in the spring term (and thus need to be captured in the OM survey component).
16)
If I am a program or hybrid reporter, how do I report students who begin at my institution as non-degree/certificate-seeking students, but the following year they
become degree/certificate-seeking?
For program or hybrid reporters, if during the OM coverage cohort year (July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014) these students become degree/certificate-seeking students,
include these students in the OM cohorts. If the students become degree/certificate-seeking after June 30, 2014, they should not be included in the 2013-14 cohort.
Instead, include these students in the next OM cohort year for the next IPEDS collection cycle.
17)
How do I report students who were non-degree-seeking at another institution and subsequently enrolled at my institution as degree/certificate-seeking students?
Because these students entered your institution as degree/certificate-seeking, these students should be included in your institution’s OM reporting in one of the nonfirst-time cohorts.
Award Related Questions
18)
What does “award” mean?
An award can be a degree (e.g., Associate's or Bachelor's), diploma, certificate or other recognized postsecondary credential conferred by the reporting institution
that would be included on the IPEDS Completions Survey. For OM reporting purposes, an award does not mean financial aid award.
19)
How would a student who transfers from a 4-year institution to a 2-year institution and then completes a lower-level degree/certificate be counted?
The 4-year institution would report this student from the appropriate OM subcohort as having left their institution without an award and subsequently enrolled at
another institution. The 2-year institution would place this student in one of the non-first-time entering subcohorts and report the student’s highest award conferred
by the institution over the three status points.
20)
If a student earns multiple awards at my institution, do I count the higher award?
Yes, count the highest award received for each status point (i.e., four years, six years, and eight years). Regardless of whether the student earns multiple awards at
your institution, only one award is reported per student, per status point. For example, if a student earned a certificate and Associate’s degree by the end of four
years, the institution would report only the Associate’s degree. If the same student continues enrollment at the institution and earns a Bachelor’s degree by year
seven, the institution would report the Associate’s degree at the six-year status point, but the Bachelor’s degree at the eight-year status point. The certificate award is
never reported to OM in this example because it was not the highest award earned at any status point.
21)
If a student transfers-in with an award from another institution, and then earns an award at my institution, which award do I count?
Do not count awards conferred from another institution. Institutions should only report the awards conferred by their own institution.
22)
How do I count students seeking a second baccalaureate degree?
The answer depends on whether the student is seeking the second baccalaureate at the same institution or a different institution.
If the student is seeking a second baccalaureate at the same institution (Fall Enrollment counts these students as “continuing students”), do not reset the time
period for this student or place him/her in a new cohort. OM wants to know when these students received their highest award (degree/certificate) at the same
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institution over a span of 8 years; therefore, the first baccalaureate would be reported, but not the second baccalaureate. Read another FAQ in "Award Related
Questions" section regarding students earning multiple awards at the same institution.
If the student is seeking a second baccalaureate at a different institution from where the student received his/her first baccalaureate (Fall Enrollment counts these
students as “transfer-in students”), then report these students as degree/certificate-seeking, non-first-time entering students (either full-time or part-time by Pell
Grant status). These students have prior postsecondary experience, but are seeking a degree/certificate at the different institution.
23)
How should I report a student who left my institution and is known to have received an award at a subsequent institution?
At the 8-year status point, report such students in the “did not receive an award from your institution, but enrolled at another institution after leaving your institution"
column. If your institution did not confer the award, your institution cannot report the award.
24)
Does transfer-prep count as an award?
Yes. As is also the case with the Graduation Rates component, the OM component has a provision that allows institutions to count students who have successfully
completed a transfer-preparatory program as having received an award.
SPECIAL NOTE: In order to resolve a potential conflict between transfers-out and the mission of particular programs to prepare students for transfer to other
institutions, institutions may count as completers those students who have successfully completed a transfer-preparatory program.
A transfer-preparatory program is defined in 34 CFR Student Assistance General Provisions, Section 668.8(b)(1)(ii), as “the successful completion of at least a 2-year
program that is acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s degree and qualifies a student for admission into the third year of a bachelor’s degree program.” The
Secretary considers transfer-prep the equivalent of an associate’s degree, thus completers of transfer-preparatory programs (although these students do not receive
a “recognized postsecondary credential”) should be counted as having received an associate's degree for purposes of OM.
25)
Can stackable credentials count as an award?
Yes, stackable credentials can be counted, as long as the credentials meet the definition of an award. According to the Department of Labor, stackable credentials
are “a sequence of credentials that can be accumulated over time to build up an individual’s qualifications and help them to move along a career pathway or up a
career ladder to different and potentially higher-payer jobs” (Source: TEGL 15-10, www.doleta.gov). Educause (Jan 27, 2014) explains these credentials as an
institution-designed “pathway for students to acquire credentials along a trajectory that can lead to a baccalaureate and beyond but that has exit and entry points
designed in a way to allow students to pick up wherever they left off en route to the next level of achievement.”
26)
Can institutions report graduate levels awards in OM?
No. Institutions shall not report graduate level awards, including post-baccalaureate certificates, in OM. However, institutions that enroll undergraduates in a
graduate program that requires 2 or 3 years of undergraduate work at their institution before being accepted into the graduate program (e.g., a Pharm.D. program)
can count the 2 or 3 years of undergraduate work as the equivalent to an undergraduate certificate award.
27)
Which award is higher between a certificate that is more than 2 years, but less than 4 years or an Associate’s degree?
In this example, Associate’s degree is the higher award. The hierarchy of awards (from lowest to highest) is certificates, associate’s degree, and bachelor’s degree.
For purposes of OM reporting, all certificates levels (i.e., less than 1 year; at least 1 year but less than 2 years; and at least 2 years, but less than 4 years) are
aggregated together into the certificates reporting column.
Counting Transfer-in and Transfer-out Students
28)
How should I count transfer-in students?
At your institution, transfer-in students should be counted as non-first-time entering students in either a full-time or part-time cohort. The progress of transfer-in
students should be tracked at the 4-, 6-, and 8-years after entering your institution.
29)
Won’t there be double counting of a student if two institutions are counting the same student who earned an award?
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Not necessarily. Institutions should report only awards conferred by their institution. Students who transfer into your institution and receive an award from your
institution within the reporting period should be reported only by your institution. While there could be double counting, the institution sending the student to your
institution would report the student only as a “student who enrolled at another institution after leaving your institution.” Thus, the same student should not appear in
the same cohort and outcome category for both institutions.
30)
Are first-time or non-first-time students who transfer-out to another institution included in the non-first-time entering cohort of the transfer-in institution?
Yes. If first-time or non-first-time students transfer into your institution and have never been previously enrolled in your institution, you should report them in the
appropriate non-first-time entering subcohort.
For systems of coordinated institutions (multi-campus systems), each reporting
entity with an IPEDS UnitID is recognized as an individual reporting
institution for
Outcome Measures purposes. Only the institution that confers
the degree or award can report the students as a completer. Thus, if a student
transfers out of the
initial institution (institution A) and transfers-in to
another institution (institution B) within a coordinated system, that student
is reported as a transfer-out by the
initial institution (institution A),
regardless of whether or not that student received a degree or award at another
institution (institution B) within the coordinated
system.
31)
How do I report a degree-seeking student who starts out at my institution, transfers to another institution, but then returns to my institution within the 8-year
timeframe?
Students should be counted in their original cohort only. If the student subsequently enrolls in another institution and returns to your institution within the reporting
8-year timeframe, the student should remain in their original cohort and should be reported in one of the two categories: 1) did not receive an award and still enrolled
at your institution or 2) received an award from your institution.
32)
Are institutions required to report transfer-out
undergraduate students?
Yes. Institutions are required to report transfer-out undergraduate students to the OM survey component, regardless if the institution has transfer-preparation as part
of its mission. Unlike the Graduation Rates (GR) survey component, which is governed by the Student-Right-to-Know-Act, OM does not differentiate between
institutions that do, or do not, have a transfer-preparation in their mission.
Students Without a High School Diploma or Equivalent
33)
How do I count students in a dual enrollment program? What about students who received early admissions to my institution?
Students who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent, but are enrolled in a high school diploma or equivalent program while taking college-credit
coursework, are considered “non-degree-seeking” students. After the students have earned their high school diploma or equivalent, and subsequently enroll at a
postsecondary institution, they are then considered “first-time” students. This guidance is the same for early-admission students. Until the high school student has
received a high school diploma or equivalent, the student is not considered degree-seeking and is not included in any of the OM cohorts. In other words, these
students do not enter an Outcome Measures cohort until after earning their high school diploma or equivalent.
34)
How do I count adult learners who do not have a high school diploma or equivalent, but are certificate-seeking students taking credit-bearing undergraduate
courses?
Students, who are enrolled in college-credit coursework, but have not earned a high school diploma or its equivalent and do not plan on earning a high school
diploma or its equivalent, should be included in OM if they are degree/certificate-seeking students.
Tracking Subsequent Enrollment
35)
Are institutions required to subscribe to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) in order to obtain data needed to report the number of students that subsequently
enrolled at another institution?
IPEDS neither requires nor endorses institutions to subscribe to the NSC or any other third-party organization to help with reporting. However, IPEDS realizes that feebased services can facilitate an institution’s reporting of the Outcome Measures survey component.
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36)
Can social media be used to confirm the enrollment at subsequent institutions?
Yes, however IPEDS neither requires nor endorses the use of social media (e.g., LinkedIn), which may help with OM reporting of enrollment at subsequent
institutions. IPEDS strongly encourages institutions to use additional methods, such as alumni surveys, to verify and confirm subsequent enrollment.
37)
What other resources are available to help me report on subsequent enrollment?
For institutions that report student unit-record data to a coordinated-system office (e.g., coordinating board, system office, state department of higher education,
board of regents/trustees, etc.), those offices may be a resource to help identify subsequent enrollment at another institution within that coordinated system.
Subcohorts: Pell-Grant and Non-Pell Grant Recipients
38)
Who is considered a “recipient” of a Pell Grant?
For the purposes of OM reporting, a Pell Grant recipient is a student who received a Pell which was also partially or fully disbursed upon entry (July 1, 2013 - June 30,
2014).
39)
How are Pell Grant recipients reported in OM subcohorts?
Noting that the OM cohort coverage period is July 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014, if at any time during the OM 2013-14 cohort year a student received a disbursed Pell
Grant, this student should be counted in a Pell Grant subcohort. Do not include students in the Pell Grant subcohort if the student did not receive a Pell Grant during
the OM cohort year, but received a Pell Grant subsequent to the OM 2013-14 cohort year. If a Pell Grant recipient does not continue to receive disbursed Pell Grants
after the OM cohort year, the student remains in the OM Pell Grant subcohort because the student had a Pell Grant disbursed during the OM cohort year.
If a student received a Pell Grant as well as additional forms of student aid (i.e., Stafford/Direct loans, state or institutional loans/grant aid, scholarships, third party
loans etc.) during the OM cohort year, this student should still be included in OM’s Pell Grant recipient subcohort.
40)
What is a Non-Pell Grant recipient? What if I have students that did not get a Pell Grant, but received other forms of student aid?
For purposes of OM reporting, Non-Pell Grant recipients are students that did not receive a disbursed Pell Grant during the OM 2013-14 cohort year. Also, students
that did not receive a Pell Grant during the OM cohort year, but received other types of student aid (i.e., Stafford loans, state loans or grants, institutional grants,
scholarships, or third-party loans) would be reported in one of the Non-Pell Grant recipient subcohorts.
41)
Should my institution, which is participating as an experimental site, report high school students who have received a Pell Grant while taking college coursework?
If your institution is participating in the Pell Grant for high school students experimental site program, exclude these students from the OM reporting.
42)
For transfer-in students, do I need to track their Pell Grant awards prior to entering my institution (i.e., the Pell Grant was awarded by another institution)?
No. Tracking of the Pell Grant awards prior to entry at your institution is not necessary for OM reporting purposes.
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| File Type | application/pdf |
| Author | Lawley, Tara |
| File Modified | 2021-06-29 |
| File Created | 2021-06-29 |