External Reporting

Externally reported data includes data reported as part of mandatory reporting, such as Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Data that are collected by higher education associations or consortia such as the Common Data Set (CDS) and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania are externally reported data. Data reported for publications and rankings such as College Board, U.S. News & World Report and Peterson’s are externally reported data.

IPEDS, is a system of interrelated surveys conducted annually by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Pursuant to the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended, IPEDS reporting is mandatory for all institutions that participate in federal student aid programs. Mandatory annual reporting includes data about enrollment, human resources, financial aid, finance, graduation and completion rates, and institutional characteristics. These data are publicly available through College Navigator. Additional information about IPEDS survey components. 

The Common Data Set (CDS) is a collaborative effort in the higher education community that includes colleges, universities and publishers including but not limited to College Board, U.S. News & World Report, and Peterson’s. The CDS includes data points and the definitions assigned to them by the U.S. Department of Education. The data points included in the CDS are also part of various annual reporting requirements. Surveys conducted by publishers include different CDS data points as well as unique items proprietary to each publisher. The CDS Advisory Board in collaboration with data providers review CDS items annually.  For more information, please visit Common Data Sets (CDS). 

The Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP), is an association of 89 private colleges and universities in the State of Pennsylvania. AICUP conducts a variety of research and public education efforts to support government and philanthropic support for the private sector, students and institutions. For additional information, please visit AICUP.