Enrollment in Postsecondary 

Institutions, Fall 2012; Financial 

Statistics, Fiscal Year 2012; Graduation 

Rates, Selected Cohorts, 2004-09; 

and Employees in Postsecondary 

Institutions, Fall 2012 

First Look (Provisional Data)

NCES 2013-183 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Enrollment in Postsecondary 

Institutions, Fall 2012; 

Financial Statistics, Fiscal Year 

2012; Graduation Rates, Selected 

Cohorts, 2004-09; and Employees 

in Postsecondary Institutions, 

Fall 2012 

First Look (Provisional Data)

DECEMBER 2013

Scott A. Ginder 

Janice E. Kelly-Reid

RTI International

NCES 2013-183

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
U.S. Department of Education

Arne Duncan

Secretary

Institute of Education Sciences

John Q. Easton

Director

National Center for Education Statistics

Jack Buckley

Commissioner

Administrative Data Division

Ross Santy 

Associate Commissioner

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Suggested Citation

Ginder, S.A., and Kelly-Reid, J.E. (2013). Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2012; Financial Statistics, Fiscal Year 2012; 

Graduation Rates, Selected Cohorts, 2004-09; and Employees in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2012: First Look (Provisional Data)

(NCES 2013-183). U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved [date] 

from http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch.

Content Contact

Aurora D’Amico

(202) 502-7334

aurora.damico@ed.gov
iii

Contents 

Page 

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................1

IPEDS 2012-13 .............................................................................................................................1

Fall Enrollment .............................................................................................................................1

Finance ..........................................................................................................................................2

Graduation Rates...........................................................................................................................2

200 Percent Graduation Rates.......................................................................................................2

Human Resources .........................................................................................................................3

Selected Findings ............................................................................................................................4

Characteristics of Enrolled Students .............................................................................................4

Revenues and Expenses of Title IV Entities .................................................................................4

Graduation Rates...........................................................................................................................4

Employees in Postsecondary Institutions .....................................................................................4

Appendix A: Data Collection Procedures ............................................................................... A-1

Appendix B: Glossary of IPEDS Terms ..................................................................................B-1
1

Introduction

The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) collects institution-level data 

from postsecondary institutions in the United States (50 states and the District of Columbia) and 

other U.S. jurisdictions (see appendix A for a list of other U.S. jurisdictions). This First Look

presents findings from the provisional data of the IPEDS spring 2013 data collection, which 

included five survey components: Enrollment at postsecondary institutions during fall 2012; 

Finance, for the 2012 fiscal year; Graduation Rates of selected cohorts within 150 and 200 

percent of normal program completion time; and Human Resources at postsecondary institutions 

during fall 2012. Data for all components were collected through the IPEDS web-based data 

collection system. Detailed information about the study methodology can be found at 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2013293. 

This First Look provides users with an opportunity to access fully reviewed, edited, and imputed 

IPEDS data. Final data, including revisions to the provisional data submitted by institutions after 

the close of data collection, will be available during the following collection year (2013-14). 

The purpose of this report is to introduce new data through the presentation of tables containing 

descriptive information. Selected findings have been chosen to demonstrate the range of 

information available when using the IPEDS data rather than to discuss all of the observed 

differences, and they are not meant to emphasize any particular issue. Not all data collected 

during the spring 2013 collection are displayed in this First Look; however, all data from the 

spring 2013 collection are publicly available through the IPEDS Data Center, found at 

http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter. 

IPEDS 2012-13

Participation in IPEDS was required for institutions and administrative offices that participated 

in Title IV federal student financial aid programs such as Pell Grants or Stafford Loans during 

the 2012-13 academic year.1

Detailed definitions of terms used in this report are available in the glossary (appendix B). 

 A total of 7,416 institutions and 80 administrative offices (central or 

system offices) in the United States and other U.S. jurisdictions were expected to participate in 

the spring collection. Tables in this report focus on the 7,253 institutions and 77 administrative 

offices in the United States; however, data from institutions and administrative offices in both 

the United States and the other U.S. jurisdictions are available for download. 

Fall Enrollment

The 2013 Fall Enrollment component collected student enrollment data for fall 2012. Data were 

collected on the race/ethnicity and gender of students, attendance status, and student level 

(undergraduate or graduate). Institutions were also required to report data by state of residency, 

while student age reporting was optional. In addition, data were collected on the number of 

students enrolled exclusively in distance education courses, in any distance education courses, or 

 

1 Institutions participating in Title IV programs are accredited by an agency or organization recognized by the 

Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, have a program of more than 300 clock hours or 8 credit hours, have 

been in business for at least 2 years, and have a signed Program Participation Agreement with the Office of 

Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education. 
2

in no distance education courses. These data were reported by student level, undergraduate 

degree-seeking status, and student residence location (i.e., in the same state or jurisdiction as the 

institution; in a different state or jurisdiction as the institution; outside the U.S.; or unknown). 

Retention rates and student-faculty ratios were also collected via the Fall Enrollment component. 

Finance

The 2013 Finance component collected financial statistics, such as institutional revenues and 

expenses, for the most recent fiscal year ending prior to October 2012 (fiscal year 2012). The 

Finance component is designed to follow the format of institutional financial statements 

suggested by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Governmental 

Accounting Standards Board (GASB). Most public institutions and administrative offices follow 

GASB, so the figures in this report for public entities2

 represent those following GASB 

standards.3 Aggregate totals for public entities using FASB standards are included in the 

footnotes of tables displaying Finance data. All private entities use FASB standards.

Graduation Rates

The 2013 Graduation Rates (GR) component collected counts of full-time, first-time4

200 Percent Graduation Rates 

degree/

certificate-seeking undergraduate students beginning their postsecondary education in the 

specific cohort year and their completion status as of August 31, 2012 (150 percent of normal 

program completion time) at the same institution where the students started. Four-year 

institutions used 2006 as the cohort year, while less-than-4-year institutions used 2009 as the 

cohort year. For 4-year institutions operating on standard academic terms (semester, trimester, 

quarter), students beginning in cohort year 2006 are those who were first-time students in the fall 

of the 2006-07 academic year. For 4-year institutions operating on other than standard academic 

terms, students beginning in cohort year 2006 are those who were first-time students between 

September 1, 2006, and August 31, 2007. Similarly, for less-than-4-year institutions operating on 

standard academic terms, students beginning in cohort year 2009 are those who were first-time 

students in the fall of the 2009-10 academic year. For less-than-4-year institutions operating on 

other than standard academic terms, students beginning in cohort year 2009 are those who were 

first-time students between September 1, 2009, and August 31, 2010. 

The 200 Percent Graduation Rates (GR200) component was designed to provide information on 

how the graduation rates of institutions change when examined at 200 percent of normal program 

completion time instead of 150 percent time. Because of the longer period under examination, 

this component examines outcomes of students entering the institutions in a different cohort year 

than the GR component. Four-year institutions use cohort year 2006 for the GR component, but 

cohort year 2004 for the GR200 component; less-than-4-year institutions use cohort year 2009 

for the GR component, but cohort year 2008 for the GR200 component. Data for the GR200 

component cohorts of students at 150 percent time were reported in prior IPEDS GR component 

collections, so for the GR200 component collection, previously reported data are combined with 

 

2

 Throughout this publication, the term “entity” refers to both institutions and administrative offices. 3 Ninety-nine percent of public institutions used GASB, and 1 percent used FASB. 4 Throughout this publication, the term “first-time” refers to students with no prior postsecondary experience 

attending any institution for the first time at the undergraduate level. See appendix B, Glossary, for further definition 

of a first-time student.
3

new items measuring changes in outcomes between 151 and 200 percent time. From the GR 

component data about the GR200 cohort (collected during the 2010-11 IPEDS collection for 4-

year institutions and during the 2011-12 IPEDS collection for less-than-4-year institutions), the 

following elements were obtained: the number of students entering the institution as full-time, 

first-time degree/certificate-seeking students in a cohort year; the number of students in this 

cohort completing within 100 and 150 percent of normal program completion time; and the 

number of cohort exclusions. Then the count of additional cohort exclusions and additional 

program completers between 151 and 200 percent of normal program completion time was 

collected. Four-year institutions only report on bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking students 

in the 2004 cohort, while less-than-4-year institutions report on all students in the 2008 cohort. 

Human Resources

The Human Resources (HR) component of IPEDS collects data on the number of staff on the 

institution’s payroll as of November 1, 2012. Institutions were required to report staff counts by 

employment status (full or part time), faculty status, and occupational category; reporting of staff 

counts by race/ethnicity and gender was optional. In addition to counts of staff, the HR 

component collects salary information for full-time staff. 

In 2012-13, new occupational categories replaced the primary function/occupational activity 

categories previously used in the IPEDS HR component. The change was required to align the 

IPEDS HR categories with the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) system. 

Detailed information on the IPEDS HR component and how it relates to the 2010 SOC system 

can be found at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/resource/soc.asp. 
4

Selected Findings

Characteristics of Enrolled Students

• In fall 2012, Title IV institutions enrolled 18.2 million undergraduate and 2.9 million 

graduate students (table 1). Of the 18.2 million undergraduates, 58 percent were enrolled in 

4-year institutions, 40 percent in 2-year institutions, and 2 percent in less-than-2-year 

institutions.

Revenues and Expenses of Title IV Entities

•

•

In fiscal year 2012, public 4-year institutions and administrative offices received 21 percent 

of their revenues from tuition and fees, compared with 39 percent at private nonprofit entities 

and 89 percent at private for-profit entities (table 2). 

During the same period, 29 percent of expenses at public 4-year entities were for instruction, 

compared with 42 percent at public 2-year entities and 50 percent at public less-than-2-year 

entities (table 2). 

Graduation Rates

•

•

Approximately 59 percent of full-time, first-time students at 4-year institutions in 2006 who 

were seeking a bachelor’s or equivalent degree completed a bachelor’s or equivalent degree 

within 6 years at the institution where they began their studies (table 3). 

Graduation rates for undergraduates who were full-time, first-time students in 2008 increased 

from 21 percent to 38 percent at 2-year institutions and from 46 percent to 69 percent at lessthan-2-year institutions when the time students were tracked for program completion was 

extended from within 100 percent of normal time to within 200 percent of normal time 

(table 4). 

Employees in Postsecondary Institutions

• Title IV institutions and administrative offices reported employing approximately 4.0 million 

individuals in fall 2012 (table 5). Of the 4.0 million individuals, about 2.5 million were 

reported to be employed full time and about 1.5 million were reported to be employed part 

time.
5

Table 1. Enrollment at Title IV institutions, by control of institution, student level, level of institution, 

and other selected characteristics: United States, fall 2012

Student level, level of institution, 

attendance status, gender, and 

race/ethnicity

Total Public

Private

Nonprofit For-profit

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Total students 21,147,055 100.0 14,996,482 100.0 3,975,542 100.0 2,175,031 100.0

4-year 13,479,274 63.7 8,092,727 54.0 3,916,356 98.5 1,470,191 67.6

2-year 7,306,075 34.5 6,845,174 45.6 47,524 1.2 413,377 19.0

Less-than-2-year 361,706 1.7 58,581 0.4 11,662 0.3 291,463 13.4

Full time 13,130,697 62.1 8,589,613 57.3 2,977,670 74.9 1,563,414 71.9

Part time 8,016,358 37.9 6,406,869 42.7 997,872 25.1 611,617 28.1

Men 9,083,424 43.0 6,638,326 44.3 1,687,770 42.5 757,328 34.8

Women 12,063,631 57.0 8,358,156 55.7 2,287,772 57.5 1,417,703 65.2

American Indian or Alaska Native 168,880 0.8 130,023 0.9 21,057 0.5 17,800 0.8

Asian 1,140,790 5.4 864,775 5.8 217,553 5.5 58,462 2.7

Black or African American 2,864,723 13.5 1,871,340 12.5 451,950 11.4 541,433 24.9

Hispanic or Latino 2,910,150 13.8 2,284,365 15.2 310,573 7.8 315,212 14.5

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific 

Islander 61,641 0.3 40,433 0.3 9,456 0.2 11,752 0.5

White 11,441,554 54.1 8,304,704 55.4 2,292,434 57.7 844,416 38.8

Two or more races 486,171 2.3 358,313 2.4 82,762 2.1 45,096 2.1

Race/ethnicity unknown 1,290,772 6.1 644,509 4.3 329,496 8.3 316,767 14.6

Nonresident alien 782,374 3.7 498,020 3.3 260,261 6.5 24,093 1.1

Undergraduate 18,236,340 100.0 13,589,838 100.0 2,766,756 100.0 1,879,746 100.0

4-year 10,568,559 58.0 6,686,083 49.2 2,707,570 97.9 1,174,906 62.5

Full time 8,155,303 44.7 5,136,736 37.8 2,220,761 80.3 797,806 42.4

Part time 2,413,256 13.2 1,549,347 11.4 486,809 17.6 377,100 20.1

Men 4,669,209 25.6 3,060,289 22.5 1,157,393 41.8 451,527 24.0

Women 5,899,350 32.3 3,625,794 26.7 1,550,177 56.0 723,379 38.5

American Indian or Alaska 

Native 77,623 0.4 51,640 0.4 15,593 0.6 10,390 0.6

Asian 572,686 3.1 413,636 3.0 133,368 4.8 25,682 1.4

Black or African American 1,360,832 7.5 762,312 5.6 318,133 11.5 280,387 14.9

Hispanic or Latino 1,231,567 6.8 867,851 6.4 226,669 8.2 137,047 7.3

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific 

Islander 29,273 0.2 16,254 0.1 6,733 0.2 6,286 0.3

White 6,014,384 33.0 3,928,809 28.9 1,620,251 58.6 465,324 24.8

Two or more races 266,427 1.5 176,324 1.3 63,321 2.3 26,782 1.4

Race/ethnicity unknown 660,433 3.6 249,148 1.8 201,749 7.3 209,536 11.1

Nonresident alien 355,334 1.9 220,109 1.6 121,753 4.4 13,472 0.7

2-year 7,306,075 40.1 6,845,174 50.4 47,524 1.7 413,377 22.0

Full time 3,053,552 16.7 2,649,669 19.5 37,970 1.4 365,913 19.5

Part time 4,252,523 23.3 4,195,505 30.9 9,554 0.3 47,464 2.5

Men 3,112,031 17.1 2,954,302 21.7 15,597 0.6 142,132 7.6

Women 4,194,044 23.0 3,890,872 28.6 31,927 1.2 271,245 14.4

American Indian or Alaska 

Native 73,250 0.4 68,466 0.5 936 # 3,848 0.2

Asian 384,182 2.1 369,422 2.7 1,829 0.1 12,931 0.7

Black or African American 1,085,771 6.0 979,272 7.2 11,784 0.4 94,715 5.0

Hispanic or Latino 1,403,619 7.7 1,309,047 9.6 5,549 0.2 89,023 4.7

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific 

Islander 24,446 0.1 21,803 0.2 185 # 2,458 0.1

White 3,712,719 20.4 3,526,559 25.9 24,362 0.9 161,798 8.6

Two or more races 168,035 0.9 158,643 1.2 654 # 8,738 0.5

Race/ethnicity unknown 360,134 2.0 320,755 2.4 1,312 # 38,067 2.0

Nonresident alien 93,919 0.5 91,207 0.7 913 # 1,799 0.1

See notes at end of table.
6

Table 1. Enrollment at Title IV institutions, by control of institution, student level, level of institution, 

and other selected characteristics: United States, fall 2012—Continued

Student level, level of institution, 

attendance status, gender, and 

race/ethnicity

Total Public

Private

Nonprofit For-profit

Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Less-than-2-year 361,706 2.0 58,581 0.4 11,662 0.4 291,463 15.5

Full time 282,282 1.5 29,702 0.2 10,379 0.4 242,201 12.9

Part time 79,424 0.4 28,879 0.2 1,283 # 49,262 2.6

Men 96,927 0.5 25,871 0.2 4,285 0.2 66,771 3.6

Women 264,779 1.5 32,710 0.2 7,377 0.3 224,692 12.0

American Indian or Alaska 

Native 4,038 # 2,478 # 84 # 1,476 0.1

Asian 13,164 0.1 2,139 # 1,331 # 9,694 0.5

Black or African American 89,490 0.5 6,162 # 2,886 0.1 80,442 4.3

Hispanic or Latino 82,617 0.5 8,412 0.1 4,052 0.1 70,153 3.7

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific 

Islander 1,807 # 254 # 53 # 1,500 0.1

White 145,342 0.8 36,513 0.3 2,882 0.1 105,947 5.6

Two or more races 6,194 # 1,004 # 110 # 5,080 0.3

Race/ethnicity unknown 18,134 0.1 1,512 # 216 # 16,406 0.9

Nonresident alien 920 # 107 # 48 # 765 #

Graduate 2,910,715 100.0 1,406,644 100.0 1,208,786 100.0 295,285 100.0

Full time 1,639,560 56.3 773,506 55.0 708,560 58.6 157,494 53.3

Part time 1,271,155 43.7 633,138 45.0 500,226 41.4 137,791 46.7

Men 1,205,257 41.4 597,864 42.5 510,495 42.2 96,898 32.8

Women 1,705,458 58.6 808,780 57.5 698,291 57.8 198,387 67.2

American Indian or Alaska Native 13,969 0.5 7,439 0.5 4,444 0.4 2,086 0.7

Asian 170,758 5.9 79,578 5.7 81,025 6.7 10,155 3.4

Black or African American 328,630 11.3 123,594 8.8 119,147 9.9 85,889 29.1

Hispanic or Latino 192,347 6.6 99,055 7.0 74,303 6.1 18,989 6.4

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific 

Islander 6,115 0.2 2,122 0.2 2,485 0.2 1,508 0.5

White 1,569,109 53.9 812,823 57.8 644,939 53.4 111,347 37.7

Two or more races 45,515 1.6 22,342 1.6 18,677 1.5 4,496 1.5

Race/ethnicity unknown 252,071 8.7 73,094 5.2 126,219 10.4 52,758 17.9

Nonresident alien 332,201 11.4 186,597 13.3 137,547 11.4 8,057 2.7

# Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Title IV institutions are those with 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. Though they are not Title IV eligible, four of the U.S. service 

academies are included in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) universe because they are federally 

funded and open to the public. Students who self-identify with more than one race are included in the Two or more races category. 

Students of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity are included in the Hispanic or Latino category regardless of race. Percentages in the 

columns of this table use the corresponding count in the appropriate total row of each section as the denominator. Definitions for 

terms used in this table may be found in the IPEDS online glossary located at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/glossary. Detail may not sum 

to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS, Spring 2013, Enrollment component 

(provisional data).
7

Table 2. Revenues and expenses of Title IV institutions and administrative offices, by level and control 

of institution or administrative office, accounting standards utilized, and source of funds: 

United States, fiscal year 2012

Source of funds

4-year 2-year Less-than-2-year

Revenues or 

expenses

(in thousands) Percent

Revenues or 

expenses 

(in thousands) Percent

Revenues or 

expenses 

(in thousands) Percent

Public (GASB standards1)

Total revenues and other s ources $251,253,235 100.0 $56,778,852 100.0 $863,956 100.0

Operating revenues 162,115,083 64.5 16,569,678 29.2 340,953 39.5

Tuition and fees (net of allowances and 

discounts) 52,915,797 21.1 9,508,664 16.7 169,097 19.6

Grants and contracts 40,572,326 16.1 4,050,114 7.1 128,463 14.9

Federal (excludes FDSL loans) 25,852,870 10.3 1,950,112 3.4 29,042 3.4

State 5,152,571 2.1 1,516,098 2.7 62,052 7.2

Local 2,440,218 1.0 330,273 0.6 35,739 4.1

Private 7,126,668 2.8 253,630 0.4 1,630 0.2

Sales and services of auxiliary enterprises after 

deducting discounts and allowances 21,517,565 8.6 2,034,639 3.6 0 0.0

Sales and services of hospitals 31,096,132 12.4 0 0.0 0 0.0

Sales and services of educational activities 7,304,633 2.9 173,555 0.3 8,086 0.9

Independent operations 1,314,272 0.5 0 0.0 0 0.0

Other operating revenues 7,394,358 2.9 802,707 1.4 35,308 4.1

Nonoperating revenues 76,113,114 30.3 37,619,779 66.3 505,932 58.6

Appropriations 47,272,524 18.8 23,158,151 40.8 358,270 41.5

Federal 1,691,937 0.7 120,613 0.2 24,111 2.8

State 45,066,369 17.9 13,245,605 23.3 157,693 18.3

Local 514,218 0.2 9,791,933 17.2 176,467 20.4

Nonoperating grants 13,793,608 5.5 13,313,701 23.4 110,829 12.8

Federal 11,264,322 4.5 12,038,015 21.2 101,878 11.8

State 2,398,688 1.0 1,173,821 2.1 8,010 0.9

Local 130,598 0.1 101,864 0.2 941 0.1

Gifts 5,679,621 2.3 264,424 0.5 3,589 0.4

Investment income 5,875,943 2.3 176,908 0.3 2,206 0.3

Other nonoperating revenues 3,491,418 1.4 706,594 1.2 31,039 3.6

Total other revenues and additions2 13,025,038 5.2 2,589,395 4.6 17,070 2.0

Capital appropriations 3,884,832 1.5 1,659,672 2.9 —- —-

Capital grants and gifts 3,357,088 1.3 367,232 0.6 —- —-

Additions to permanent endowments 815,973 0.3 9,614 # —- —-

Other revenues and additions 4,967,146 2.0 543,362 1.0 —- —-

Total expens es $241,725,140 100.0 $54,608,113 100.0 $757,342 100.0

Instruction 69,933,594 28.9 22,959,846 42.0 379,818 50.2

Research 32,499,514 13.4 24,021 # 0 0.0

Public service 12,390,629 5.1 942,378 1.7 3,195 0.4

Academic support 19,351,103 8.0 4,504,178 8.2 58,452 7.7

Student services 11,099,038 4.6 5,513,792 10.1 71,635 9.5

Institutional support 20,473,167 8.5 8,543,192 15.6 161,702 21.4

Scholarships and fellowships (excluding discounts 

and allowances) 9,722,939 4.0 6,930,195 12.7 26,181 3.5

Auxiliary enterprises 24,940,612 10.3 2,752,191 5.0 0 0.0

Hospital services 30,654,517 12.7 0 0.0 0 0.0

Independent operations 1,268,838 0.5 0 0.0 0 0.0

Other expenses and deductions 9,391,190 3.9 2,438,322 4.5 56,359 7.4

See notes at end of table.
8

Table 2. Revenues and expenses of Title IV institutions and administrative offices, by level and control 

of institution or administrative office, accounting standards utilized, and source of funds: 

United States, fiscal year 2012—Continued

Source of funds

4-year 2-year Less-than-2-year

Revenues or 

expenses

(in thousands) Percent

Revenues or 

expenses

(in thousands) Percent

Revenues or 

expenses

(in thousands) Percent

Private nonprofit (FASB standards)

Total revenues and inves tment return $161,281,698 100.0 $726,348 100.0 $150,716 100.0

Tuition and fees 62,585,357 38.8 516,418 71.1 89,537 59.4

Government appropriations 912,213 0.6 19,477 2.7 154 0.1

Federal 476,758 0.3 12,406 1.7 5 #

State 433,841 0.3 6,495 0.9 0 0.0

Local 1,615 # 577 0.1 149 0.1

Government grants and contracts 18,952,997 11.8 67,194 9.3 46,997 31.2

Federal 17,435,080 10.8 56,301 7.8 40,153 26.6

State 1,126,336 0.7 9,937 1.4 5,244 3.5

Local 391,580 0.2 955 0.1 1,600 1.1

Private gifts 15,608,913 9.7 29,738 4.1 2,382 1.6

Private grants and contracts 4,446,684 2.8 6,655 0.9 2,243 1.5

Contributions from affiliated entities 1,528,442 0.9 16,434 2.3 1,945 1.3

Investment return 4,540,196 2.8 5,826 0.8 150 0.1

Sales and services of educational activities 5,080,357 3.1 9,218 1.3 3,200 2.1

Sales and services of auxiliary enterprises 15,471,108 9.6 28,325 3.9 0 0.0

Hospital revenue 18,667,425 11.6 0 0.0 0 0.0

Independent operations revenue 6,187,151 3.8 0 0.0 0 0.0

Other revenue 7,300,856 4.5 27,062 3.7 4,108 2.7

Total expens es $159,295,254 100.0 $739,481 100.0 $140,822 100.0

Instruction 52,015,261 32.7 297,010 40.2 66,075 46.9

Research 17,429,483 10.9 692 0.1 275 0.2

Public service 2,332,440 1.5 2,160 0.3 1,657 1.2

Academic support 14,135,853 8.9 61,250 8.3 12,480 8.9

Student services 12,796,390 8.0 93,971 12.7 9,440 6.7

Institutional support 21,004,823 13.2 180,621 24.4 33,235 23.6

Net grant aid to students 843,429 0.5 2,332 0.3 0 0.0

Auxiliary enterprises 14,924,473 9.4 23,613 3.2 0 0.0

Hospital services 15,483,513 9.7 0 0.0 0 0.0

Independent operations 5,450,073 3.4 0 0.0 0 0.0

Other expenses 2,879,516 1.8 77,833 10.5 17,660 12.5

Private for-profit (FASB standards)

Total revenues and inves tment return $21,204,816 100.0 $6,919,595 100.0 $4,072,231 100.0

Tuition and fees 18,942,669 89.3 6,096,934 88.1 3,279,796 80.5

Government appropriations, grants, and contracts 1,214,717 5.7 503,595 7.3 415,597 10.2

Federal 1,143,845 5.4 468,605 6.8 404,874 9.9

State and local 70,872 0.3 34,990 0.5 10,724 0.3

Private grants and contracts 7,298 # 2,600 # 4,158 0.1

Investment income and investment gains (losses) 30,546 0.1 6,134 0.1 6,327 0.2

Sales and services of educational activities 308,909 1.5 112,838 1.6 260,671 6.4

Sales and services of auxiliary enterprises 404,301 1.9 107,063 1.5 0 0.0

Other revenue 296,375 1.4 90,431 1.3 105,681 2.6

Total expens es $17,730,800 100.0 $6,360,413 100.0 $3,531,426 100.0

Instruction 4,000,492 22.6 1,973,261 31.0 1,347,137 38.1

Research and public service 37,912 0.2 7,064 0.1 15,402 0.4

Academic support, student services, and 

institutional support 12,403,955 70.0 3,497,388 55.0 1,677,298 47.5

See notes at end of table.
9

Table 2. Revenues and expenses of Title IV institutions and administrative offices, by level and control 

of institution or administrative office, accounting standards utilized, and source of funds: 

United States, fiscal year 2012—Continued

Source of funds

4-year 2-year Less-than-2-year

Revenues or 

expenses

(in thousands) Percent

Revenues or 

expenses 

(in thousands) Percent

Revenues or 

expenses 

(in thousands) Percent

Private for-profit (FASB standards)—Continued

Total expenses—Continued

Net grant aid to students 51,818 0.3 3,914 0.1 8,917 0.3

Auxiliary enterprises 349,405 2.0 140,004 2.2 0 0.0

Other expenses 887,218 5.0 738,782 11.6 482,672 13.7

— Not available. Non-degree-granting institutions and administrative offices report the total other revenues and additions, but not the 

details. 

# Rounds to zero.

1

In addition to the public institutions using Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards, 22 public institutions (1.1

percent of public institutions) not displayed in this table reported $9.9 billion in revenue and investment return and $9.8 billion in 

expenses using Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) standards. 2

Non-degree-granting institutions report the total other revenues and additions, but not the details. As a result, the details will not sum 

to the total.

NOTE: Title IV institutions are those with 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. Though they are not Title IV eligible, four of the U.S. service 

academies are included in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) universe because they are federally 

funded and open to the public. Due to differences between GASB standards and FASB standards, figures from public institutions and 

administrative offices are not comparable to figures from private entities, even in categories with identical labels. Percentages in the 

columns of this table use the corresponding dollar amount in the appropriate total row of each section as the denominator. Definitions 

for terms used in this table may be found in the IPEDS online glossary located at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/glossary. Detail may not 

sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS, Spring 2013, Finance component 

(provisional data).
10

Table 3. Graduation rates at Title IV institutions where the students started as full-time, first-time students, 

by race/ethnicity, level and control of institution, and gender: United States, cohort years 2006 and 

2009

Level and control of 

institution and gender

Overall 

(%) 

American 

Indian or 

Alaska 

Native

(%) 

Asian

(%)

Black or 

African 

American 

(%)

Hispanic 

or Latino 

(%)

Native 

Hawaiian 

or Other

Pacific 

Islander 

(%)

White 

(%)

Two or 

more

races 

(%)

Race/

ethnicity

unknown 

(%) 

Nonresident 

alien 

(%)

Total 4-year ins titutions 

(cohort year 2006)1 55.7 37.2 69.0 37.4 48.3 42.8 60.0 63.3 45.3 60.3

Public 54.8 35.9 67.1 37.2 45.6 43.1 58.3 53.3 54.4 54.9

Men 52.0 33.2 63.9 32.1 41.3 41.3 55.5 51.9 51.9 51.1

Women 57.2 38.1 70.2 40.5 48.8 44.7 60.7 54.4 56.6 59.5

Private nonprofit 64.6 45.7 76.4 44.0 60.2 52.6 67.4 77.0 59.5 71.7

Men 62.0 42.3 75.1 38.9 57.2 48.5 64.9 75.6 57.4 68.6

Women 66.6 48.0 77.3 47.8 62.1 55.3 69.3 77.8 61.4 75.1

Private for-profit 33.6 31.4 50.2 27.3 42.8 30.6 39.4 41.7 21.3 30.3

Men 35.7 26.5 50.4 28.1 39.8 30.5 41.6 41.9 23.9 35.0

Women 32.4 33.5 50.1 26.8 44.7 30.7 37.9 41.5 20.0 26.8

Bachelor’s or equivalent 

degree-seekers

attending 4-year 

ins titutions and 

completing bachelor’s 

or equivalent degree 

(cohort year 2006) 59.2 40.2 70.6 40.2 51.9 48.5 62.5 66.6 53.9 63.6

Public 57.2 38.2 68.5 39.7 49.5 49.1 60.2 57.0 56.5 57.7

Men 54.4 35.2 65.4 34.2 45.0 47.2 57.4 56.1 54.2 53.7

Women 59.6 40.5 71.5 43.3 52.9 50.7 62.7 57.8 58.5 62.6

Private nonprofit 65.5 51.3 77.5 44.5 62.0 52.6 68.1 77.5 60.2 71.9

Men 62.9 48.6 76.3 39.2 58.7 49.2 65.6 76.2 57.7 68.8

Women 67.6 52.9 78.4 48.5 64.2 55.0 70.1 78.3 62.2 75.4

Private for-profit 31.5 18.8 44.4 21.1 33.7 25.2 40.3 32.4 21.1 35.5

Men 35.4 19.6 45.5 23.5 35.3 27.6 43.9 34.6 22.8 37.4

Women 28.0 18.2 43.3 19.5 32.1 23.5 35.8 29.3 19.9 33.9

Total 2-year ins titutions 

(cohort year 2009) 33.3 28.6 38.0 28.5 38.6 28.0 32.9 33.1 33.5 34.9

Public 21.2 18.4 28.0 13.2 17.5 13.4 24.0 20.8 18.2 32.7

Men 20.7 19.1 26.1 13.1 16.2 14.2 23.5 18.8 17.4 29.9

Women 21.7 17.8 30.3 13.3 18.6 12.6 24.6 22.6 19.0 35.4

Private nonprofit 62.3 31.0 61.5 58.9 64.6 64.5 67.0 66.5 37.0 50.3

Men 55.6 25.0 52.8 51.4 58.9 44.4 60.2 55.4 45.5 45.3

Women 65.7 34.2 65.7 62.0 67.1 72.7 71.0 71.4 29.3 54.7

Private for-profit 63.0 60.1 72.3 53.2 68.4 64.8 65.6 58.7 59.7 62.4

Men 59.9 58.8 69.4 49.7 64.1 59.1 63.9 53.5 52.1 61.9

Women 64.8 61.1 74.2 55.0 70.8 68.3 66.8 61.8 63.5 62.8

See notes at end of table.
11

Table 3. Graduation rates at Title IV institutions where the students started as full-time, first-time students, by 

race/ethnicity, level and control of institution, and gender: United States, cohort years 2006 and 

2009—Continued

Level and control of 

institution and gender

Overall 

(%) 

American 

Indian or 

Alaska 

Native 

(%) 

Asian 

(%)

Black or 

African 

American 

(%)

Hispanic 

or Latino 

(%)

Native 

Hawaiian 

or Other

Pacific 

Islander 

(%)

White 

(%)

Two or 

more 

races 

(%)

Race/

ethnicity

unknown 

(%) 

Nonresident

alien 

(%) 

Les s-than-2-year ins titutions 

(cohort year 2009) 66.6 — — — — — — — — —

Public 71.9 — — — — — — — — —

Private nonprofit 75.7 — — — — — — — — —

Private for-profit 65.6 — — — — — — — — —

— Not available. Graduation rates data are not collected by race/ethnicity or gender for less-than-2-year institutions. 1

The total 4-year institution cohort contains all full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates, regardless of the level of the 

award sought.

NOTE: Title IV institutions are those with 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. Though they are not Title IV eligible, four of the U.S. service academies are 

included in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) universe because they are federally funded and open to the 

public. The rates in this table reflect graduation rates at institutions regardless of the length of programs, unless otherwise indicated. The 

graduation rate was calculated as required for disclosure and reporting purposes under the Student Right-to-Know Act. This rate was 

calculated as the total number of completers within 150 percent of normal time divided by the adjusted cohort (revised cohort minus any 

allowable exclusions). The revised cohort is the number of students entering the institution as full-time, first-time degree- or certificateseeking undergraduates in the reference year. Allowable exclusions include those students who died or were totally and permanently 

disabled; those who left school to serve in the armed forces; those who left to serve with a foreign aid service of the federal government, 

such as the Peace Corps; and those who left to serve on official church missions. Students who self-identify with more than one race are 

included in the Two or more races category. Students of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity are included in the Hispanic or Latino category 

regardless of race. Definitions for terms used in this table may be found in the IPEDS online glossary located at 

http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/glossary. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS, Spring 2013, Graduation Rates component

(provisional data).
12

Table 4. Graduation rates of students at the Title IV institution where the students 

started as full-time, first-time students, by control of institution, degree or 

certificate sought, level of institution, and specified time to graduation: 

United States, cohort years 2004 and 2008

Degree or certificate sought, level of 

institution, and specified time to graduation

Overall

(%)

Public

(%)

Private

Nonprofit

(%)

For-profit

(%)

Bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seekers 

attending 4-year institutions and 

completing bachelor’s or equivalent 

degree (cohort year 2004)

Within 100% of normal program 

completion time 38.1 31.4 52.7 20.3

Within 150% of normal program 

completion time 58.4 56.1 65.5 28.2

Within 200% of normal program 

completion time 60.9 59.2 66.9 29.6

Degree- or certificate-seekers attending 

2-year institutions and completing a 

degree or certificate (cohort year 2008)

Within 100% of normal program 

completion time 21.2 12.2 37.1 43.1

Within 150% of normal program 

completion time 33.9 22.0 57.4 62.9

Within 200% of normal program 

completion time 38.3 27.5 59.6 64.6

Certificate-seekers attending less-than2-year institutions and completing a 

certificate (cohort year 2008)

Within 100% of normal program 

completion time 45.7 59.0 53.5 43.5

Within 150% of normal program 

completion time 67.0 69.6 76.6 66.2

Within 200% of normal program 

completion time 69.0 74.7 78.0 67.8

NOTE: Title IV institutions are those with 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. Though they are 

not Title IV eligible, four of the U.S. service academies are included in the Integrated Postsecondary 

Education Data System (IPEDS) universe because they are federally funded and open to the public. The 

rates in this table reflect graduation rates at institutions regardless of the length of programs, unless 

otherwise indicated. The graduation rate was calculated as required for disclosure and reporting purposes 

under the Student Right-to-Know Act. This rate was calculated as the total number of completers within the 

specified program completion time divided by the adjusted cohort (revised cohort minus any allowable 

exclusions). The revised cohort is the number of students entering the institution as full-time, first-time 

degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates in the reference year. Allowable exclusions include those 

students who died or were totally and permanently disabled; those who left school to serve in the armed 

forces; those who left to serve with a foreign aid service of the federal government, such as the Peace 

Corps; and those who left to serve on official church missions. Definitions for terms used in this table may be 

found in the IPEDS online glossary located at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/glossary. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS, Spring 2013, 

200 Percent Graduation Rates component (provisional data).
Table 5. Number of staff at Title IV institutions and administrative offices, by control and level of institution, occupational category, and 

employment status: United States, fall 2012

Staff by occupation

Private

Public Nonprofit For-profit

4-year

2-year

Lessthan-2-

year

4-year

2-year

Lessthan-2-

year

4-year

2-year

Lessthan-2-

year

All 

institutions

Staff not in 

medical 

schools

Medical 

school 

staff

Staff not in 

medical 

schools

Medical 

school 

staff

Staff not in 

medical 

schools

Medical 

school 

staff

Total staff 3,976,803 1,648,006 224,192 649,982 12,668 962,075 171,982 9,001 2,282 180,182 † 78,734 37,699

Full-time 2,512,839 1,076,251 181,258 305,450 7,226 642,980 146,704 5,602 1,590 80,778 † 37,899 27,101

Part-time 1,463,964 571,755 42,934 344,532 5,442 319,095 25,278 3,399 692 99,404 † 40,835 10,598

Postsecondary teachers 1,565,493 510,871 77,484 372,698 6,071 376,916 58,981 4,627 995 109,418 † 28,862 18,570

Full-time 800,213 326,216 64,923 114,911 2,458 197,442 50,300 2,250 495 16,325 † 13,548 11,345

Part-time 765,280 184,655 12,561 257,787 3,613 179,474 8,681 2,377 500 93,093 † 15,314 7,225

Librarians, curators, and 

archivists 67,278 18,820 307 6,042 33 17,705 490 142 14 1,158 † 22,479 88

Full-time 38,112 17,156 278 4,068 27 14,795 450 93 13 863 † 309 60

Part-time 29,166 1,664 29 1,974 6 2,910 40 49 1 295 † 22,170 28

Other teaching and 

instructional support 

occupations 135,337 51,748 2,330 40,230 2,039 26,247 2,477 331 114 6,130 † 2,054 1,637

Full-time 82,353 36,419 1,807 17,221 1,351 17,057 1,865 102 68 4,094 † 1,536 833

Part-time 52,984 15,329 523 23,009 688 9,190 612 229 46 2,036 † 518 804

Management occupations 260,943 97,163 10,138 33,028 824 86,125 8,828 960 295 12,753 † 6,450 4,379

Full-time 252,156 93,902 9,549 31,668 770 83,434 8,515 917 286 12,588 † 6,298 4,229

Part-time 8,787 3,261 589 1,360 54 2,691 313 43 9 165 † 152 150

Business and financial 

operations occupations 196,225 92,848 12,529 19,688 257 49,955 8,327 457 169 6,427 † 3,689 1,879

Full-time 180,117 85,785 11,316 15,685 214 47,161 7,895 390 150 6,255 † 3,519 1,747

Part-time 16,108 7,063 1,213 4,003 43 2,794 432 67 19 172 † 170 132

Computer, engineering, and 

science occupations 237,342 119,263 26,513 16,875 184 51,661 19,509 152 17 2,486 † 476 206

Full-time 214,969 108,263 23,519 14,040 134 47,707 18,196 134 16 2,370 † 415 175

Part-time 22,373 11,000 2,994 2,835 50 3,954 1,313 18 1 116 † 61 31

Community service, legal, 

arts, and media 

occupations 170,334 69,975 4,160 24,408 182 53,515 2,111 142 24 14,648 † 1,018 151

Full-time 138,533 60,297 3,420 16,306 138 41,325 1,799 114 21 14,083 † 920 110

Part-time 31,801 9,678 740 8,102 44 12,190 312 28 3 565 † 98 41

Healthcare practitioners and 

technical occupations 125,509 35,157 43,397 1,863 248 12,106 32,266 92 6 144 † 155 75

Full-time 99,538 26,316 36,179 847 122 9,270 26,595 52 4 97 † 15 41

Part-time 25,971 8,841 7,218 1,016 126 2,836 5,671 40 2 47 † 140 34

See notes at end of table.
Table 5. Number of staff at Title IV institutions and administrative offices, by control and level of institution, occupational category, and 

employment status: United States, fall 2012—Continued

Staff by occupation

Private

Public Nonprofit For-profit

4-year

2-year

Lessthan-2-

year

4-year

2-year

Lessthan-2-

year

4-year

2-year

Lessthan-2-

year

All 

institutions

Staff not in 

medical 

schools

Medical 

school 

staff

Staff not in 

medical 

schools

Medical 

school 

staff

Staff not in 

medical 

schools

Medical 

school 

staff

Service occupations 246,026 118,343 7,095 36,006 849 70,672 8,159 477 248 2,185 † 1,084 908

Full-time 204,306 102,388 6,109 25,372 546 59,044 7,560 285 223 1,614 † 675 490

Part-time 41,720 15,955 986 10,634 303 11,628 599 192 25 571 † 409 418

Sales and related 

occupations 18,402 2,640 92 2,143 17 4,195 41 232 49 3,839

†

3,204 1,950

Full-time 15,300 2,023 77 1,231 10 3,324 39 221 48 3,770 † 2,916 1,641

Part-time 3,102 617 15 912 7 871 2 11 1 69 † 288 309

Office and administrative 

support occupations 501,941 202,344 25,614 88,062 1,658 121,892 24,453 1,264 317 20,000 † 8,854 7,483

Full-time 398,870 160,353 23,205 56,934 1,273 101,478 22,435 959 253 18,322 † 7,487 6,171

Part-time 103,071 41,991 2,409 31,128 385 20,414 2,018 305 64 1,678 † 1,367 1,312

Natural resources, 

construction, and 

maintenance 

occupations 76,701 47,610 625 7,732 215 18,648 823 102 12 241 † 344 349

Full-time 71,790 45,562 605 6,274 148 17,637 778 78 10 198 † 248 252

Part-time 4,911 2,048 20 1,458 67 1,011 45 24 2 43 † 96 97

Production, transportation, 

and material moving 

occupations 20,075 13,460 329 1,196 91 4,312 284 15 22 302 † 40 24

Full-time 16,582 11,571 271 893 35 3,306 277 7 3 199 † 13 7

Part-time 3,493 1,889 58 303 56 1,006 7 8 19 103 † 27 17

Graduate assistants –

teaching plus various 

categories 355,197 267,764 13,579 11 † 68,126 5,233 8 † 451 † 25 †

Full-time † † † † † † † † † † † † †

Part-time 355,197 267,764 13,579 11 † 68,126 5,233 8 † 451 † 25 †

† Not applicable. 

NOTE: Title IV institutions are those with 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. Though they are not Title IV eligible, four of the U.S. service academies are included in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data 

System (IPEDS) universe because they are federally funded and open to the public. Military-specific occupations (SOC code 55-0000) are part of the SOC system but are 

not applicable to the IPEDS Human Resources (HR) Survey because IPEDS HR collects data on civilian staff. Definitions for terms used in this table may be found in the 

IPEDS online glossary located at Uhttp://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/glossaryU. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS, Spring 2013, Human Resources component (provisional data).
A-1

Appendix A:

Data Collection Procedures 

The spring 2013 collection was entirely web-based; data were collected between December 5, 

2012, and April 10, 2013. Data were provided by “keyholders,” institutional representatives 

appointed by institutional chief executives, who were responsible for ensuring that survey data 

submitted by the institution were correct and complete. No problems were noted during the 

spring 2012 data collection. During the collection period, the Integrated Postsecondary 

Education Data System (IPEDS) help desk was available to assist respondents with reporting the 

necessary data. 

The IPEDS universe is established during the fall collection period. There were 7,496 Title IV 

institutions and administrative offices1 located in the United States and the other jurisdictions of 

the United States, such as Puerto Rico,2

 in the 2012-13 academic year. Though they are not 

Title IV eligible, four of the U.S. service academies are included in the IPEDS universe as if they 

were Title IV institutions since they are federally funded and open to the public.3

Because Title IV institutions are the primary focus of IPEDS and they are required to respond, 

response rates for Title IV institutions in the spring 2013 IPEDS collection were high. The Fall 

Enrollment component response rate among all eligible Title IV institutions was 99.9 percent 

(7,404 institutions responded).

Data for all 

four institutions are included in the tables and counts of institutions unless otherwise indicated. 

4

 For the Finance component, the response rate was 99.8 percent 

(7,461 Title IV entities responded).5

 The Graduation Rates component response rate was 99.9 

percent (6,349 institutions responded).6 The response rate for the 200 Percent Graduation Rates 

component was 99.9 percent (5,851 institutions responded).7

 The Human Resources component 

response rate among all Title IV entities was 99.9 percent (7,490 Title IV entities responded).8

 

1 Title IV institutions and administrative offices include 7,416 institutions and 80 administrative (central or system) 

offices. The central and system offices are required to complete the Institutional Characteristics component in the 

fall, the Human Resources component in the spring, and the Finance component in the spring (if they have their own 

separate budget).

2 The other U.S. jurisdictions surveyed in IPEDS are American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, 

the Marshall Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin 

Islands.

3 The four U.S. service academies that are not Title IV eligible are the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military 

Academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 

is Title IV eligible. 

4 Five Title IV institutions that were included in the IPEDS universe were not required to respond to the Enrollment 

component because the institutions either closed or did not enroll students; hence, a total of 7,411 institutions were 

expected to respond. 5 Twenty-three institutions that were included in the IPEDS universe were not required to respond to the Finance 

component because they were not in operation during fiscal year 2012 or they closed during the collection year; 

hence, a total of 7,473 eligible Title IV entities were expected to respond. 6 A total of 6,356 institutions were expected to respond to the Graduation Rates component. 

7 A total of 5,859 institutions were expected to respond to the Graduation Rates 200 component. 

8 All 7,496 institutions and administrative offices were expected to respond to the Human Resources component. 
A-2

The National Center for Education Statistics statistical standards require that the potential for 

nonresponse bias for all institutions (including those in other jurisdictions) be analyzed for 

sectors for which the response rate is less than 85 percent. Because response rates were at least

99.9 percent for each of the survey components, no such analysis was necessary.
B-1

Appendix B:

Glossary of IPEDS Terms 

adjusted cohort: In the Graduation Rates component of the Integrated Postsecondary Education 

Data System (IPEDS), an institution’s revised cohort minus any allowable exclusions. 

administrative office: The system or central office in a multicampus environment. 

auxiliary enterprises revenues: Revenues generated by or collected from the auxiliary enterprise 

operations of the institution that exist to furnish a service to students, faculty, or staff and that charge 

a fee that is directly related to, although not necessarily equal to, the cost of the service. Auxiliary 

enterprises are managed as essentially self-supporting activities. Examples are residence halls, food 

services, student health services, intercollegiate athletics, college unions, college stores, and movie 

theaters. 

bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking cohort: In the Graduation Rates component of IPEDS, a 

cohort of students who were seeking a bachelor’s or equivalent degree upon entry. 

business and financial operations occupations: An occupational category based on the major 

group Business and Financial Operations Occupations in the 2010 Standard Occupational 

Classification (SOC) Manual (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc130000.htm). 

cohort: A specific group of students identified and tracked over time. 

cohort year: The year that a cohort of full-time, first-time students began attending college. 

community service, legal, arts, and media occupations: An occupational category based on the 

following three major groups in the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual: (1) 

Community and Social Service Occupations (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc210000.htm); (2) 

Legal Occupations (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc230000.htm); and (3) Arts, Design, 

Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc270000.htm). 

completers within 150 percent of normal time: Students who completed their program within 150 

percent of the normal (or expected) time for completion at the same institution where the student 

started. 

computer, engineering, and science occupations: An occupational category based on the following 

three major groups in the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual: (1) Computer 

and Mathematical Occupations (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc150000.htm); (2) Architecture and 

Engineering Occupations (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc170000.htm); and (3) Life, Physical, and 

Social Science Occupations (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc190000.htm). 

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). 

degree/certificate-seeking students: Students enrolled in courses for credit who are recognized by 

the institution as seeking a degree or other formal award. At the undergraduate level, this is intended 

to include students enrolled in vocational or occupational programs. 
B-2

exclusions: Those students who may be removed (deleted) from a cohort (or subcohort). For the 

Graduation Rates data collection, students may be removed from a cohort if they left the institution 

for one of the following reasons: died or were totally and permanently disabled; to serve in the armed 

forces; to serve with a foreign aid service of the federal government, such as the Peace Corps; or to 

serve on official church missions.

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, firsttime degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate students during the fall term of a given year.

Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB): FASB is recognized by the American Institute of 

Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) as the body authorized to establish accounting standards. In 

practice it defers to the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) for the setting of 

accounting standards for local and state government entities.

first-time student (undergraduate): A student with no prior postsecondary experience attending 

any institution for the first time at the undergraduate level. Includes students enrolled in academic or 

occupational programs. Also includes students enrolled in the fall term who attended college for the 

first time in the prior summer term, as well as 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. 

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 data 

for institutions that primarily offer occupational programs of varying lengths. Students must be fulltime and first-time to be considered in the cohort.

government appropriations (revenues): Revenues received by an institution through acts of a 

legislative body, except grants and contracts. These funds are for meeting current operating expenses 

and not for specific projects or programs. The most common example is a state’s general 

appropriation. Appropriations primarily to fund capital assets are classified as capital appropriations.

government grants: Transfers of money or property from a government agency to the education 

institution without a requirement to receive anything in return. These grants may take the form of 

grants to the institutions to undertake research or they may be in the form of student financial aid. 

(Used for reporting on the Finance component.)

Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB): The GASB establishes accounting 

standards for local and state entities including governmental colleges and universities.

graduate assistants (teaching): An occupational category based on the detailed occupation Graduate 

Assistant-Teaching (SOC code 25-1191) in the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 

Manual (http:// www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc251191.htm).

graduate student: A student who holds a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, and is taking courses at 

the postbaccalaureate level. These students may or may not be enrolled in graduate programs.
B-3

graduation rate: The rate required for disclosure and/or reporting purposes under the Student Rightto-Know Act. This rate is calculated as the total number of completers within 150 percent of normal 

time divided by the revised cohort minus any allowable exclusions.

healthcare practitioners and technical occupations: An occupational category based on the major 

group Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations in the 2010 Standard Occupational 

Classification (SOC) Manual (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc290000.htm).

instructional staff: An occupational category that consists of the following two functions: (1) 

instruction only and (2) instruction combined with research and/or public service.

level of institution: A classification of whether an institution’s programs are 4 years or more (4-

year), at least 2 but less than 4 years (2-year), or less than 2 years (less-than-2-year). 

librarians: An occupational category based on the broad occupation Librarians in the 2010 Standard 

Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc254020.htm).

librarians, curators, and archivists: An occupational category based on the following three broad 

occupations in the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual: (1) Librarians 

(http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc254020.htm); (2) Archivists, Curators, and Museum Technicians 

(http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc254010.htm); and (3) Library Technicians

(http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc254030.htm).

library and instructional support occupations: The occupational category Library and 

Instructional Support Occupations consists of the following four categories: 

1. Archivists, Curators, and Museum Technicians

2. Librarians

3. Library Technicians

4. Other Teachers and Instructional Support Staff

library technicians: An occupational category based on the broad occupation Library Technicians in 

the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual

(http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc254030.htm).

management occupations: An occupational category based on the major group Management 

Occupations in the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual 

(http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc110000.htm).

medical school staff: Staff employed by or staff working in the medical school (Doctor of Medicine 

[M.D.] and/or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine [D.O.]) component of a postsecondary institution or 

in a free standing medical school. Does not include staff employed by or employees working strictly 

in a hospital associated with a medical school or those who work in health or allied health schools or 

departments such as dentistry, veterinary medicine, nursing, or dental hygiene unless the health or 

allied health schools or departments are affiliated with (housed in or under the authority of) the 

medical school.

natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations: An occupational category based 

on the following three major groups in the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 

Manual: (1) Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations 

(http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc450000.htm); (2) Construction and Extraction Occupations 

(http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc470000.htm); and (3) Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 

Occupations (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc490000.htm).
B-4

nonresident alien: A person who is not a citizen or national of the United States and who is in this 

country on a visa or temporary basis and does not have the right to remain indefinitely.

normal time to completion: The amount of time necessary for a student to complete all 

requirements for a degree or certificate according to the institution’s catalog. This is typically 4 years 

(8 semesters or trimesters, or 12 quarters, excluding summer terms) for a bachelor’s degree in a 

standard term-based institution; 2 years (4 semesters or trimesters, or 6 quarters, excluding summer 

terms) for an associate’s degree in a standard term-based institution; and the various scheduled times 

for certificate programs.

office and administrative support occupations: An occupational category based on the major 

group Office and Administrative Support Occupations in the 2010 Standard Occupational 

Classification (SOC) Manual (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc430000.htm).

Office of Postsecondary Education (OPE): OPE formulates federal postsecondary education policy 

and administers programs that address critical national needs in support of its mission to increase 

access to quality postsecondary education.

other teachers and instructional support staff: An occupational category based on the following 

three minor groups in the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual: (1) Preschool, 

Primary, Secondary, and Special Education School Teachers 

(http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc250000.htm#25-2000); (2) Other Teachers and Instructors 

(http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc250000.htm#25-3000); and (3) Other Education, Training, and 

Library Occupations (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc250000.htm#25-9000).

part-time student: Undergraduate—A student enrolled for either 11 semester credits or less, or 11 

quarter credits or less, or less than 24 contact hours a week each term. Graduate—A student enrolled 

for either 8 semester credits or less, or 8 quarter credits or less, excluding those involved in thesis or 

dissertation preparation that is considered full time by the institution. 

postsecondary education: 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 academic, vocational, and continuing professional education, and excludes 

avocational and adult basic education programs.

postsecondary education institution: An institution that has as its sole purpose, or one of its 

primary missions, the provision of postsecondary education. For IPEDS, this institution must be open 

to the public. 

postsecondary teachers: An occupational category that consists of the following four functions: (1) 

instruction only; (2) instruction combined with research and/or public service; (3) research; and (4) 

public service.

postsecondary teachers (instruction combined with research and/or public service): An 

occupational category used to classify persons for whom it is not possible to differentiate between 

instruction or teaching, research, and public service because each of these functions is an integral 

component of his/her regular assignment. Regardless of title, academic rank, or tenure status, these 

employees formally spend the majority of their time providing instruction, research, and/or public 

service.
B-5

postsecondary teachers (instruction only): An occupational category used to classify persons 

whose specific assignments are customarily made for the purpose of providing instruction or 

teaching. Regardless of title, academic rank, or tenure status, these employees formally spend the 

majority of their time providing instruction or teaching.

postsecondary teachers (public service): An occupational category used to classify persons whose 

specific assignments customarily are made for the purpose of carrying out public service activities 

such as agricultural extension services, clinical services, or continuing education. Regardless of title, 

academic rank, or tenure status, these employees formally spend the majority of their time carrying 

out public service activities. This category includes employees with a public service assignment 

regardless of the location of the assignment (e.g., in the field rather than on campus).

postsecondary teachers (research): An occupational category used to classify persons whose 

specific assignments customarily are made for the purpose of conducting research. Regardless of 

title, academic rank, or tenure status, these employees formally spend the majority of their time 

conducting research.

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 nonprofit 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 nonprofit schools and those affiliated with a religious organization.

production, transportation, and material moving occupations: An occupational category based 

on the following two major groups in the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual: 

(1) Production Occupations (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc510000.htm) and (2) Transportation 

and Material Moving Occupations (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc530000.htm).

Program Participation Agreement (PPA): A written agreement between a postsecondary 

institution and the Secretary of Education. This agreement allows institutions to participate in any of 

the Title IV student assistance programs other than the State Student Incentive Grant (SSIG) and the 

National Early Intervention Scholarship and Partnership (NEISP) programs. The PPA conditions the 

initial and continued participation of an eligible institution in any Title IV program upon compliance 

with the General Provisions regulations, the individual program regulations, and any additional 

conditions specified in the program participation agreement that the Department of Education 

requires the institution to meet. Institutions with such an agreement are referred to as Title IV

institutions. 

programs of less than 2 years: Programs requiring less than 2 years of full-time-equivalent collegelevel work (4 semesters or 6 quarters) or less than 1,800 contact hours to obtain a degree, diploma, or 

certificate.

public institution: An educational institution whose programs and activities are operated by publicly 

elected or appointed school officials and which is supported largely by public funds.

race/ethnicity: Categories developed in 1997 by the Office of Management and Budget that are used 

to describe groups to which individuals belong or identify with. The categories do not denote 

scientific definitions of anthropological origins. The designations are used to categorize U.S. citizens, 

resident aliens, and other eligible noncitizens.
B-6

Individuals are asked to first designate ethnicity as 

•

•

Hispanic or Latino; or 

Not Hispanic or Latino. 

Second, individuals are asked to indicate all races that apply among the following: 

•

•

•

•

•

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Black or African American 

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

White

For reporting purposes, students that identify with more than one race are included in the Two or 

more races category.

resident alien (and other eligible noncitizens): A person who is not a citizen or national of the 

United States but who has been admitted as a legal immigrant for the purpose of obtaining permanent 

resident alien status and who holds one of the following: an alien registration card (Form I-551 or I151), a Temporary Resident Card (Form I-688), or an Arrival-Departure Record (Form I-94) with a 

notation that conveys legal immigrant status such as Section 207 Refugee, Section 208 Asylee, 

Conditional Entrant Parolee, or Cuban-Haitian.

revised cohort: Initial cohort after revisions are made. This is the number from which graduation 

and transfer-out rates are calculated. Cohorts may be revised if an institution discovers that incorrect 

data were reported in an earlier year. 

sales and related occupations: An occupational category based on the major group Sales and 

Related Occupations in the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual 

(http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc410000.htm). 

sector: One of nine institutional categories resulting from dividing the universe according to control 

and level. Control categories are public, private nonprofit, and private for-profit. Level categories are 

4 years and higher (4-year), at least 2 but less than 4 years (2-year), and less than 2 years (less-than2-year). For example: public 4-year institutions. 

service occupations: An occupational category based on the following five major groups in the 2010 

Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Manual: (1) Healthcare Support Occupations 

(http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc310000.htm); (2) Protective Service Occupations 

(http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc330000.htm); (3) Food Preparation and Serving Related 

Occupations (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc350000.htm); (4) Building and Grounds Cleaning and 

Maintenance Occupations (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc370000.htm); and (5) Personal Care and 

Service Occupations (http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc390000.htm).

state and local government grants: State and local monies awarded to the institution under state 

and local student aid programs, including the state portion of State Student Incentives Grants (SSIG) 

(used for reporting Student Financial Aid data). 

Student Right-to-Know Act: Also known as the “Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security 

Act” (P.L. 101-542), which was passed by Congress November 9, 1990. Title I, Section 103, requires 

institutions eligible for Title IV funding to disclose completion or graduation rates of certificate- or 

degree-seeking, full-time students entering an institution to all students and prospective students. 

Further, Section 104 requires each institution that participates in any Title IV program and is 
B-7

attended by students receiving athletically related student aid to annually submit a report to the 

Secretary of Education. This report is to contain, among other things, graduation/completion rates of 

all students as well as students receiving athletically related student aid by race/ethnicity and gender 

and by sport, and the average completion or graduation rate for the four most recent years. These data 

are also required to be disclosed to parents, coaches, and potential student athletes when the 

institution offers athletically related student aid. The Graduation Rates component of IPEDS was 

developed specifically to help institutions respond to these requirements. 

subcohort: A predefined subset of the initial cohort or the revised cohort established for tracking 

purposes on the Graduation Rates component of IPEDS (e.g., athletic subcohort).

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).

undergraduate student: 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 level.

2-year institution: A postsecondary institution that offers programs of at least 2 but less than 4 

years’ duration. Includes occupational and vocational schools with programs of at least 1,800 hours 

and academic institutions with programs of less than 4 years. Does not include bachelor’s degreegranting institutions where the baccalaureate program can be completed in 3 years.

4-year institution: A postsecondary institution that offers programs of at least 4 years’ duration or 

one that offers programs at or above the baccalaureate level. Includes institutions that do not offer 

undergraduate programs, but do offer programs at the postbaccalaureate certificate level or above. 

Also includes freestanding medical, law, or other professional schools.