Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, 

Fall 2011; Financial Statistics, 

Fiscal Year 2011; and Graduation Rates, 

Selected Cohorts, 2003-2008

First Look (Preliminary Data)

NCES 2012-174 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Enrollment in Postsecondary 

Institutions, Fall 2011; Financial 

Statistics, Fiscal Year 2011; 

and Graduation Rates, 

Selected Cohorts, 2003-2008 

First Look (Preliminary Data)

OCTOBER 2012

Laura G. Knapp 

Janice E. Kelly-Reid

Scott A. Ginder

RTI International

NCES 2012-174

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

Postsecondary, Adult, and Career Education Division

Sharon A. Boivin

Acting Associate Commissioner

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Suggested Citation

Knapp, L.G., Kelly-Reid, J.E., and Ginder, S.A. (2012). Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2011; Financial Statistics, 

Fiscal Year 2011; and Graduation Rates, Selected Cohorts, 2003-2008: First Look (Preliminary Data) (NCES 2012-174). 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

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Introduction ....................................................................................................................................

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1

IPEDS 2011-12 ..................................................................................................................

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1

Enrollment 1

Finance 2

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

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

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2

Selected Findings 3

Characteristics of Enrolled Students 3

Revenues and Expenses of Title IV Entities . 3

Graduation Rates................................................................................................................

............................................................................ 

.............................................................................

3

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 preliminary data of the IPEDS spring 2012 data collection, which 

included four survey components: Enrollment at postsecondary institutions during fall 2011; 

Finance, for the 2011 fiscal year; and graduation rates of selected cohorts within 150 and 200 

percent of normal program completion time. 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=2012293. 

This First Look using IPEDS preliminary data provides users with an opportunity to obtain 

access to IPEDS data soon after the close of data collection. Provisional data for this collection, 

containing fully imputed and adjudicated data, will be released approximately 3 months after the 

preliminary data. Final data, including revisions submitted by institutions after the close of data 

collection, will be available during the following collection year (2012-13). 

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 2012 collection are displayed in this First Look; however, all data from the 

spring 2012 collection are publicly available through the IPEDS Data Center, found at 

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

IPEDS 2011-12 

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 2011-12 academic year.1

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

A total of 7,398 institutions and 81 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 7,233 institutions and 78 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. 

Enrollment

The 2012 Enrollment component collected student enrollment data for fall 2011. 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 student age, while 

state of residency reporting was optional. Retention rates and student faculty ratios were also 

collected via the Enrollment component. 

 

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

Finance

The 2012 Finance component collected financial statistics, such as institutional revenues and 

expenses, for fiscal year 2011. 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

Graduation Rates

 Aggregate totals for public entities using FASB 

standards are included in the footnotes of tables displaying Finance data. All private entities use 

FASB standards.

The 2012 Graduation Rates 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, 2011 (150 percent of normal 

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

institutions used 2005 as the cohort year, while less-than-4-year institutions used 2008 as the 

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

quarter), students beginning in cohort year 2005 are those who were first-time students in the fall 

of the 2005-06 academic year. For 4-year institutions operating on other than standard academic 

terms, students beginning in cohort year 2005 are those who were first-time students between 

September 1, 2005, and August 31, 2006. Similarly, for less-than-4-year institutions operating on 

standard academic terms, students beginning in cohort year 2008 are those who were first-time 

students in the fall of the 2008-09 academic year. For less-than-4-year institutions operating on 

other than standard academic terms, students beginning in cohort year 2008 are those who were 

first-time students between September 1, 2008, and August 31, 2009. 

The 200 Percent Graduation Rates component collected counts of full-time, first-time 

degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students beginning their postsecondary education in the 

reference period and their completion status as of August 31, 2011 (200 percent of normal 

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

institutions report on bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking students and use cohort year 2003 

as the reference period, while less-than-4-year institutions report on all students in the cohort and 

use cohort year 2007 as the reference period. For 4-year institutions operating on standard 

academic terms, students beginning in cohort year 2003 are those who were first-time students in 

the fall of the 2003-04 academic year. For 4-year institutions operating on other than standard 

academic terms, students beginning in cohort year 2003 are those who were first-time students 

between September 1, 2003, and August 31, 2004. Similarly, for less-than-4-year institutions 

operating on standard academic terms, students beginning in cohort year 2007 are those who 

were first-time students in the fall of the 2007-08 academic year. For less-than-4-year institutions 

operating on other than standard academic terms, students beginning in cohort year 2007 are 

those who were first-time students between September 1, 2007, and August 31, 2008. 

 

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

Selected Findings

Characteristics of Enrolled Students

• In fall 2011, Title IV institutions enrolled 18.6 million undergraduate and 2.9 million 

graduate students (table 1). Of the 18.6 million undergraduates, 57 percent were enrolled in 

4-year institutions, 41 percent in 2-year institutions, and 2 percent in less-than-2-year 

institutions. 

Revenues and Expenses of Title IV Entities

• In fiscal year 2011, public 4-year institutions and administrative offices received 19 percent 

of their revenues from tuition and fees, compared with 29 percent at private nonprofit entities

and 90 percent at private for-profit entities (table 2). Additionally, 29 percent of expenses at 

public 4-year entities were for instruction, compared with 42 percent at public 2-year entities

and 54 percent at public less-than-2-year entities. 

Graduation Rates

•

•

Approximately 59 percent of full-time, first-time students at 4-year institutions in 2005 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 2007 increased 

from 21 percent to 37 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). 
4

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

attendance status, gender, and race/ethnicity: United States, fall 2011

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 21,554,004 100.0 15,242,412 100.0 3,954,529 100.0 2,357,063 100.0

4-year 13,493,033 62.6 8,046,131 52.8 3,887,755 98.3 1,559,147 66.1

2-year 7,662,010 35.5 7,125,944 46.8 50,717 1.3 485,349 20.6

Less-than-2-year 398,961 1.9 70,337 0.5 16,057 0.4 312,567 13.3

Full time 13,433,428 62.3 8,738,943 57.3 2,957,585 74.8 1,736,900 73.7

Part time 8,120,576 37.7 6,503,469 42.7 996,944 25.2 620,163 26.3

Men 9,208,279 42.7 6,718,118 44.1 1,673,640 42.3 816,521 34.6

Women 12,345,725 57.3 8,524,294 55.9 2,280,889 57.7 1,540,542 65.4

American Indian or Alaska Native 180,835 0.8 139,646 0.9 21,664 0.5 19,525 0.8

Asian 1,153,218 5.4 872,422 5.7 214,697 5.4 66,099 2.8

Black or African American 2,966,463 13.8 1,942,243 12.7 454,072 11.5 570,148 24.2

Hispanic or Latino 2,825,433 13.1 2,193,236 14.4 292,157 7.4 340,040 14.4

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific

 Islander 64,017 0.3 42,017 0.3 9,856 0.2 12,144 0.5

White 11,770,782 54.6 8,547,076 56.1 2,305,570 58.3 918,136 39.0

Two or more races 414,406 1.9 301,434 2.0 70,531 1.8 42,441 1.8

Race/ethnicity unknown 1,436,838 6.7 732,937 4.8 345,751 8.7 358,150 15.2

Nonresident alien 742,012 3.4 471,401 3.1 240,231 6.1 30,380 1.3

Undergraduate 18,622,488 100.0 13,820,965 100.0 2,745,893 100.0 2,055,630 100.0

4-year 10,561,517 56.7 6,624,684 47.9 2,679,119 97.6 1,257,714 61.2

Full time 8,197,873 44.0 5,116,913 37.0 2,205,339 80.3 875,621 42.6

Part time 2,363,644 12.7 1,507,771 10.9 473,780 17.3 382,093 18.6

Men 4,644,538 24.9 3,027,341 21.9 1,141,113 41.6 476,084 23.2

Women 5,916,979 31.8 3,597,343 26.0 1,538,006 56.0 781,630 38.0

American Indian or Alaska 

Native 83,139 0.4 55,436 0.4 16,087 0.6 11,616 0.6

Asian 570,063 3.1 407,652 2.9 130,497 4.8 31,914 1.6

Black or African American 1,379,521 7.4 768,708 5.6 320,933 11.7 289,880 14.1

Hispanic or Latino 1,158,073 6.2 809,880 5.9 211,572 7.7 136,621 6.6

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific 

Islander 29,345 0.2 16,110 0.1 6,824 0.2 6,411 0.3

White 6,089,133 32.7 3,967,756 28.7 1,617,492 58.9 503,885 24.5

Two or more races 218,615 1.2 140,634 1.0 53,704 2.0 24,277 1.2

Race/ethnicity unknown 708,302 3.8 259,821 1.9 212,545 7.7 235,936 11.5

Nonresident alien 325,326 1.7 198,687 1.4 109,465 4.0 17,174 0.8

2-year 7,662,010 41.1 7,125,944 51.6 50,717 1.8 485,349 23.6

Full time 3,285,418 17.6 2,812,496 20.3 40,151 1.5 432,771 21.1

Part time 4,376,592 23.5 4,313,448 31.2 10,566 0.4 52,578 2.6

Men 3,245,866 17.4 3,059,979 22.1 16,872 0.6 169,015 8.2

Women 4,416,144 23.7 4,065,965 29.4 33,845 1.2 316,334 15.4

American Indian or Alaska 

Native 79,104 0.4 73,994 0.5 1,046 # 4,064 0.2

Asian 397,743 2.1 381,657 2.8 1,957 0.1 14,129 0.7

Black or African American 1,162,756 6.2 1,040,411 7.5 12,740 0.5 109,605 5.3

Hispanic or Latino 1,385,046 7.4 1,271,252 9.2 5,589 0.2 108,205 5.3

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific 

Islander 26,607 0.1 23,097 0.2 157 # 3,353 0.2

White 3,923,203 21.1 3,710,127 26.8 25,801 0.9 187,275 9.1

Two or more races 151,594 0.8 141,453 1.0 662 # 9,479 0.5

Race/ethnicity unknown 439,771 2.4 391,689 2.8 1,456 0.1 46,626 2.3

Nonresident alien 96,186 0.5 92,264 0.7 1,309 # 2,613 0.1

See notes at end of table.
5

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

attendance status, gender, and race/ethnicity: United States, fall 2011—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 398,961 2.1 70,337 0.5 16,057 0.6 312,567 15.2

Full time 307,308 1.7 38,657 0.3 9,761 0.4 258,890 12.6

Part time 91,653 0.5 31,680 0.2 6,296 0.2 53,677 2.6

Men 108,257 0.6 30,036 0.2 5,377 0.2 72,844 3.5

Women 290,704 1.6 40,301 0.3 10,680 0.4 239,723 11.7

American Indian or Alaska 

Native 4,053 # 2,121 # 121 # 1,811 0.1

Asian 14,370 0.1 3,322 # 1,412 0.1 9,636 0.5

Black or African American 97,130 0.5 7,735 0.1 2,946 0.1 86,449 4.2

Hispanic or Latino 98,950 0.5 18,169 0.1 3,923 0.1 76,858 3.7

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific 

Islander 1,895 # 634 # 85 # 1,176 0.1

White 155,354 0.8 35,035 0.3 5,127 0.2 115,192 5.6

Two or more races 5,421 # 905 # 58 # 4,458 0.2

Race/ethnicity unknown 19,229 0.1 2,366 # 937 # 15,926 0.8

Nonresident alien 2,559 # 50 # 1,448 0.1 1,061 0.1

Graduate 2,931,516 100.0 1,421,447 100.0 1,208,636 100.0 301,433 100.0

Full time 1,642,829 56.0 770,877 54.2 702,334 58.1 169,618 56.3

Part time 1,288,687 44.0 650,570 45.8 506,302 41.9 131,815 43.7

Men 1,209,618 41.3 600,762 42.3 510,278 42.2 98,578 32.7

Women 1,721,898 58.7 820,685 57.7 698,358 57.8 202,855 67.3

American Indian or Alaska Native 14,539 0.5 8,095 0.6 4,410 0.4 2,034 0.7

Asian 171,042 5.8 79,791 5.6 80,831 6.7 10,420 3.5

Black or African American 327,056 11.2 125,389 8.8 117,453 9.7 84,214 27.9

Hispanic or Latino 183,364 6.3 93,935 6.6 71,073 5.9 18,356 6.1

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific 

Islander 6,170 0.2 2,176 0.2 2,790 0.2 1,204 0.4

White 1,603,092 54.7 834,158 58.7 657,150 54.4 111,784 37.1

Two or more races 38,776 1.3 18,442 1.3 16,107 1.3 4,227 1.4

Race/ethnicity unknown 269,536 9.2 79,061 5.6 130,813 10.8 59,662 19.8

Nonresident alien 317,941 10.8 180,400 12.7 128,009 10.6 9,532 3.2

# 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 since 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 2012, Enrollment component 

(preliminary data).
6

Table 2. Revenues and expenses of all 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 2011 

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

 1 Public (GASB standards ) 

Total revenues and other s ources $254,915,761 100.0 $58,684,706 100.0 $722,901 100.0

Operating revenues 154,282,296 60.5 16,758,019 28.6 329,200 45.5

Tuition and fees (net of allowances and 

discounts) 48,151,439 18.9 9,324,290 15.9 161,970 22.4

Grants and contracts 41,013,213 16.1 4,367,158 7.4 120,230 16.6

Federal (excludes FDSL loans) 26,265,321 10.3 2,187,391 3.7 32,010 4.4

State 5,257,264 2.1 1,582,772 2.7 56,413 7.8

Local 2,548,170 1.0 338,136 0.6 29,361 4.1

Private 6,942,458 2.7 258,860 0.4 2,447 0.3

Sales and services of auxiliary enterprises after 

deducting discounts and allowances 20,817,983 8.2 2,096,573 3.6 0 0.0

Sales and services of hospitals 28,794,434 11.3 0 0.0 0 0.0

Sales and services of educational activities 4,964,194 1.9 178,654 0.3 6,018 0.8

Independent operations 1,290,113 0.5 0 0.0 0 0.0

Other operating revenues 9,250,920 3.6 791,343 1.3 40,982 5.7

Nonoperating revenues 87,402,822 34.3 39,370,499 67.1 379,112 52.4

Appropriations 50,446,173 19.8 24,061,918 41.0 253,125 35.0

Federal 1,829,920 0.7 94,878 0.2 12,668 1.8

State 48,110,766 18.9 14,300,976 24.4 150,852 20.9

Local 505,487 0.2 9,666,064 16.5 89,606 12.4

Nonoperating grants 14,300,204 5.6 13,820,992 23.6 107,364 14.9

Federal 11,849,748 4.6 12,624,247 21.5 99,807 13.8

State 2,320,005 0.9 1,098,737 1.9 6,511 0.9

Local 130,451 0.1 98,008 0.2 1,047 0.1

Gifts 5,362,784 2.1 226,015 0.4 3,003 0.4

Investment income 12,510,238 4.9 414,101 0.7 1,766 0.2

Other nonoperating revenues 4,783,422 1.9 847,473 1.4 13,853 1.9

Total other revenues and additions2 13,230,642 5.2 2,556,188 4.4 14,589 2.0

Capital appropriations 3,880,567 1.5 1,759,459 3.0 — —

Capital grants and gifts 3,249,730 1.3 495,115 0.8 — —

Additions to permanent endowments 943,748 0.4 21,258 # — —

Other revenues and additions 5,156,596 2.0 251,487 0.4 — —

Total expens es $232,588,068 100.0 $54,991,114 100.0 $629,644 100.0

Instruction 68,071,595 29.3 22,911,324 41.7 339,020 53.8

Research 32,106,195 13.8 24,773 # 0 0.0

Public service 12,234,743 5.3 934,018 1.7 4,098 0.7

Academic support 18,292,512 7.9 4,442,054 8.1 51,945 8.2

Student services 10,514,908 4.5 5,416,667 9.9 59,281 9.4

Institutional support 20,155,149 8.7 8,430,053 15.3 101,450 16.1

Scholarships and fellowships (excluding discounts 

and allowances) 10,088,308 4.3 7,550,693 13.7 20,408 3.2

Auxiliary enterprises 24,185,207 10.4 2,789,856 5.1 0 0.0

Hospital services 27,578,548 11.9 0 0.0 0 0.0

Independent operations 1,208,077 0.5 0 0.0 0 0.0

Other expenses and deductions 8,152,826 3.5 2,491,676 4.5 53,442 8.5

See notes at end of table.
7

Table 2. Revenues and expenses of all 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 2011—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 $206,586,730 100.0 $795,581 100.0 $161,824 100.0

Tuition and fees 59,585,608 28.8 541,460 68.1 94,655 58.5

Government appropriations 942,032 0.5 19,314 2.4 241 0.1

Federal 487,004 0.2 12,060 1.5 2 #

State 453,627 0.2 6,551 0.8 0 0.0

Local 1,401 # 702 0.1 239 0.1

Government grants and contracts 19,394,528 9.4 94,111 11.8 52,112 32.2

Federal 17,698,774 8.6 77,038 9.7 42,661 26.4

State 1,238,332 0.6 16,393 2.1 7,556 4.7

Local 457,421 0.2 680 0.1 1,896 1.2

Private gifts 16,083,067 7.8 28,027 3.5 1,867 1.2

Private grants and contracts 4,377,066 2.1 3,947 0.5 3,019 1.9

Contributions from affiliated entities 1,602,747 0.8 17,576 2.2 901 0.6

Investment return 53,558,171 25.9 17,547 2.2 1,293 0.8

Sales and services of educational activities 4,988,010 2.4 9,777 1.2 3,500 2.2

Sales and services of auxiliary enterprises 14,762,886 7.1 34,712 4.4 0 0.0

Hospital revenue 17,521,091 8.5 0 0.0 0 0.0

Independent operations revenue 6,088,379 2.9 0 0.0 0 0.0

Other revenue3 7,683,145 3.7 29,110 3.7 4,237 2.6

Total expenses $151,894,113 100.0 $784,875 100.0 $156,321 100.0

Instruction 49,488,564 32.6 306,570 39.1 73,782 47.2

Research 17,378,015 11.4 304 # 302 0.2

Public service 2,252,753 1.5 2,446 0.3 1,667 1.1

Academic support 13,556,433 8.9 63,100 8.0 16,693 10.7

Student services 12,152,908 8.0 97,466 12.4 12,210 7.8

Institutional support 20,069,556 13.2 197,568 25.2 32,197 20.6

Net grant aid to students 770,983 0.5 1,653 0.2 178 0.1

Auxiliary enterprises 14,427,590 9.5 29,983 3.8 0 0.0

Hospital services 14,239,347 9.4 0 0.0 0 0.0

Independent operations 5,376,016 3.5 0 0.0 0 0.0

Other expenses 2,181,949 1.4 85,786 10.9 19,293 12.3

Private for-profit (FASB standards)

Total revenues and inves tment return $21,690,834 100.0 $7,833,127 100.0 $4,274,682 100.0

Tuition and fees 19,481,224 89.8 6,713,297 85.7 3,492,285 81.7

Government appropriations, grants, and contracts 1,231,218 5.7 590,283 7.5 426,645 10.0

Federal 1,113,185 5.1 545,969 7.0 412,748 9.7

State and local 118,033 0.5 44,314 0.6 13,898 0.3

Private grants and contracts 29,118 0.1 2,324 # 3,517 0.1

Investment income and investment gains (losses) 29,001 0.1 3,680 # 10,802 0.3

Sales and services of educational activities 346,853 1.6 124,175 1.6 245,197 5.7

Sales and services of auxiliary enterprises 405,572 1.9 137,018 1.7 0 0.0

Other revenue3 167,849 0.8 262,350 3.3 96,236 2.3

Total expens es $17,139,953 100.0 $6,558,444 100.0 $3,506,110 100.0

Instruction 3,926,150 22.9 2,126,893 32.4 1,366,419 39.0

Research and public service 15,582 0.1 5,148 0.1 16,974 0.5

Academic support, student services, and 

institutional support 12,033,826 70.2 3,367,225 51.3 1,564,015 44.6

See notes at end of table.
8

Table 2. Revenues and expenses of all 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 2011—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 expens es—Continued

Net grant aid to students 75,599 0.4 17,404 0.3 9,145 0.3

Auxiliary enterprises 343,230 2.0 143,113 2.2 0 0.0

Other expenses 745,564 4.3 898,661 13.7 549,557 15.7

— 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, 25 public institutions (1.2 

percent of public institutions) not displayed in this table reported $11.1 billion in revenue and investment return and $9.2 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.

3 Other revenue is a calculated value and may be negative if the total revenue and investment return reported is less than the sum of 

the reported data in the detail revenue and investment return categories.

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 since 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 2012, Finance component 

(preliminary data).
9

Table 3. Graduation rates at all Title IV institutions, by race/ethnicity, level and control of institution, gender, degree 

sought, and degree completed at the institution where the students started as full-time, first-time students: 

United States, cohort years 2005 and 2008

Level and control of institution, 

gender, degree sought, and 

degree completed

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 2005)1 56.1 38.5 68.1 37.9 48.0 44.9 60.2 60.8 47.7 60.2

Public 54.2 34.9 65.9 36.4 44.8 42.7 57.7 51.7 54.3 54.2

Men 51.6 33.5 62.7 31.3 41.2 42.6 55.1 49.6 51.2 50.6

Women 56.4 36.1 68.8 39.8 47.6 42.8 60.0 53.5 57.1 58.3

Private nonprofit 64.2 46.5 75.9 43.1 58.8 51.8 67.1 74.6 61.2 71.1

Men 61.7 43.4 74.0 37.9 55.8 44.4 64.7 73.1 59.3 67.5

Women 66.2 48.8 77.3 46.8 60.7 56.9 69.0 75.8 62.9 75.1

Private for-profit 39.5 45.8 51.6 34.0 44.2 40.4 47.4 40.5 30.3 31.5

Men 43.5 47.8 53.3 36.0 43.2 47.2 49.3 37.3 38.7 36.7

Women 36.4 44.8 49.8 32.6 45.1 34.5 45.6 43.1 24.8 27.5

Bachelor’s or equivalent 

degree-s eekers attending 

4-year ins titutions and 

completing bachelor’s or 

equivalent degree (cohort 

year 2005) 58.8 39.8 69.6 39.9 51.2 48.5 62.1 64.3 55.8 62.6

Public 56.6 37.8 67.2 38.6 48.9 49.5 59.6 55.9 56.6 57.3

Men 53.9 36.8 64.2 33.2 44.9 50.7 57.1 52.7 53.7 53.3

Women 58.8 38.6 70.0 42.2 52.0 48.6 61.9 58.7 59.3 61.9

Private nonprofit 65.1 46.4 76.9 43.8 60.4 52.6 67.8 75.2 61.9 71.0

Men 62.4 42.7 75.0 38.1 57.2 49.2 65.2 73.5 59.8 67.4

Women 67.2 49.2 78.3 48.0 62.6 54.9 69.7 76.5 63.6 75.0

Private for-profit 42.0 39.3 51.1 34.4 36.5 31.0 45.5 27.2 44.3 28.3

Men 47.4 53.3 51.2 40.8 39.1 41.4 50.2 27.5 50.3 29.2

Women 35.9 27.2 50.9 29.1 34.0 17.6 39.4 26.9 37.3 27.7

Total 2-year ins titutions 

(cohort year 2008) 34.0 29.1 37.2 30.3 37.5 26.0 33.4 36.5 38.4 34.6

Public 21.9 18.7 28.0 14.5 17.0 16.1 24.7 20.6 18.6 30.6

Men 21.4 19.4 25.9 14.1 16.1 16.4 24.1 20.2 17.5 28.1

Women 22.5 18.0 30.4 14.7 17.7 15.8 25.4 21.0 19.7 33.1

Private nonprofit 56.3 28.1 49.1 52.0 60.7 33.3 60.7 57.1 44.0 61.7

Men 51.5 23.2 44.9 45.9 51.6 35.7 56.9 52.5 43.0 54.7

Women 58.8 31.5 51.0 54.5 64.8 30.8 63.0 58.5 45.0 68.2

Private for-profit 62.7 60.7 71.4 53.6 68.1 65.9 65.7 58.0 58.9 64.7

Men 60.3 57.1 69.1 50.6 63.9 65.1 65.3 59.0 51.7 59.9

Women 64.0 63.3 72.8 55.1 70.4 66.8 65.9 57.5 62.3 69.1

See notes at end of table.
10

Table 3. Graduation rates at all Title IV institutions, by race/ethnicity, level and control of institution, gender, and 

degree at the institution where the students started as full-time, first-time students: United States, cohort 

years 2005 and 2008—Continued

Level and control of institution, 

gender, degree sought, and 

degree completed

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 2008) 66.4 — — — — — — — — — 

Public 69.3 — — — — — — — — —

Private nonprofit 76.7 — — — — — — — — —

Private for-profit 65.5 — — — — — — — — —

— 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 since 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 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. 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 2012, Graduation Rates component (preliminary 

data).
11

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 

sought, level of institution, degree completed, and time to degree: 

United States, cohort years 2003 and 2007

Degree sought, level of institution, degree 

completed, and time to degree

Overall

(%)

Public

(%)

Private

Nonprofit

(%)

For-profit

(%)

Bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seekers 

attending 4-year ins titutions and 

completing bachelor’s or equivalent 

degree (cohort year 2003)

Within 100% of normal program 

completion time 37.1 30.7 52.0 14.6

Within 150% of normal program 

completion time 57.8 55.7 65.4 23.2

Within 200% of normal program 

completion time 60.4 58.9 66.8 24.7

Degree- or certificate-s eekers attending 

2-year ins titutions and completing a 

degree or certificate (cohort year 

2007)

Within 100% of normal program 

completion time 21.3 12.9 36.6 44.4

Within 150% of normal program 

completion time 32.9 22.3 53.8 61.9

Within 200% of normal program 

completion time 37.2 27.6 56.8 63.4

Certificate-s eekers attending les s-than2-year ins titutions and completing a 

certificate (cohort year 2007)

Within 100% of normal program 

completion time 46.3 51.3 53.8 45.2

Within 150% of normal program 

completion time 66.9 69.7 76.9 66.0

Within 200% of normal program 

completion time 69.1 74.7 78.6 67.9

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 since 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 specified time 

to degree divided by the 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 

cohort 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 2012, 

200 Percent Graduation Rates component (preliminary data).
A-1

Appendix A:

Data Collection Procedures 

The spring 2012 collection was entirely web-based; data were collected between December 7, 

2011, and April 11, 2012. Data were provided by “keyholders,” institutional representatives 

appointed by campus 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 2011 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 7,479 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 2011-12 academic year. In addition, 312 

postsecondary institutions were reported exclusively by a parent institution3 and are not included 

in the universe counts. 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.4

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 2012 IPEDS collection were high. Response 

rates reported here are preliminary; as data undergo further review they will be adjusted 

accordingly and presented in the First Look using the provisional data. The Enrollment 

component response rate among all eligible Title IV institutions was 99.8 percent (7,378 

institutions responded).

Data for all five institutions are included in the tables and counts 

of institutions unless otherwise indicated. 

5

 For the Finance component, the response rates was 99.8 percent (7,446 

Title IV entities responded).6 The Graduation Rates component response rate was 99.7 percent 

(6,273 institutions responded).7 The response rate for the 200 Percent Graduation Rates 

component was 99.8 percent (5,801 institutions responded).8

 

1 Title IV institutions and administrative offices include 7,398 institutions and 81 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 winter, 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 A parent institution reports data for another institution, known as the child institution. 4 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. 

5 Four 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 7,394 institutions were 

expected to respond.

6 Sixteen institutions that were included in the IPEDS universe were not in operation during fiscal year 2011 and 

were not required to respond to the Finance component; hence, a total of 7,463 eligible Title IV entities were 

expected to respond.

7 A total of 6,289 institutions were expected to respond to the Graduation Rates component. 8 A total of 5,815 institutions were expected to respond to the Graduation Rates 200 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 greater 

than 99.7 percent for each of the survey components, no such analysis was necessary. Response 

rates were just under 100.0 percent, and imputed values will be included as part of the 

provisional data, when released. 
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. 

child institution: An institution that has its data reported by another institution, known as the parent 

institution. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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 GASB for the setting of accounting standards for local and state government 

entities.
B-2

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 full time 

and first time to be considered in the cohort. 

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

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

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.) 

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

the post-baccalaureate level. These students may or may not be enrolled in graduate programs. 

graduation rate: The rate required for disclosure and/or reporting purposes under Student Right-toKnow. 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. 

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). 

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 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. 
B-3

parent institution: An institution that reports data for another institution, known as the child 

institution. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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
B-4

•

•

•

•

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. 

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. 

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 

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.
B-5

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.