U.S. Department of Education

NCES 2007-154

Enrollment in 

Postsecondary 

Institutions, Fall 2005; 

Graduation Rates, 1999 

and 2002 Cohorts;

and Financial Statistics,

Fiscal Year 2005

F I R S T L O O K

Laura G. Knapp 

Janice E. Kelly-Reid 

Roy W. Whitmore 

RTI International 

Elise S. Miller 

Program Director 

National Center for Education Statistics

U.S. Department of Education 

Institute of Education Sciences 

NCES 2007-154

Enrollment in 

Postsecondary 

Institutions, Fall 2005; 

Graduation Rates, 1999 

and 2002 Cohorts; 

and Financial Statistics,

Fiscal Year 2005

First Look

April 2007
U.S. Department of Education

Margaret Spellings 

Secretary

Institute of Education Sciences 

Grover J. Whitehurst 

Director

National Center for Education Statistics

Mark Schneider 

Commissioner

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for collecting, analyzing, 

and reporting data related to education in the United States and other nations. It fulfills a congressional 

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NCES activities are designed to address high priority education data needs; provide consistent, reliable, 

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 National Center for Education Statistics 

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April 2007 

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Suggested Citation 

Knapp, L.G., Kelly-Reid, J.E., Whitmore, R.W., and Miller, E. (2007). Enrollment in Postsecondary Institutions, 

Fall 2005; Graduation Rates, 1999 and 2002 Cohorts; and Financial Statistics, Fiscal Year 2005 (NCES 

2007-154). U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics. 

Retrieved [date] from http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2007154. 

Content Contact 

Aurora D’Amico 

(202) 502-7334 

aurora.d'amico@ed.gov
iii

Foreword 

This First Look presents findings from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System 

(IPEDS) spring 2006 data collection, which included four components: Student Financial Aid for 

full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students for the 2005-06 academic 

year; Enrollment for fall 2005 and 12-month counts for 2005-06; Graduation Rates for full-time, 

first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students beginning college in 1999 at 4-year 

institutions or in 2002 at less-than-4-year institutions; and Finance for fiscal year 2005. These 

data were collected through the IPEDS web-based data collection system. 

The data on which this report is based are available to researchers and the public through the 

IPEDS Peer Analysis System and the College Opportunities Online Locator. Both of these 

sources can be found at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds. This First Look report continues the series 

previously named E.D. TABs based on the collection of data from over 6,500 postsecondary 

education institutions that participate in Title IV federal student financial aid programs. 

We hope that the information provided in the report will be useful to a wide range of interested 

readers. Further, we hope that the results reported here will encourage researchers and others to 

make full use of the IPEDS data for analysis and peer comparisons, or to help answer questions 

about postsecondary education institutions. 

Mark Schneider 

Commissioner 

National Center for Education Statistics 

C. Dennis Carroll 

Associate Commissioner 

Postsecondary Studies Division 

v

Acknowledgments 

The information presented in this publication was provided by either state coordinators for the 

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) or officials at individual institutions. 

In addition, these persons provided much assistance in resolving questions on the data, which 

resulted in more accurate information. Although it is not possible to list the names of all these 

people, their assistance was invaluable and is much appreciated. 

The U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and Office 

for Civil Rights, with the approval of the Office of Management and Budget, cooperate in the 

collection of racial/ethnic and gender information from all postsecondary institutions that 

participate in the Fall Enrollment, Completions, and Fall Staff components of the IPEDS survey. 

In this collaboration, data provided by postsecondary institutions are designated as Compliance 

Reports pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (34 CFR 100.6(b)). 

The authors are grateful to Patricia Brown, Andrew Mary, Cathy Statham, Paula Knepper, and 

Dennis Carroll of the NCES Postsecondary Studies Division for their valuable comments during 

the review of this publication. We also appreciate the thoughtful review provided by Tom 

Snyder, NCES, Mary Schifferli, Office for Civil Rights, and Carol Yoakum, Illinois Board of 

Higher Education. At RTI International, in addition to the authors, Scott Ginder, Heather Meier, 

Kelly Close, Marcus Berzofsky, Jiantong (Jean) Wang, Robert J. (Joey) Morris, Bing Liu, 

Douglas E. Kendrick, James Isaac, and Joanne Studders contributed to production of this report. 

vii

Contents 

Page 

Foreword....................................................................................................................... iii

Acknowledgments......................................................................................................... v

Contents....................................................................................................................... vii

List of Tables .............................................................................................................. viii

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

IPEDS 2005-06.............................................................................................................................1 

Focus of This Report.....................................................................................................................1 

Characteristics of Enrolled Students.............................................................................................2 

Revenues and Expenses of Title IV Institutions...........................................................................2 

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

Student Financial Aid ...................................................................................................................2 

Selected Findings.......................................................................................................... 3 

Characteristics of Enrolled Students.............................................................................................3 

Revenues and Expenses of Title IV Institutions...........................................................................3 

Graduation Rates...........................................................................................................................3 

Student Financial Aid ...................................................................................................................3 

Appendix A: Survey Methodology........................................................................... A-1

Overview.................................................................................................................................. A-1 

Terminology Used in the IPEDS Web Collection................................................................... A-1 

Universe, Institutions Surveyed, and Response Rates............................................................. A-1 

Survey Procedures ................................................................................................................... A-7 

Survey Components............................................................................................................... A-14 

Edit Procedures...................................................................................................................... A-16 

Imputation Procedures ........................................................................................................... A-17 

Data Perturbation and Confidentiality ................................................................................... A-29 

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

List of Tables 

Table Page 

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

attendance status, gender, and race/ethnicity: United States, fall 2005...............................4 

2. Enrollment in Title IV institutions, by attendance status, sector of institution, and 

student age: United States, fall 2005....................................................................................6 

3. Revenues of Title IV institutions, by level and control of institution, accounting 

standards utilized, and source of funds: United States, fiscal year 2005.............................7 

4. Expenses of Title IV institutions, by level and control of institution, accounting 

standards utilized, and type of expense: United States, fiscal year 2005 ............................9 

5. Graduation rates at Title IV institutions, by race/ethnicity, level and control of 

institution, and gender: United States, cohort years 1999 and 2002..................................11 

6. Graduation rates of bachelor’s-seeking students at 4-year Title IV institutions, by 

control of institution, gender, and time to degree: United States, cohort year 1999 .........12 

7. Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates enrolled and those 

receiving financial aid at Title IV institutions, by sector of institution: United 

States, academic years 2003-04 and 2004-05...................................................................12 

8. Number and percentage of full-time, first-time undergraduates and financial aid 

recipients and average amounts of financial aid received by full-time, first-time 

undergraduates at Title IV institutions, by type of aid and sector of institution: 

United States, academic year 2004-05...............................................................................13 

A-1. Title IV institutions and administrative offices responding to the IPEDS spring 

2006 data collection, by degree-granting status and level and control of 

institution/office: United States and other jurisdictions.................................................. A-3 

A-1a. Title IV institutions and administrative offices responding to the IPEDS spring 

2006 data collection, by degree-granting status and level and control of 

institution/office: United States ...................................................................................... A-5 

A-2. Title IV institutions responding to the IPEDS spring 2006 Enrollment component, 

by Part, degree-granting status, and level and control of institution: United States 

and other jurisdictions..................................................................................................... A-8

A-2a. Title IV institutions responding to the IPEDS spring 2006 Enrollment component, 

by Part, degree-granting status, and level and control of institution: United States..... A-11 

A-3. Enrollment and percentage imputed for all Title IV institutions, by control of 

institution, student level, attendance status, gender, degree-granting status, and age 

of student: United States, fall 2005............................................................................... A-20 
ix

A-4. Entering class of undergraduate students and percentage imputed for all Title IV 

academic year institutions, by control of institution and degree-granting status: 

United States, fall 2005................................................................................................. A-20 

A-5. Unduplicated count and percentage imputed for all Title IV institutions, by control 

of institution, student level, gender, and degree-granting status: United States, 

2004-05 ......................................................................................................................... A-21 

A-6. Instructional activity (in hours) and percentage imputed for all Title IV institutions, 

by control of institution, degree-granting status, and type of instructional activity: 

United States, 2004-05.................................................................................................. A-21 

A-7. Number and percent of Title IV institutions with imputed 1-year retention rates for 

first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students, by control, degreegranting status, and attendance status: United States, fall 2005 .................................. A-22 

A-8. Revenues and expenses and the percentages imputed for Title IV institutions, by 

control of institution and type of funds: United States, fiscal year 2005...................... A-24 

A-9. Student counts and percentage imputed for all Title IV institutions, by control of 

institution and student level: United States, cohort years 1999 and 2002 .................... A-27 

A-10. Financial aid recipients and percentage imputed for all Title IV institutions, by type 

of aid and level and control of institution: United States, academic year 2005-06 ...... A-30 
38 
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 jurisdictions, such as Puerto Rico.1 For IPEDS, a postsecondary institution is defined as an 

organization open to the public that has as its primary mission the provision of postsecondary 

education. IPEDS defines postsecondary education as formal instructional programs with a 

curriculum designed primarily for students who are beyond the compulsory age for high school. 

This includes academic, vocational, and continuing professional education programs and 

excludes institutions that offer only avocational (leisure) and adult basic education programs. 

Prior to the inception of IPEDS, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) collected 

data from approximately 3,600 institutions of higher education through its Higher Education 

General Information Survey (HEGIS) program. HEGIS was conducted from 1966 until 1985, 

when the mission of NCES was expanded to include all postsecondary institutions. 

IPEDS 2005-06 

Participation in IPEDS was a requirement for the 6,622 institutions and 83 administrative offices 

(central or system offices) that participated in Title IV federal student financial aid programs, 

such as Pell Grants or Stafford Loans during the 2005-06 academic year.2

 Six of these 

institutions were not eligible for any component of the spring collection because they closed 

during the 2005-06 academic year. Hence, 6,616 institutions and 83 administrative offices 

(central or system offices) in the United States and other jurisdictions were expected to 

participate in the spring 2006 collection. Four of the U.S. service academies are included in the 

IPEDS universe as if they were Title IV institutions.3 Institutions that do not participate in Title 

IV programs may participate in the IPEDS data collection on a voluntary basis. 

Focus of This Report 

Tabulations in this report present selected data items collected from the 6,457 Title IV 

institutions in the United States (excluding those in other jurisdictions) that were eligible for at 

least one component of the spring 2006 collection. In addition, 80 administrative offices in the 

United States were eligible for the Finance component and are included in the Finance 

tabulations. Additional detailed information is available through the various IPEDS web tools, 

such as the Peer Analysis System. 

 

1

 The other jurisdictions include American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Marshall Islands, 

the Northern Marianas, Palau, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. 2

 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 over 300 clock hours or 8 credit hours, have been 

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

Postsecondary Education (OPE), U.S. Department of Education. Seven institutions that were significantly affected 

by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita during the early fall of 2005 were unable to fully participate in the spring data 

collection, although one of these institutions participated for Enrollment, and one participated for Finance. Affected 

tables are noted accordingly. 

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. One academy, the U.S. Merchant 

Marine Academy, is Title IV eligible. Data for all five institutions are included in each of the tables and counts of 

institutions. 
2

Characteristics of Enrolled Students 

The spring 2006 Enrollment (EF) component collected enrollment data for fall 2005. Part A (fall 

enrollment) of the EF component was required of 6,6074

 Title IV institutions and 6,604, or over 

99.9 percent, responded. 

Revenues and Expenses of Title IV Institutions 

The spring 2006 Finance (F) component collected financial statistics for fiscal year 2005. The 

Finance component was required of all Title IV institutions and administrative offices. Thus, for 

the spring 2006 collection, 6,680 institutions and administrative offices were required to 

complete the Finance component, and of these, 6,670, or 99.9 percent, responded. 

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 follow GASB, while private 

institutions use FASB.5

 

Graduation Rates 

The spring 2006 Graduation Rates (GRS) component collected graduation rate information 

(completion within 150 percent of normal program time) for first-time,6

 full-time degree/ 

certificate-seeking undergraduate students beginning college in 1999 at 4-year institutions and in 

2002 at less-than-4-year institutions. The GRS component was required of all Title IV 

institutions that had first-time, full-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate level students. 

For the spring 2006 collection, 5,886 institutions were required to respond; of these, 5,867, or 

99.7 percent, responded. 

Student Financial Aid 

The spring 2006 Student Financial Aid (SFA) component collected data on full-time, first-time 

degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate financial aid recipients for the 2004-05 academic year 

The SFA component was required of all Title IV institutions that had first-time, full-time 

degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate level students. As a result, for the spring 2006 

collection, 6,173 institutions were required to complete the SFA component. Of these, 6,155, or 

99.7 percent, responded. 

 

4

 Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to the Enrollment survey. Additionally, six 

institutions closed and were not eligible for any part of the Enrollment survey, and one institution that closed was 

not eligible for Part A of Enrollment but was eligible for parts E and F (see tables A-1 and A-2). Two additional 

closed institutions were eligible for at least one other component but not Enrollment. 5

 Ninety-eight percent of public institutions used GASB, and 2 percent used FASB. 

6

 Throughout this publication, the term “first-time” refers to students who have not attended any institution 

previously. See the glossary for further definition of a first-time student. 
3

Selected Findings

Characteristics of Enrolled Students 

• Title IV institutions in the United States enrolled 18 million students in fall 2005; 61 percent 

were enrolled in 4-year institutions, 37 percent were enrolled in 2-year institutions, and 2 

percent were enrolled in less-than-2-year institutions (table 1). 

• One-fourth of all students enrolled in Title IV institutions in fall 2005 were 18- to 24-yearolds attending public 4-year institutions (table 2). 

Revenues and Expenses of Title IV Institutions 

• Four-year public institutions using GASB standards received 16 percent of their revenues 

from tuition and fees, while those using FASB standards received 24 percent of their 

revenues from tuition and fees (table 3). Considering private 4-year institutions using FASB, 

not-for-profit institutions received 29 percent of their revenues from tuition and fees, while 

for-profit institutions received 89 percent of their revenues from tuition and fees. 

• At 4-year institutions, approximately one-fourth to one-third of expenses were for instruction 

and at 2-year institutions, approximately 30 to 40 percent of expenses were for instruction 

(table 4). 

Graduation Rates 

• Overall graduation rates at 4-year institutions were somewhat higher than at 2-year 

institutions (56 percent and 33 percent, respectively); however, graduation rates were highest 

at less-than-2-year institutions (68 percent) (table 5). Table 5 reflects graduation rates for 

institutions regardless of the length of the programs. 

• Graduation rates of bachelor’s-seeking students at 4-year institutions increased significantly 

when measured after 6 years, rather than after 4 years, from time of entry and varied by 

control of institution (table 6). 

Student Financial Aid 

• During 2004-05, nearly 75 percent of the 2.6 million full-time, first-time degree/certificateseeking undergraduates attending Title IV institutions located in the United States received 

financial aid (table 7). The proportion of students receiving financial aid varied by sector of 

institution. 

• Three-fourths of all full-time, first-time undergraduates received some type of financial aid 

during the 2004-05 academic year. Proportions varied somewhat by institution sector: 76 

percent of full-time, first-time undergraduates attending public 4-year institutions; 80 percent 

of full-time, first-time undergraduates attending private for-profit 4-year institutions; and 85 

percent of full-time, first-time undergraduates attending private not-for-profit 4-year 

institutions received some type of financial aid (table 8). 

• Approximately 45 percent of all full-time, first-time undergraduates borrowed through an 

education loan program during the 2004-05 academic year. Borrowing varied by institution 

sector: 44 percent of full-time, first-time undergraduates attending public 4-year institutions 

borrowed; 60 percent of full-time, first-time undergraduates attending private not-for-profit 

4-year institutions borrowed; and 74 percent of full-time, first-time undergraduates attending 

private for-profit 4-year institutions borrowed during the 2004-05 academic year (table 8). 
4

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

status, gender, and race/ethnicity: United States, fall 2005 

Total Public Private not-for-profit Private for-profit Level of institution, student level, 

attendance status, gender, and 

race/ethnicity Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Total students 17,921,804 100.0 13,115,177 100.0 3,484,013 100.0 1,322,614 100.0

4-year 10,999,924 61.4 6,837,641 52.1 3,411,638 97.9 750,645 56.8

Undergraduate 8,476,353 47.3 5,513,730 42.0 2,375,061 68.2 587,562 44.4

Full time 6,799,882 37.9 4,360,934 33.3 1,967,923 56.5 471,025 35.6

Part time 1,676,471 9.4 1,152,796 8.8 407,138 11.7 116,537 8.8

Men 3,728,647 20.8 2,476,679 18.9 1,002,001 28.8 249,967 18.9

Women 4,747,706 26.5 3,037,051 23.2 1,373,060 39.4 337,595 25.5

White, non-Hispanic 5,434,645 30.3 3,615,455 27.6 1,569,838 45.1 249,352 18.9

Black, non-Hispanic 983,340 5.5 613,601 4.7 264,915 7.6 104,824 7.9

Hispanic 695,488 3.9 490,969 3.7 143,080 4.1 61,439 4.6

Asian/Pacific Islander 492,717 2.7 356,764 2.7 115,361 3.3 20,592 1.6

American Indian/Alaska Native 75,355 0.4 55,207 0.4 14,996 0.4 5,152 0.4

Race/ethnicity unknown 572,078 3.2 258,658 2.0 193,280 5.5 120,140 9.1

Nonresident alien 222,730 1.2 123,076 0.9 73,591 2.1 26,063 2.0

Graduate 2,186,547 12.2 1,185,704 9.0 839,288 24.1 161,555 12.2

Full time 1,047,360 5.8 529,120 4.0 396,775 11.4 121,465 9.2

Part time 1,139,187 6.4 656,584 5.0 442,513 12.7 40,090 3.0

Men 877,219 4.9 477,563 3.6 343,334 9.9 56,322 4.3

Women 1,309,328 7.3 708,141 5.4 495,954 14.2 105,233 8.0

White, non-Hispanic 1,262,721 7.0 726,578 5.5 470,697 13.5 65,446 4.9

Black, non-Hispanic 207,968 1.2 103,419 0.8 74,045 2.1 30,504 2.3

Hispanic 114,933 0.6 65,524 0.5 41,275 1.2 8,134 0.6

Asian/Pacific Islander 102,682 0.6 53,350 0.4 42,908 1.2 6,424 0.5

American Indian/Alaska Native 12,111 0.1 7,794 0.1 3,285 0.1 1,032 0.1

Race/ethnicity unknown 224,082 1.3 71,527 0.5 115,303 3.3 37,252 2.8

Nonresident alien 262,050 1.5 157,512 1.2 91,775 2.6 12,763 1.0

First-professional 337,024 1.9 138,207 1.1 197,289 5.7 1,528 0.1

Full time 303,468 1.7 131,727 1.0 170,560 4.9 1,181 0.1

Part time 33,556 0.2 6,480 # 26,729 0.8 347 #

Men 169,831 0.9 65,602 0.5 103,439 3.0 790 0.1

Women 167,193 0.9 72,605 0.6 93,850 2.7 738 0.1

White, non-Hispanic 221,477 1.2 95,472 0.7 125,129 3.6 876 0.1

Black, non-Hispanic 24,163 0.1 8,953 0.1 15,118 0.4 92 #

Hispanic 15,956 0.1 6,430 # 9,429 0.3 97 #

Asian/Pacific Islander 40,600 0.2 16,721 0.1 23,768 0.7 111 #

American Indian/Alaska Native 2,348 # 1,280 # 1,053 # 15 #

Race/ethnicity unknown 24,453 0.1 7,383 0.1 16,747 0.5 323 #

Nonresident alien 8,027 # 1,968 # 6,045 0.2 14 #

2-year 6,613,596 36.9 6,234,948 47.5 59,978 1.7 318,670 24.1

Undergraduate 6,613,367 36.9 6,234,719 47.5 59,978 1.7 318,670 24.1

Full time 2,745,764 15.3 2,420,253 18.5 40,861 1.2 284,650 21.5

Part time 3,867,603 21.6 3,814,466 29.1 19,117 0.5 34,020 2.6

Men 2,740,927 15.3 2,596,404 19.8 19,806 0.6 124,717 9.4

Women 3,872,440 21.6 3,638,315 27.7 40,172 1.2 193,953 14.7

White, non-Hispanic 3,844,107 21.4 3,655,402 27.9 34,513 1.0 154,192 11.7

Black, non-Hispanic 878,834 4.9 802,127 6.1 8,414 0.2 68,293 5.2

Hispanic 934,399 5.2 881,705 6.7 4,296 0.1 48,398 3.7

See notes at end of table. 
5

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

status, gender, and race/ethnicity: United States, fall 2005—Continued 

Total Public Private not-for-profit Private for-profit Level of institution, student level, 

attendance status, gender, and 

race/ethnicity Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

2-year—Continued 

Undergraduate—Continued 

Asian/Pacific Islander 405,858 2.3 392,032 3.0 3,354 0.1 10,472 0.8

American Indian/Alaska Native 78,249 0.4 73,072 0.6 2,214 0.1 2,963 0.2

Race/ethnicity unknown 379,188 2.1 340,089 2.6 5,572 0.2 33,527 2.5

Nonresident alien 92,732 0.5 90,292 0.7 1,615 # 825 0.1

Graduate1

 229 # 229 # 0 0.0 0 0.0

Full time 39 # 39 # 0 0.0 0 0.0

Part time 190 # 190 # 0 0.0 0 0.0

Men 69 # 69 # 0 0.0 0 0.0

Women 160 # 160 # 0 0.0 0 0.0

White, non-Hispanic 216 # 216 # 0 0.0 0 0.0

Black, non-Hispanic 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0

Hispanic 3 # 3 # 0 0.0 0 0.0

Asian/Pacific Islander 2 # 2 # 0 0.0 0 0.0

American Indian/Alaska Native 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0

Race/ethnicity unknown 6 # 6 # 0 0.0 0 0.0

Nonresident alien 2 # 2 # 0 0.0 0 0.0

Less-than-2-year 308,284 1.7 42,588 0.3 12,397 0.4 253,299 19.2

Full time 255,412 1.4 26,226 0.2 11,311 0.3 217,875 16.5

Part time 52,872 0.3 16,362 0.1 1,086 # 35,424 2.7

Men 76,370 0.4 15,490 0.1 4,304 0.1 56,576 4.3

Women 231,914 1.3 27,098 0.2 8,093 0.2 196,723 14.9

White, non-Hispanic 123,159 0.7 27,896 0.2 3,222 0.1 92,041 7.0

Black, non-Hispanic 70,251 0.4 5,612 # 2,787 0.1 61,852 4.7

Hispanic 67,487 0.4 4,825 # 3,361 0.1 59,301 4.5

Asian/Pacific Islander 12,976 0.1 1,527 # 654 # 10,795 0.8

American Indian/Alaska Native 2,858 # 1,486 # 64 # 1,308 0.1

Race/ethnicity unknown 27,764 0.2 1,056 # 1,802 0.1 24,906 1.9

Nonresident alien 3,789 # 186 # 507 # 3,096 0.2

# Rounds to zero. 

1

 Seven 2-year institutions reported students enrolled in graduate-level courses. 

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this 

survey; their data were not imputed, and they are not represented in this table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data 

System (IPEDS), Spring 2006, Enrollment component. 
6

Table 2. Enrollment in Title IV institutions, by attendance status, sector of institution, and student age: 

United States, fall 2005 

Total students Full-time Part-time 

Sector of institution and student age Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

Total students 17,921,804 100.0 11,151,925 100.0 6,769,879 100.0 

Public 4-year 6,837,641 38.2 5,021,781 45.0 1,815,860 26.8

Under 18 128,219 0.7 55,244 0.5 72,975 1.1

18-24 4,565,654 25.5 4,037,613 36.2 528,041 7.8

25-39 1,624,972 9.1 800,621 7.2 824,351 12.2

40 and over 509,253 2.8 125,856 1.1 383,397 5.7

Age unknown 9,543 0.1 2,447 # 7,096 0.1 

Public 2-year 6,234,948 34.8 2,420,292 21.7 3,814,656 56.3

Under 18 375,122 2.1 62,501 0.6 312,621 4.6

18-24 3,240,836 18.1 1,774,077 15.9 1,466,759 21.7

25-39 1,682,378 9.4 437,833 3.9 1,244,545 18.4

40 and over 906,582 5.1 137,936 1.2 768,646 11.4

Age unknown 30,030 0.2 7,945 0.1 22,085 0.3 

Public less-than-2-year 42,588 0.2 26,226 0.2 16,362 0.2

Under 18 2,561 # 480 # 2,081 #

18-24 14,167 0.1 9,398 0.1 4,769 0.1

25-39 15,564 0.1 10,843 0.1 4,721 0.1

40 and over 8,219 # 4,952 # 3,267 #

Age unknown 2,077 # 553 # 1,524 # 

Private not-for-profit 4-year 3,411,638 19.0 2,535,258 22.7 876,380 12.9

Under 18 59,337 0.3 33,767 0.3 25,570 0.4

18-24 1,999,256 11.2 1,857,485 16.7 141,771 2.1

25-39 942,074 5.3 505,080 4.5 436,994 6.5

40 and over 360,707 2.0 121,636 1.1 239,071 3.5

Age unknown 50,264 0.3 17,290 0.2 32,974 0.5 

Private not-for-profit 2-year 59,978 0.3 40,861 0.4 19,117 0.3

Under 18 1,271 # 491 # 780 #

18-24 30,714 0.2 25,183 0.2 5,531 0.1

25-39 18,863 0.1 11,132 0.1 7,731 0.1

40 and over 7,925 # 3,462 # 4,463 0.1

Age unknown 1,205 # 593 # 612 # 

Private not-for-profit less-than-2-year 12,397 0.1 11,311 0.1 1,086 #

Under 18 324 # 254 # 70 #

18-24 4,670 # 4,278 # 392 #

25-39 5,046 # 4,638 # 408 #

40 and over 2,267 # 2,054 # 213 #

Age unknown 90 # 87 # 3 # 

Private for-profit 4-year 750,645 4.2 593,671 5.3 156,974 2.3

Under 18 3,977 # 3,363 # 614 #

18-24 204,555 1.1 168,564 1.5 35,991 0.5

25-39 370,275 2.1 290,003 2.6 80,272 1.2

40 and over 161,038 0.9 123,203 1.1 37,835 0.6

Age unknown 10,800 0.1 8,538 0.1 2,262 # 

Private for-profit 2-year 318,670 1.8 284,650 2.6 34,020 0.5

Under 18 2,839 # 2,679 # 160 #

18-24 168,626 0.9 155,698 1.4 12,928 0.2

25-39 112,153 0.6 96,627 0.9 15,526 0.2

40 and over 28,067 0.2 23,787 0.2 4,280 0.1

Age unknown 6,985 # 5,859 0.1 1,126 # 

Private for-profit less-than-2-year 253,299 1.4 217,875 2.0 35,424 0.5

Under 18 3,870 # 2,669 # 1,201 #

18-24 122,135 0.7 108,129 1.0 14,006 0.2

25-39 96,400 0.5 81,381 0.7 15,019 0.2

40 and over 24,772 0.1 20,329 0.2 4,443 0.1

Age unknown 6,122 # 5,367 # 755 #

# Rounds to zero. 

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this 

survey; their data were not imputed, and they are not represented in this table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data 

System (IPEDS), Spring 2006, Enrollment component. 
7

Table 3. Revenues of Title IV institutions, by level and control of institution, accounting standards 

utilized, and source of funds: United States, fiscal year 2005 

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

Source of funds 

Revenues

 (in thousands) Percent

Revenues 

(in thousands) Percent 

Revenues 

(in thousands) Percent

 

 Public institutions using GASB standards 

 

Total revenues and other sources $186,351,975 100.0 $41,827,360 100.0 $1,317,632 100.0

 

Operating revenues 114,816,218 61.6 16,598,469 39.7 543,096 41.2

 

Tuition and fees (net of allowances and 

discounts) 29,878,149 16.0 6,911,843 16.5 182,840 13.9

Grants and contracts 36,074,779 19.4 7,195,441 17.2 230,724 17.5

Federal (excludes FDSL loans) 24,320,530 13.1 4,753,850 11.4 76,494 5.8

State 4,870,493 2.6 1,807,597 4.3 111,950 8.5

Local 6,883,755 3.7 633,994 1.5 42,279 3.2

Sales and services of auxiliary enterprises after 

deducting discounts and allowances 15,404,010 8.3 1,796,895 4.3 28,094 2.1

Sales and services of hospitals 20,077,555 10.8 0 0.0 0 0.0

Independent operations 571,091 0.3 0 0.0 0 0.0

Other operating revenues 12,810,634 6.9 694,289 1.7 101,439 7.7

 

Nonoperating revenues 60,981,396 32.7 23,204,606 55.5 741,138 56.2

 

Federal appropriations 1,613,294 0.9 156,704 0.4 13,682 1.0

State appropriations 42,378,694 22.7 12,469,296 29.8 320,069 24.3

Local appropriations 298,771 0.2 7,519,178 18.0 342,953 26.0

Nonoperating grants 2,015,443 1.1 1,993,060 4.8 24,801 1.9

Federal 1,548,299 0.8 1,355,134 3.2 16,069 1.2

State 436,316 0.2 567,450 1.4 6,609 0.5

Local 30,828 # 70,475 0.2 2,123 0.2

Gifts 3,833,964 2.1 269,523 0.6 3,812 0.3

Investment income 8,519,148 4.6 419,147 1.0 9,320 0.7

Other nonoperating revenues 2,322,082 1.2 377,699 0.9 26,501 2.0

 

Total other revenues and additions 10,554,362 5.7 2,024,285 4.8 33,398 2.5

 

Capital appropriations 3,303,568 1.8 1,405,367 3.4 10,343 0.8

Capital grants and gifts 2,742,551 1.5 427,661 1.0 3,988 0.3

Additions to permanent endowments 866,193 0.5 20,692 # 0 0.0

Other revenues and additions 3,642,049 2.0 170,564 0.4 19,067 1.4

 

 Public institutions using FASB standards 

 

Total revenues and investment return 7,444,749 100.0 136,158 100.0 63,246 100.0

 

Tuition and fees 1,790,852 24.1 18,742 13.8 5,688 9.0

Government appropriations 808,682 10.9 71,501 52.5 594 0.9

Federal 22,319 0.3 537 0.4 16 #

State 786,363 10.6 6,447 4.7 477 0.8

Local 0 0.0 64,517 47.4 101 0.2

Government grants and contracts 1,244,489 16.7 18,727 13.8 20,095 31.8

Federal 1,010,066 13.6 17,430 12.8 6,906 10.9

State 227,764 3.1 1,297 1.0 8,237 13.0

Local 6,658 0.1 0 0.0 4,952 7.8

Private gifts, grants, and contracts 495,032 6.6 1,131 0.8 112 0.2

Contributions from affiliated entities 0 0.0 6,817 5.0 109 0.2

Investment return 586,471 7.9 1,653 1.2 17,003 26.9

Sales and services of educational activities 129,003 1.7 96 0.1 101 0.2

Sales and services of auxiliary enterprises 480,376 6.5 6,483 4.8 99 0.2

Hospital revenue 1,693,992 22.8 0 0.0 0 0.0

Independent operations revenue 19,075 0.3 0 0.0 0 0.0

Other revenue 196,777 2.6 11,009 8.1 19,446 30.7

See notes at end of table. 
8

Table 3. Revenues of Title IV institutions, by level and control of institution, accounting standards 

utilized, and source of funds: United States, fiscal year 2005—Continued 

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

Source of funds 

Revenues

 (in thousands) Percent

Revenues 

(in thousands) Percent 

Revenues 

(in thousands) Percent

 

 Private not-for-profit institutions (FASB standards) 

 

Total revenues and investment return $139,675,686 100.0 $885,645 100.0 $307,624 100.0

 

Tuition and fees 41,048,835 29.4 437,756 49.4 67,657 22.0

Government appropriations 918,082 0.7 17,417 2.0 974 0.3

Federal 450,554 0.3 7,027 0.8 10 #

State 455,243 0.3 7,251 0.8 964 0.3

Local 12,285 # 3,139 0.4 0 0.0

Government grants and contracts 15,522,587 11.1 104,734 11.8 147,495 47.9

Federal 14,059,004 10.1 82,389 9.3 100,248 32.6

State 991,490 0.7 21,284 2.4 28,075 9.1

Local 472,093 0.3 1,060 0.1 19,172 6.2

Private gifts, grants, and contracts 15,622,705 11.2 65,655 7.4 24,010 7.8

Contributions from affiliated entities 1,051,999 0.8 15,478 1.7 4,007 1.3

Investment return 30,430,120 21.8 38,361 4.3 2,605 0.8

Sales and services of educational activities 3,582,142 2.6 16,605 1.9 39,405 12.8

Sales and services of auxiliary enterprises 10,785,249 7.7 52,759 6.0 2,948 1.0

Hospital revenue 10,377,808 7.4 0 0.0 0 0.0

Independent operations revenue 5,121,473 3.7 0 0.0 0 0.0

Other revenue 5,214,686 3.7 136,879 15.5 18,523 6.0

 

 Private for-profit institutions (FASB standards) 

 

Total revenues and investment return 7,692,061 100.0 3,962,087 100.0 2,589,215 100.0

 

Tuition and fees 6,863,926 89.2 3,268,620 82.5 1,861,787 71.9

Government appropriations, grants, and contracts 366,667 4.8 402,538 10.2 408,911 15.8

Federal 345,521 4.5 357,588 9.0 373,276 14.4

State and local 21,146 0.3 44,950 1.1 35,634 1.4

Private grants and contracts 4,035 0.1 3,492 0.1 4,298 0.2

Investment income and investment gains (losses) 17,332 0.2 7,857 0.2 11,565 0.4

Sales and services of educational activities 173,830 2.3 104,719 2.6 138,954 5.4

Sales and services of auxiliary enterprises 201,512 2.6 56,001 1.4 20,147 0.8

Other revenue 64,760 0.8 118,860 3.0 143,553 5.5

# Rounds to zero. 

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this 

survey; their data were imputed, and they are represented in this table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System 

(IPEDS), Spring 2006, Finance component. 
9

Table 4. Expenses of Title IV institutions, by level and control of institution, accounting standards 

utilized, and type of expense: United States, fiscal year 2005 

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

Type of expense 

Expenses

 (in thousands) Percent

Expenses

(in thousands) Percent 

Expenses

(in thousands) Percent

 

 Public institutions using GASB standards 

 

Total expenses $170,573,780 100.0 $39,310,484 100.0 $1,245,294 100.0

 

Operating expenses 163,961,973 96.1 38,608,790 98.2 1,220,860 98.0

Instruction 43,090,117 25.3 15,344,599 39.0 636,915 51.1

Research 21,395,255 12.5 21,651 0.1 222 #

Public service 8,614,240 5.1 663,959 1.7 5,231 0.4

Academic support 10,911,732 6.4 2,891,195 7.4 88,015 7.1

Student services 6,225,373 3.6 3,585,225 9.1 78,803 6.3

Institutional support 11,706,080 6.9 5,379,488 13.7 141,721 11.4

Operation and maintenance of plant 9,945,958 5.8 3,421,067 8.7 108,454 8.7

Depreciation 8,136,660 4.8 1,475,050 3.8 45,957 3.7

Scholarships and fellowships (excluding 

discounts and allowances) 5,440,323 3.2 2,968,356 7.6 9,564 0.8

Auxiliary enterprises 14,158,351 8.3 2,076,649 5.3 21,356 1.7

Hospital services 18,463,199 10.8 0 0.0 0 0.0

Independent operations 637,736 0.4 0 0.0 0 0.0

Other operating expenses and deductions 5,236,948 3.1 781,551 2.0 84,622 6.8

 

Nonoperating expenses 6,611,808 3.9 701,694 1.8 24,434 2.0

Interest 2,526,222 1.5 468,555 1.2 14,842 1.2

Other nonoperating expenses and deductions 4,085,586 2.4 233,138 0.6 9,592 0.8

 

 

 Public institutions using FASB standards 

 

Total expenses 6,618,066 100.0 136,791 100.0 44,057 100.0

 

Instruction 1,724,932 26.1 55,765 40.8 27,585 62.6

Research 1,199,317 18.1 331 0.2 0 0.0

Public service 214,491 3.2 2,992 2.2 22 #

Academic support 557,403 8.4 15,395 11.3 2,289 5.2

Student services 271,039 4.1 17,705 12.9 454 1.0

Institutional support 480,466 7.3 19,706 14.4 1,644 3.7

Auxiliary enterprises 452,974 6.8 5,510 4.0 99 0.2

Net grant aid to students 12,929 0.2 244 0.2 358 0.8

Hospital services 1,666,566 25.2 0 0.0 0 0.0

Independent operations 20,430 0.3 0 0.0 0 0.0

Other expenses 17,521 0.3 19,144 14.0 11,607 26.3

 

 Private not-for-profit institutions (FASB standards) 

 

Total expenses 109,817,373 100.0 875,524 100.0 305,923 100.0

 

Instruction 36,064,487 32.8 309,750 35.4 170,147 55.6

Research 12,814,788 11.7 3,329 0.4 410 0.1

Public service 2,000,225 1.8 7,332 0.8 8,264 2.7

Academic support 9,309,011 8.5 49,899 5.7 6,069 2.0

Student services 8,101,304 7.4 100,593 11.5 11,145 3.6

Institutional support 14,517,827 13.2 230,443 26.3 39,348 12.9

Auxiliary enterprises 10,900,892 9.9 54,693 6.2 1,684 0.6

Net grant aid to students 1,051,296 1.0 19,260 2.2 108 #

Hospital services 9,180,775 8.4 0 0.0 0 0.0

Independent operations 4,223,779 3.8 0 0.0 0 0.0

Other expenses 1,652,989 1.5 100,225 11.4 68,749 22.5

See notes at end of table. 
10

Table 4. Expenses of Title IV institutions, by level and control of institution, accounting standards 

utilized, and type of expense: United States, fiscal year 2005—Continued 

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

Type of expense 

Expenses

 (in thousands) Percent

Expenses

(in thousands) Percent 

Expenses

(in thousands) Percent

 

 Private for-profit institutions (FASB standards) 

 

Total expenses $5,988,845 100.0 $3,447,667 100.0 $2,220,449 100.0

 

Instruction 1,430,096 23.9 1,098,328 31.9 769,896 34.7

Research and public service 3,513 0.1 4,897 0.1 7,393 0.3

Academic support, student services, and 

institutional support 4,109,667 68.6 1,872,058 54.3 989,099 44.5

Auxiliary enterprises 180,036 3.0 97,816 2.8 65,044 2.9

Net grant aid to students 38,639 0.6 16,956 0.5 7,784 0.4

Other expenses 226,894 3.8 357,612 10.4 381,232 17.2

# Rounds to zero. 

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this 

survey; their data were imputed, and they are represented in this table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System 

(IPEDS), Spring 2006, Finance component. 
11

Table 5. Graduation rates at Title IV institutions, by race/ethnicity, level and control of institution, and 

gender: United States, cohort years 1999 and 2002 

Level and control of 

institution, and gender Total 

White, 

nonHispanic

Black, 

nonHispanic Hispanic 

Asian/ 

Pacific 

Islander

American 

Indian/ 

Alaska 

Native 

Race/

ethnicity

unknown 

Nonresident

alien 

 

4-year institutions 

(cohort year 1999) 55.9 58.9 40.4 46.7 65.2 38.3 50.5 59.3

 

Public 52.6 55.2 38.1 41.8 62.3 32.5 51.7 53.0

Men 49.0 51.8 31.3 36.8 58.0 29.4 48.8 51.0

Women 55.6 58.2 42.6 45.6 66.2 35.0 54.4 55.8

 

Private not-for-profit 63.5 66.2 44.5 56.8 73.9 52.4 60.2 65.3

Men 60.5 63.5 38.7 52.0 72.2 49.2 56.7 62.1

Women 65.8 68.3 48.6 60.2 75.3 54.6 63.0 69.3

Private for-profit 49.1 56.5 42.5 50.6 53.6 50.7 25.7 57.0

Men 49.1 56.6 40.3 51.6 52.2 53.9 25.0 52.2

Women 49.0 56.3 44.6 49.1 55.8 46.0 26.7 65.4

 

2-year institutions 

(cohort year 2002) 32.5 33.8 27.2 33.6 35.1 29.0 31.5 29.9

Public 23.9 26.5 16.5 18.7 25.2 21.8 19.1 25.6

Men 22.9 25.2 16.2 17.3 23.4 19.2 18.5 21.4

Women 24.9 27.8 16.7 19.8 27.1 23.8 19.7 29.3

 

Private not-for-profit 58.1 63.2 40.3 50.8 62.3 22.4 57.3 72.5

Men 56.1 63.4 34.7 48.1 59.1 24.7 43.5 62.8

Women 59.5 63.1 44.3 53.0 64.0 20.4 63.7 79.0

Private for-profit 58.1 62.3 49.4 59.5 63.2 57.3 51.1 66.4

Men 58.7 64.1 46.6 58.0 62.5 59.1 52.1 71.1

Women 57.8 61.1 50.6 60.4 63.8 56.3 50.2 61.3

 

Less-than-2-year 

institutions (cohort 

year 2002) 67.8 — — — — — — —

 

Public 69.3 — — — — — — —

Private not-for-profit 76.4 — — — — — — —

Private for-profit 67.2 — — — — — — —

— Not available. 

NOTE: The rates in this table reflect graduation rates at institutions regardless of the length of programs. 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 current (spring 2006) estimate of 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. Due to natural disaster, seven 

institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were imputed, and they are represented in this table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data 

System (IPEDS), Spring 2006, Graduation Rates component. 
12

Table 6. Graduation rates of bachelor’s-seeking students at 4-year Title IV institutions, by control of 

institution, gender, and time to degree: United States, cohort year 1999 

Gender and time to degree Total Public Private not-for-profit Private for-profit

 

All students 

4-year graduation rate (%) 35.3 27.9 50.2 22.1

5-year graduation rate (%) 52.3 48.3 61.0 26.9

6-year graduation rate (%) 57.1 54.1 64.0 29.1

Men 

4-year graduation rate (%) 30.1 22.5 45.4 23.3

5-year graduation rate (%) 48.4 44.0 58.1 27.6

6-year graduation rate (%) 53.7 50.5 61.3 29.5

Women 

4-year graduation rate (%) 39.7 32.4 54.0 20.4

5-year graduation rate (%) 55.5 51.8 63.3 26.1

6-year graduation rate (%) 59.8 57.0 66.3 28.6

NOTE: The rates in this table reflect only students seeking bachelor’s degrees, rather than all students at 4-year institutions. 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 time to degree divided by the revised cohort minus any 

allowable exclusions. The revised cohort is the current (spring 2006) estimate of 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. 

Due to natural disaster, seven institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were imputed, and they are 

represented in this table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data 

System (IPEDS), Spring 2006, Graduation Rates component. 

Table 7. Full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates enrolled and those receiving 

financial aid at Title IV institutions, by sector of institution: United States, academic years 

2003-04 and 2004-05 

Academic year 2003-041 Academic year 2004-052

Sector of institution 

Number 

enrolled

Number of 

financial aid 

recipients

Percent 

receiving 

financial aid

Number 

enrolled

Number of 

financial aid 

recipients 

Percent 

receiving 

financial aid

 

Total students 2,564,718 1,901,784 74.2 2,630,938 1,974,424 75.0

Public 4-year 875,507 658,103 75.2 888,267 670,365 75.5

Public 2-year 628,638 374,146 59.5 639,901 391,420 61.2

Public less-than-2-year 38,011 23,023 60.6 26,676 16,111 60.4

Private not-for-profit 4-year 450,177 382,302 84.9 459,439 390,762 85.1

Private not-for-profit 2-year 16,673 13,496 80.9 17,143 13,701 79.9

Private not-for-profit less-than-2-

year 13,775 10,704 77.7 12,482 9,493 76.1

Private for-profit 4-year 84,819 63,481 74.8 125,041 99,840 79.8

Private for-profit 2-year 201,549 172,918 85.8 215,643 184,631 85.6

Private for-profit less-than-2-year 255,569 203,611 79.7 246,346 198,101 80.4

1 The numbers shown reflect those institutions that reported having financial aid recipients in academic year 2003-04. 2 The numbers shown reflect those institutions that reported having financial aid recipients in academic year 2004-05. 

NOTE: Due to natural disaster, seven institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were imputed, and they are 

represented in this table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data 

System (IPEDS), Spring 2005 and Spring 2006, Student Financial Aid component. 
13

Table 8. Number and percentage of full-time, first-time undergraduates and financial aid recipients 

and average amounts of financial aid received by full-time, first-time undergraduates at Title 

IV institutions, by type of aid and sector of institution: United States, academic year 2004-05

Type of aid 

Sector of institution 

Full-time, 

first-time 

undergraduates

Financial aid 

recipients

Federal 

grants

State/local 

grants 

Institutional 

grants 

Loans to 

students1

 

 Number receiving 

 

Total students 2,630,938 1,974,424 1,018,031 732,208 736,229 1,191,021

 

Public 4-year 888,267 670,365 251,746 339,300 283,867 393,875

Public 2-year 639,901 391,420 254,255 191,125 69,149 111,926

Public less-than-2-year 26,676 16,111 12,221 3,427 1,491 6,077

 

Private not-for-profit 4-year 459,439 390,762 125,107 144,373 339,122 274,527

Private not-for-profit 2-year 17,143 13,701 8,660 5,209 5,417 8,038

Private not-for-profit less-than-2-year 12,482 9,493 7,635 2,061 1,058 4,183

 

Private for-profit 4-year 125,041 99,840 65,224 13,271 13,958 91,989

Private for-profit 2-year 215,643 184,631 132,277 24,251 9,611 149,943

Private for-profit less-than-2-year 246,346 198,101 160,906 9,191 12,556 150,463

 

Percent receiving 

 

Total students 75.0 38.7 27.8 28.0 45.3

Public 4-year 75.5 28.3 38.2 32.0 44.3

Public 2-year 61.2 39.7 29.9 10.8 17.5

Public less-than-2-year 60.4 45.8 12.8 5.6 22.8

 

Private not-for-profit 4-year 85.1 27.2 31.4 73.8 59.8

Private not-for-profit 2-year 79.9 50.5 30.4 31.6 46.9

Private not-for-profit less-than-2-year 76.1 61.2 16.5 8.5 33.5

 

Private for-profit 4-year 79.8 52.2 10.6 11.2 73.6

Private for-profit 2-year 85.6 61.3 11.2 4.5 69.5

Private for-profit less-than-2-year 80.4 65.3 3.7 5.1 61.1

 

 Average amount2

 

Total students $2,908 $2,329 $5,824 $4,482

 

Public 4-year 3,048 2,622 3,388 3,998

Public 2-year 2,711 1,236 1,225 2,727

Public less-than-2-year 2,743 2,130 1,293 4,726

 

Private not-for-profit 4-year 3,463 3,059 9,360 4,991

Private not-for-profit 2-year 2,746 2,824 3,143 4,429

Private not-for-profit less-than-2-year 3,405 3,688 1,990 4,430

 

Private for-profit 4-year 2,564 2,189 1,845 5,955

Private for-profit 2-year 2,826 2,417 1,213 5,425

Private for-profit less-than-2-year 2,776 2,239 709 4,284

1 Loans to students include only loans made directly to students; federal loans to parents (PLUS) and other loans made directly to 

parents are not included. 

2 Each average grant (or loan) value was calculated by dividing the total grants (or loans) awarded by the total number of recipients.

NOTE: The numbers shown reflect only those institutions that reported the number of recipients by types of financial aid and the 

average amounts received. Due to natural disaster, seven institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were 

imputed, and they are represented in this table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data 

System (IPEDS), Spring 2006, Student Financial Aid component. 
38 
A-1

Appendix A: 

Survey Methodology 

Overview 

IPEDS defines a postsecondary institution as an organization that is open to the public and has a 

primary mission of providing education or training beyond the high school level. The primary 

focus of the IPEDS spring 2006 collection was to collect data from Title IV institutions. These 

institutions have Program Participation Agreements (PPAs) with the Office of Postsecondary 

Education (OPE) within the U.S. Department of Education and thus are eligible to participate in 

Title IV student financial aid programs. There were 6,705 Title IV institutions1

 and 

administrative offices located in the United States and the other jurisdictions of the United 

States, such as Puerto Rico,2

 in the 2005-06 academic year. 

IPEDS began collecting data from all postsecondary institutions in 1986, when it superseded the 

Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS), which was directed at institutions of 

higher education only. HEGIS data were collected from 1966 through 1985. In 1992, the focus of 

IPEDS became the Title IV institutions, when the Higher Education Amendments made 

reporting to IPEDS mandatory for these institutions. In 2000, IPEDS implemented a web-based 

data collection system with the capability of tailoring data collection screens to each institution. 

Edits were also built into the system to give immediate feedback to the institutions when 

problems were detected. This system has allowed for earlier release of data to institutions and the 

public, primarily through the IPEDS Peer Analysis System and College Opportunities On-Line. 

The spring 2006 collection was entirely web-based. Institutions in the universe were asked to 

enter their survey responses using the IPEDS data collection website. The spring 2006 IPEDS 

data were collected between March 8 and May 3, 2006. The collection had four components: 

Enrollment, Student Financial Aid, Finance, and Graduation Rates. 

Terminology Used in the IPEDS Web Collection 

Please refer to the Glossary provided at the end of this document for definitions of various terms. 

Universe, Institutions Surveyed, and Response Rates 

The IPEDS universe is established during the fall collection period. For the 2005-06 cycle, 49 

institutions and one administrative office included in prior IPEDS data collections were declared 

to be outside the scope of IPEDS because they were closed or were merged with another 

institution. Another 173 institutions included separately in prior IPEDS data collections were 

reclassified and are now reported by a parent institution. In addition, 193 institutions and one 

administrative office were added to the universe. These institutions were identified from several 

 

1

 Includes 6,622 institutions and 83 administrative (central or system) offices. The central and system offices are 

required to complete the Institutional Characteristics component in the fall, the Staff component in the winter (if 

they have more than 15 full-time staff), and the Finance component in the spring (if they have their own separate 

budget). 

2

 The other jurisdictions include American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Marshall Islands, 

the Northern Marianas, Palau, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. 
A-2

sources, including a universe review by state coordinators, a review of the data file maintained 

by OPE, and information provided by the institutions themselves. 

The full set of 6,705 Title IV entities was validated by matching the IPEDS universe file with 

OPE’s Postsecondary Education Participation System (PEPS) file. Because most of the studies 

that use IPEDS data concentrate on the Title IV institutions, this group is the main focus of 

IPEDS. Also, according to Section 490 of the Higher Education Amendments of 1992 (P.L. 102-

325), IPEDS is mandatory for any institutions that participate in or are applicants for 

participation in any federal financial assistance program authorized by Title IV of the Higher 

Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 USC 1094(a)(17)). Four of the U.S. service academies 

are included in the IPEDS universe as if they were Title IV institutions.3

The IPEDS database includes institutions that do not participate in Title IV financial aid 

programs. These institutions are invited to participate in the IPEDS program, and if they 

voluntarily respond to the surveys, the institutions are included in College Opportunities On-Line 

Locator (IPEDS COOL). IPEDS COOL is a website developed to help parents and students 

make informed decisions about postsecondary education. 

Not all 6,705 Title IV postsecondary entities were required to participate in all components of the 

spring data collection. For example, the Student Financial Aid (SFA) and Graduation Rates 

(GRS) components are applicable only to those institutions that have full-time, first-time, 

degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students. The Finance component applies to all 

institutions and administrative (central/system) offices. See the Survey Components section 

below for further details regarding which institutions were required to complete each component. 

Table A-1 provides the number of Title IV institutions and administrative offices and the survey 

response rates by degree-granting status and by level and control of institution for the United 

States and other jurisdictions for each of the four spring components. 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 2006 IPEDS collection were quite high. The response rate for 

each component was over 99 percent: over 99.9 percent for Enrollment, right at 99.9 percent for 

Finance, and 99.7 percent for Student Financial Aid and Graduation Rates. 

Table A-1a provides the number of Title IV institutions and administrative offices and the survey 

response rates by degree-granting status and by level and control of institution for those 

institutions located in the United States only (excluding any other jurisdictions). 

Some responding institutions did not report data for all Parts of the Enrollment component, and 

the missing Parts were imputed. Hence, response rates for the Enrollment component are 

provided in table A-2 for the entire IPEDS universe and in table A2-a for those institutions 

located in the United States only (excluding any other jurisdictions). Part C, residence of firsttime students, is not included because Part C was optional this year. 

NCES required 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 90 percent. As 

shown in table A-1, no sectors require this analysis. 

 

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. One academy, the U.S. Merchant 

Marine Academy, is Title IV eligible. Data for all five institutions are included in each of the tables and counts of 

institutions and students. 
A-3

Table A-1. Title IV institutions and administrative offices responding to the IPEDS spring 2006 data 

collection, by degree-granting status and level and control of institution/office: United States 

and other jurisdictions 

Enrollment1 Student Financial Aid2 Degree-granting status and 

level and control of 

institution/office Final universe

Number 

responded

Response 

rate (%) Final universe 

Number 

responded 

Response 

rate (%)

 

All institutions 6,607 6,604 100.0 6,173 6,155 99.7

 

Public 2,036 2,035 100.0 1,983 1,980 99.8

Private not-for-profit 1,911 1,910 99.9 1,589 1,584 99.7

Private for-profit 2,660 2,659 100.0 2,601 2,591 99.6

4-year 2,658 2,657 100.0 2,265 2,259 99.7

 Public 657 656 99.8 606 604 99.7

 Private not-for-profit 1,586 1,586 100.0 1,281 1,277 99.7

 Private for-profit 415 415 100.0 378 378 100.0

2-year 2,214 2,214 100.0 2,195 2,191 99.8

 Public 1,161 1,161 100.0 1,161 1,160 99.9

 Private not-for-profit 222 222 100.0 207 207 100.0

 Private for-profit 831 831 100.0 827 824 99.6

Less-than-2-year 1,735 1,733 99.9 1,713 1,705 99.5

 Public 218 218 100.0 216 216 100.0

 Private not-for-profit 103 102 99.0 101 100 99.0

 Private for-profit 1,414 1,413 99.9 1,396 1,389 99.5

 

Degree-granting 4,355 4,354 100.0 3,977 3,967 99.7

 

4-year 2,641 2,640 100.0 2,264 2,258 99.7

Public 656 655 99.8 606 604 99.7

Private not-for-profit 1,570 1,570 100.0 1,280 1,276 99.7

Private for-profit 415 415 100.0 378 378 100.0

2-year 1,714 1,714 100.0 1,713 1,709 99.8

Public 1,060 1,060 100.0 1,060 1,059 99.9

Private not-for-profit 117 117 100.0 115 115 100.0

Private for-profit 537 537 100.0 538 535 99.4

 

Non-degree-granting 2,252 2,250 99.9 2,196 2,188 99.6

 

4-year 17 17 100.0 1 1 100.0

Public 1 1 100.0 0 0 †

Private not-for-profit 16 16 100.0 1 1 100.0

Private for-profit 0 0 † 0 0 †

2-year 500 500 100.0 482 482 100.0

Public 101 101 100.0 101 101 100.0

Private not-for-profit 105 105 100.0 92 92 100.0

Private for-profit 294 294 100.0 289 289 100.0

Less-than-2-year 1,735 1,733 99.9 1,713 1,705 99.5

Public 218 218 100.0 216 216 100.0

Private not-for-profit 103 102 99.0 101 100 99.0

Private for-profit 1,414 1,413 99.9 1,396 1,389 99.5

 

See notes at end of table. 
A-4

Table A-1. Title IV institutions and administrative offices responding to the IPEDS spring 2006 data 

collection, by degree-granting status and level and control of institution/office: United States 

and other jurisdictions—Continued 

Finance3 Graduation Rates2 Degree-granting status and 

level and control of 

institution/office Final universe

Number 

responded

Response 

rate (%) Final universe 

Number 

responded 

Response 

rate (%)

 

All institutions 6,680 6,670 99.9 5,886 5,867 99.7

 

Public 2,105 2,104 100.0 1,968 1,965 99.8

Private not-for-profit 1,905 1,902 99.8 1,555 1,551 99.7

Private for-profit 2,670 2,664 99.8 2,363 2,351 99.5

4-year 2,702 2,699 99.9 2,133 2,127 99.7

 Public 697 696 99.9 600 598 99.7

 Private not-for-profit 1,588 1,586 99.9 1,251 1,248 99.8

 Private for-profit 417 417 100.0 282 281 99.6

2-year 2,239 2,235 99.8 2,133 2,129 99.8

 Public 1,193 1,193 100.0 1,155 1,154 99.9

 Private not-for-profit 212 212 100.0 206 206 100.0

 Private for-profit 834 830 99.5 772 769 99.6

Less-than-2-year 1,739 1,736 99.8 1,620 1,611 99.4

 Public 215 215 100.0 213 213 100.0

 Private not-for-profit 105 104 99.0 98 97 99.0

 Private for-profit 1,419 1,417 99.9 1,309 1,301 99.4

 

Degree-granting 4,437 4,431 99.9 3,795 3,785 99.7

 

4-year 2,690 2,687 99.9 2,132 2,126 99.7

Public 697 696 99.9 600 598 99.7

Private not-for-profit 1,576 1,574 99.9 1,250 1,247 99.8

Private for-profit 417 417 100.0 282 281 99.6

2-year 1,747 1,744 99.8 1,663 1,659 99.8

Public 1,092 1,092 100.0 1,056 1,055 99.9

Private not-for-profit 115 115 100.0 113 113 100.0

Private for-profit 540 537 99.4 494 491 99.4

 

Non-degree-granting 2,243 2,239 99.8 2,091 2,082 99.6

 

4-year 12 12 100.0 1 1 100.0

Public 0 0 † 0 0 †

Private not-for-profit 12 12 100.0 1 1 100.0

Private for-profit 0 0 † 0 0 †

2-year 492 491 99.8 470 470 100.0

Public 101 101 100.0 99 99 100.0

Private not-for-profit 97 97 100.0 93 93 100.0

Private for-profit 294 293 99.7 278 278 100.0

Less-than-2-year 1,739 1,736 99.8 1,620 1,611 99.4

Public 215 215 100.0 213 213 100.0

Private not-for-profit 105 104 99.0 98 97 99.0

Private for-profit 1,419 1,417 99.9 1,309 1,301 99.4

† Not applicable. 

1

 Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were not imputed, and they are not

represented in this table. Seven institutions not eligible for Part A were eligible for Parts E and F (see table A-2). 2

 Due to natural disaster, seven institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were imputed, and they are 

represented in this table. 

3

 Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were imputed, and they are represented in 

this table. 

NOTE: For the Finance component response rates, administrative offices are included in the counts according to the level of the

institution(s) they serve because they complete the Finance component. Data were imputed for all total nonrespondents. In addition, 

data were imputed for institutions that did not respond to all Parts of the Enrollment component (partial nonrespondents). The other 

jurisdictions include American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Marshall Islands, the Northern Marianas, 

Palau, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data 

System (IPEDS), Spring 2006. 
A-5

Table A-1a. Title IV institutions and administrative offices responding to the IPEDS spring 2006 data 

collection, by degree-granting status and level and control of institution/office: United States 

Enrollment1 Student Financial Aid2 Degree-granting status and 

level and control of 

institution/office Final universe

Number 

responded

Response 

rate (%) Final universe 

Number 

responded 

Response 

rate (%)

 

All institutions 6,448 6,445 100.0 6,021 6,003 99.7

 

Public 2,011 2,010 100.0 1,959 1,956 99.8

Private not-for-profit 1,861 1,860 99.9 1,545 1,540 99.7

Private for-profit 2,576 2,575 100.0 2,517 2,507 99.6

4-year 2,597 2,596 100.0 2,211 2,205 99.7

 Public 640 639 99.8 590 588 99.7

 Private not-for-profit 1,549 1,549 100.0 1,250 1,246 99.7

 Private for-profit 408 408 100.0 371 371 100.0

2-year 2,189 2,189 100.0 2,170 2,166 99.8

 Public 1,153 1,153 100.0 1,153 1,152 99.9

 Private not-for-profit 218 218 100.0 203 203 100.0

 Private for-profit 818 818 100.0 814 811 99.6

Less-than-2-year 1,662 1,660 99.9 1,640 1,632 99.5

 Public 218 218 100.0 216 216 100.0

 Private not-for-profit 94 93 98.9 92 91 98.9

 Private for-profit 1,350 1,349 99.9 1,332 1,325 99.5

 

Degree-granting 4,270 4,269 100.0 3,899 3,889 99.7

 

4-year 2,580 2,579 100.0 2,210 2,204 99.7

Public 639 638 99.8 590 588 99.7

Private not-for-profit 1,533 1,533 100.0 1,249 1,245 99.7

Private for-profit 408 408 100.0 371 371 100.0

2-year 1,690 1,690 100.0 1,689 1,685 99.8

Public 1,052 1,052 100.0 1,052 1,051 99.9

Private not-for-profit 113 113 100.0 111 111 100.0

Private for-profit 525 525 100.0 526 523 99.4

 

Non-degree-granting 2,178 2,176 99.9 2,122 2,114 99.6

 

4-year 17 17 100.0 1 1 100.0

Public 1 1 100.0 0 0 †

Private not-for-profit 16 16 100.0 1 1 100.0

Private for-profit 0 0 † 0 0 †

2-year 499 499 100.0 481 481 100.0

Public 101 101 100.0 101 101 100.0

Private not-for-profit 105 105 100.0 92 92 100.0

Private for-profit 293 293 100.0 288 288 100.0

Less-than-2-year 1,662 1,660 99.9 1,640 1,632 99.5

Public 218 218 100.0 216 216 100.0

Private not-for-profit 94 93 98.9 92 91 98.9

Private for-profit 1,350 1,349 99.9 1,332 1,325 99.5

 

See notes at end of table. 
A-6

Table A-1a. Title IV institutions and offices responding to the IPEDS spring 2006 data collection, by 

degree-granting status and level and control of institution: United States—Continued 

Finance3 Graduation Rates2 Degree-granting status and 

level and control of 

institution/office Final universe

Number 

responded

Response 

rate (%) Final universe 

Number 

responded 

Response 

rate (%)

 

All institutions 6,518 6,508 99.8 5,739 5,720 99.7

 

Public 2,079 2,078 100.0 1,944 1,941 99.8

Private not-for-profit 1,853 1,850 99.8 1,513 1,509 99.7

Private for-profit 2,586 2,580 99.8 2,282 2,270 99.5

4-year 2,638 2,635 99.9 2,081 2,075 99.7

 Public 679 678 99.9 584 582 99.7

 Private not-for-profit 1,549 1,547 99.9 1,222 1,219 99.8

 Private for-profit 410 410 100.0 275 274 99.6

2-year 2,214 2,210 99.8 2,109 2,105 99.8

 Public 1,185 1,185 100.0 1,147 1,146 99.9

 Private not-for-profit 208 208 100.0 202 202 100.0

 Private for-profit 821 817 99.5 760 757 99.6

Less-than-2-year 1,666 1,663 99.8 1,549 1,540 99.4

 Public 215 215 100.0 213 213 100.0

 Private not-for-profit 96 95 99.0 89 88 98.9

 Private for-profit 1,355 1,353 99.9 1,247 1,239 99.4

 

Degree-granting 4,349 4,343 99.9 3,720 3,710 99.7

 

4-year 2,626 2,623 99.9 2,080 2,074 99.7

Public 679 678 99.9 584 582 99.7

Private not-for-profit 1,537 1,535 99.9 1,221 1,218 99.8

Private for-profit 410 410 100.0 275 274 99.6

2-year 1,723 1,720 99.8 1,640 1,636 99.8

Public 1,084 1,084 100.0 1,048 1,047 99.9

Private not-for-profit 111 111 100.0 109 109 100.0

Private for-profit 528 525 99.4 483 480 99.4

 

Non-degree-granting 2,169 2,165 99.8 2,019 2,010 99.6

 

4-year 12 12 100.0 1 1 100.0

Public 0 0 † 0 0 †

Private not-for-profit 12 12 100.0 1 1 100.0

Private for-profit 0 0 † 0 0 †

2-year 491 490 99.8 469 469 100.0

Public 101 101 100.0 99 99 100.0

Private not-for-profit 97 97 100.0 93 93 100.0

Private for-profit 293 292 99.7 277 277 100.0

Less-than-2-year 1,666 1,663 99.8 1,549 1,540 99.4

Public 215 215 100.0 213 213 100.0

Private not-for-profit 96 95 99.0 89 88 98.9

Private for-profit 1,355 1,353 99.9 1,247 1,239 99.4

† Not applicable. 

1

 Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were not imputed, and they are not

represented in this table. Seven institutions not eligible for Part A were eligible for Parts E and F (see table A-2). 2

 Due to natural disaster, seven institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were imputed, and they are 

represented in this table. 

3

 Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were imputed, and they are represented in 

this table. 

NOTE: For the Finance component response rates, administrative offices are included in the counts according to the level of the

institution(s) they serve because they complete the Finance component. Data were imputed for all total nonrespondents. In addition, 

data were imputed for institutions that did not respond to all Parts of the Enrollment component (partial nonrespondents). 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data 

System (IPEDS), Spring 2006. 
A-7

Survey Procedures 

The IPEDS spring 2006 data collection was an IPEDS web-based data collection. Each 

institution designated a keyholder, who was the person responsible for ensuring that survey data 

submitted by the institution were correct. The keyholder could generate UserIDs and passwords 

for up to six additional survey respondents who could also enter and review data. For many 

institutions, keyholders were also required to edit and “lock” the data; locking is equivalent to 

submitting completed data to NCES. Additionally, many states or systems had one or more 

coordinators. 

Coordinators are individuals who take responsibility for a specified group of institutions to 

ensure that all data were entered correctly. Some coordinators may be responsible for a system of 

institutions (e.g., SUNY—the State University of New York); others may coordinate all or some 

institutions in a state. Also, coordinators may elect to provide different levels of review. For 

example, some may only view data provided by their institutions, while others may upload, 

review, and lock data for their institutions. 

For the 2005-06 IPEDS data collections, keyholders were asked to register prior to the fall 2005 

data collection. Registration information, including UserIDs and passwords, was e-mailed to 

existing keyholders in mid-July. Also in mid-July, letters were sent to chief executive officers 

(CEOs) at institutions without pre-registered keyholders, requesting that they appoint a 

keyholder for the 2005-06 collection year. The package included a letter for the keyholder and a 

registration certificate with the institution’s UserID and password for the entire 2005-06 

collection period. Subsequent registration mailings were sent to CEOs at institutions at which a 

keyholder had still not been registered, in mid-August, mid-September, mid-December, and midMarch. At the beginning of the winter and spring collections (in late November and early March, 

respectively), e-mail messages were sent to registered keyholders and coordinators requesting 

that they update or confirm their registration contact information when the collections opened. 

Schools were allowed to designate a new keyholder at any time during the collection year, if 

needed. As with previous IPEDS studies, follow-up for nonresponse was conducted with CEOs, 

coordinators, and keyholders via mail, e-mail, and telephone throughout all three collection 

periods. 

The web-based survey instruments offered many features designed to improve the quality and 

timeliness of the data. As indicated above, survey respondents were required to register before 

entering 2005-06 data to ensure a point of contact between NCES/IPEDS and the institution. 

Online data entry forms were tailored to each institution based on characteristics such as degreegranting status, control of institution (public, private not-for-profit, private for-profit), and level 

of institution (4-year, 2-year, and less-than-2-year). 

When data from previous years were available for an institution, they were preloaded on the 

customized forms for easy reference and comparison purposes. Once the 2005-06 data were 

entered, either manually or through file upload, the keyholders were required to run edit checks 

and resolve all errors before they were able to lock their data. Once data were locked, they were 

considered “submitted,” regardless of whether or not the coordinator had reviewed the 

submission. 
A-8

Table A-2. Title IV institutions responding to the IPEDS spring 2006 Enrollment component, by Part, 

degree-granting status, and level and control of institution: United States and other 

jurisdictions 

Part A, by race/ethnicity and gender1 Part B, by age and gender1 Degree-granting status and 

level and control of 

institution/office Final universe

Number 

responded

Response 

rate (%) Final universe 

Number 

responded 

Response 

rate (%)

 

All institutions 6,607 6,604 100.0 6,607 6,604 100.0

 

Public 2,036 2,035 100.0 2,036 2,035 100.0

Private not-for-profit 1,911 1,910 99.9 1,911 1,910 99.9

Private for-profit 2,660 2,659 100.0 2,660 2,659 100.0

4-year 2,658 2,657 100.0 2,658 2,657 100.0

 Public 657 656 99.8 657 656 99.8

 Private not-for-profit 1,586 1,586 100.0 1,586 1,586 100.0

 Private for-profit 415 415 100.0 415 415 100.0

2-year 2,214 2,214 100.0 2,214 2,214 100.0

 Public 1,161 1,161 100.0 1,161 1,161 100.0

 Private not-for-profit 222 222 100.0 222 222 100.0

 Private for-profit 831 831 100.0 831 831 100.0

Less-than-2-year 1,735 1,733 99.9 1,735 1,733 99.9

 Public 218 218 100.0 218 218 100.0

 Private not-for-profit 103 102 99.0 103 102 99.0

 Private for-profit 1,414 1,413 99.9 1,414 1,413 99.9

 

Degree-granting 4,355 4,354 100.0 4,355 4,354 100.0

 

4-year 2,641 2,640 100.0 2,641 2,640 100.0

Public 656 655 99.8 656 655 99.8

Private not-for-profit 1,570 1,570 100.0 1,570 1,570 100.0

Private for-profit 415 415 100.0 415 415 100.0

2-year 1,714 1,714 100.0 1,714 1,714 100.0

Public 1,060 1,060 100.0 1,060 1,060 100.0

Private not-for-profit 117 117 100.0 117 117 100.0

Private for-profit 537 537 100.0 537 537 100.0

 

Non-degree-granting 2,252 2,250 99.9 2,252 2,250 99.9

 

4-year 17 17 100.0 17 17 100.0

Public 1 1 100.0 1 1 100.0

Private not-for-profit 16 16 100.0 16 16 100.0

Private for-profit 0 0 † 0 0 †

2-year 500 500 100.0 500 500 100.0

Public 101 101 100.0 101 101 100.0

Private not-for-profit 105 105 100.0 105 105 100.0

Private for-profit 294 294 100.0 294 294 100.0

Less-than-2-year 1,735 1,733 99.9 1,735 1,733 99.9

Public 218 218 100.0 218 218 100.0

Private not-for-profit 103 102 99.0 103 102 99.0

Private for-profit 1,414 1,413 99.9 1,414 1,413 99.9

 

See notes at end of table. 
A-9

Table A-2. Title IV institutions responding to the IPEDS spring 2006 Enrollment component, by Part, 

degree-granting status, and level and control of institution: United States and other 

jurisdictions—Continued 

Part D, total entering class1,2 Part E, unduplicated count3 Degree-granting status and 

level and control of 

institution/office Final universe

Number 

responded

Response 

rate (%) Final universe 

Number 

responded 

Response 

rate (%)

 

All institutions 4,086 4,084 100.0 6,614 6,605 99.9

 

Public 1,734 1,733 99.9 2,038 2,035 99.9

Private not-for-profit 1,462 1,461 99.9 1,912 1,910 99.9

Private for-profit 890 890 100.0 2,664 2,660 99.8

4-year 2,244 2,243 100.0 2,660 2,657 99.9

 Public 607 606 99.8 658 656 99.7

 Private not-for-profit 1,270 1,270 100.0 1,587 1,586 99.9

 Private for-profit 367 367 100.0 415 415 100.0

2-year 1,648 1,648 100.0 2,218 2,214 99.8

 Public 1,077 1,077 100.0 1,162 1,161 99.9

 Private not-for-profit 175 175 100.0 222 222 100.0

 Private for-profit 396 396 100.0 834 831 99.6

Less-than-2-year 194 193 99.5 1,736 1,734 99.9

 Public 50 50 100.0 218 218 100.0

 Private not-for-profit 17 16 94.1 103 102 99.0

 Private for-profit 127 127 100.0 1,415 1,414 99.9

 

Degree-granting 3,757 3,756 100.0 4,361 4,354 99.8

 

4-year 2,244 2,243 100.0 2,643 2,640 99.9

Public 607 606 99.8 657 655 99.7

Private not-for-profit 1,270 1,270 100.0 1,571 1,570 99.9

Private for-profit 367 367 100.0 415 415 100.0

2-year 1,513 1,513 100.0 1,718 1,714 99.8

Public 1,045 1,045 100.0 1,061 1,060 99.9

Private not-for-profit 109 109 100.0 117 117 100.0

Private for-profit 359 359 100.0 540 537 99.4

 

Non-degree-granting 329 328 99.7 2,253 2,251 99.9

 

4-year 0 0 † 17 17 100.0

Public 0 0 † 1 1 100.0

Private not-for-profit 0 0 † 16 16 100.0

Private for-profit 0 0 † 0 0 †

2-year 135 135 100.0 500 500 100.0

Public 32 32 100.0 101 101 100.0

Private not-for-profit 66 66 100.0 105 105 100.0

Private for-profit 37 37 100.0 294 294 100.0

Less-than-2-year 194 193 99.5 1,736 1,734 99.9

Public 50 50 100.0 218 218 100.0

Private not-for-profit 17 16 94.1 103 102 99.0

Private for-profit 127 127 100.0 1,415 1,414 99.9

 

See notes at end of table. 
A-10

Table A-2. Title IV institutions responding to the IPEDS spring 2006 Enrollment component, by Part, 

degree-granting status, and level and control of institution: United States and other 

jurisdictions—Continued 

Part F, instructional activity3 Part G, retention rates1,4 Degree-granting status and 

level and control of 

institution/office Final universe

Number 

responded

Response 

rate (%) Final universe 

Number 

responded 

Response 

rate (%)

 

All institutions 6,614 6,605 99.9 5,899 5,896 99.9

 

Public 2,038 2,035 99.9 1,973 1,972 99.9

Private not-for-profit 1,912 1,910 99.9 1,551 1,550 99.9

Private for-profit 2,664 2,660 99.8 2,375 2,374 100.0

4-year 2,660 2,657 99.9 2,260 2,259 100.0

 Public 658 656 99.7 607 606 99.8

 Private not-for-profit 1,587 1,586 99.9 1,274 1,274 100.0

 Private for-profit 415 415 100.0 379 379 100.0

2-year 2,218 2,214 99.8 2,184 2,184 100.0

 Public 1,162 1,161 99.9 1,156 1,156 100.0

 Private not-for-profit 222 222 100.0 204 204 100.0

 Private for-profit 834 831 99.6 824 824 100.0

Less-than-2-year 1,736 1,734 99.9 1,455 1,453 99.9

 Public 218 218 100.0 210 210 100.0

 Private not-for-profit 103 102 99.0 73 72 98.6

 Private for-profit 1,415 1,414 99.9 1,172 1,171 99.9

 

Degree-granting 4,361 4,354 99.8 3,966 3,965 100.0

 

4-year 2,643 2,640 99.9 2,259 2,258 100.0

Public 657 655 99.7 607 606 99.8

Private not-for-profit 1,571 1,570 99.9 1,273 1,273 100.0

Private for-profit 415 415 100.0 379 379 100.0

2-year 1,718 1,714 99.8 1,707 1,707 100.0

Public 1,061 1,060 99.9 1,055 1,055 100.0

Private not-for-profit 117 117 100.0 116 116 100.0

Private for-profit 540 537 99.4 536 536 100.0

 

Non-degree-granting 2,253 2,251 99.9 1,933 1,931 99.9

 

4-year 17 17 100.0 1 1 100.0

Public 1 1 100.0 0 0 †

Private not-for-profit 16 16 100.0 1 1 100.0

Private for-profit 0 0 † 0 0 †

2-year 500 500 100.0 477 477 100.0

Public 101 101 100.0 101 101 100.0

Private not-for-profit 105 105 100.0 88 88 100.0

Private for-profit 294 294 100.0 288 288 100.0

Less-than-2-year 1,736 1,734 99.9 1,455 1,453 99.9

Public 218 218 100.0 210 210 100.0

Private not-for-profit 103 102 99.0 73 72 98.6

Private for-profit 1,415 1,414 99.9 1,172 1,171 99.9

† Not applicable. 

1

 Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were not imputed, and they are not

represented in this table. 

2

 These data are not required for program-reporting institutions. 

3

 Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were imputed, and they are represented in 

this table. These six institutions and one additional institution were not eligible for Part A, but were eligible for Parts E and F. 4

 These data are not required for institutions that have only less-than-1-year programs. 

NOTE: The other jurisdictions include American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Marshall Islands, the 

Northern Marianas, Palau, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data 

System (IPEDS), Spring 2006, Enrollment component. 
A-11

Table A-2a. Title IV institutions responding to the IPEDS spring 2006 Enrollment component, by Part, 

degree-granting status, and level and control of institution: United States 

Part A, by race/ethnicity and gender1 Part B, by age and gender1 Degree-granting status and 

level and control of 

institution/office Final universe

Number 

responded

Response 

rate (%) Final universe 

Number 

responded 

Response 

rate (%)

 

All institutions 6,448 6,445 100.0 6,448 6,445 100.0

 

Public 2,011 2,010 100.0 2,011 2,010 100.0

Private not-for-profit 1,861 1,860 99.9 1,861 1,860 99.9

Private for-profit 2,576 2,575 100.0 2,576 2,575 100.0

4-year 2,597 2,596 100.0 2,597 2,596 100.0

 Public 640 639 99.8 640 639 99.8

 Private not-for-profit 1,549 1,549 100.0 1,549 1,549 100.0

 Private for-profit 408 408 100.0 408 408 100.0

2-year 2,189 2,189 100.0 2,189 2,189 100.0

 Public 1,153 1,153 100.0 1,153 1,153 100.0

 Private not-for-profit 218 218 100.0 218 218 100.0

 Private for-profit 818 818 100.0 818 818 100.0

Less-than-2-year 1,662 1,660 99.9 1,662 1,660 99.9

 Public 218 218 100.0 218 218 100.0

 Private not-for-profit 94 93 98.9 94 93 98.9

 Private for-profit 1,350 1,349 99.9 1,350 1,349 99.9

 

Degree-granting 4,270 4,269 100.0 4,270 4,269 100.0

 

4-year 2,580 2,579 100.0 2,580 2,579 100.0

Public 639 638 99.8 639 638 99.8

Private not-for-profit 1,533 1,533 100.0 1,533 1,533 100.0

Private for-profit 408 408 100.0 408 408 100.0

2-year 1,690 1,690 100.0 1,690 1,690 100.0

Public 1,052 1,052 100.0 1,052 1,052 100.0

Private not-for-profit 113 113 100.0 113 113 100.0

Private for-profit 525 525 100.0 525 525 100.0

 

Non-degree-granting 2,178 2,176 99.9 2,178 2,176 99.9

 

4-year 17 17 100.0 17 17 100.0

Public 1 1 100.0 1 1 100.0

Private not-for-profit 16 16 100.0 16 16 100.0

Private for-profit 0 0 † 0 0 †

2-year 499 499 100.0 499 499 100.0

Public 101 101 100.0 101 101 100.0

Private not-for-profit 105 105 100.0 105 105 100.0

Private for-profit 293 293 100.0 293 293 100.0

Less-than-2-year 1,662 1,660 99.9 1,662 1,660 99.9

Public 218 218 100.0 218 218 100.0

Private not-for-profit 94 93 98.9 94 93 98.9

Private for-profit 1,350 1,349 99.9 1,350 1,349 99.9

 

See notes at end of table. 
A-12

Table A-2a. Title IV institutions responding to the IPEDS spring 2006 Enrollment component, by Part, 

degree-granting status, and level and control of institution: United States—Continued 

Part D, total entering class1,2 Part E, unduplicated count3 Degree-granting status and 

level and control of 

institution/office Final universe

Number 

responded

Response 

rate (%) Final universe 

Number 

responded 

Response 

rate (%)

 

All institutions 3,978 3,976 99.9 6,455 6,446 99.9

 

Public 1,710 1,709 99.9 2,013 2,010 99.9

Private not-for-profit 1,422 1,421 99.9 1,862 1,860 99.9

Private for-profit 846 846 100.0 2,580 2,576 99.8

4-year 2,190 2,189 100.0 2,599 2,596 99.9

 Public 591 590 99.8 641 639 99.7

 Private not-for-profit 1,239 1,239 100.0 1,550 1,549 99.9

 Private for-profit 360 360 100.0 408 408 100.0

2-year 1,627 1,627 100.0 2,193 2,189 99.8

 Public 1,069 1,069 100.0 1,154 1,153 99.9

 Private not-for-profit 172 172 100.0 218 218 100.0

 Private for-profit 386 386 100.0 821 818 99.6

Less-than-2-year 161 160 99.4 1,663 1,661 99.9

 Public 50 50 100.0 218 218 100.0

 Private not-for-profit 11 10 90.9 94 93 98.9

 Private for-profit 100 100 100.0 1,351 1,350 99.9

 

Degree-granting 3,682 3,681 100.0 4,276 4,269 99.8

 

4-year 2,190 2,189 100.0 2,582 2,579 99.9

Public 591 590 99.8 640 638 99.7

Private not-for-profit 1,239 1,239 100.0 1,534 1,533 99.9

Private for-profit 360 360 100.0 408 408 100.0

2-year 1,492 1,492 100.0 1,694 1,690 99.8

Public 1,037 1,037 100.0 1,053 1,052 99.9

Private not-for-profit 106 106 100.0 113 113 100.0

Private for-profit 349 349 100.0 528 525 99.4

 

Non-degree-granting 296 295 99.7 2,179 2,177 99.9

 

4-year 0 0 † 17 17 100.0

Public 0 0 † 1 1 100.0

Private not-for-profit 0 0 † 16 16 100.0

Private for-profit 0 0 † 0 0 †

2-year 135 135 100.0 499 499 100.0

Public 32 32 100.0 101 101 100.0

Private not-for-profit 66 66 100.0 105 105 100.0

Private for-profit 37 37 100.0 293 293 100.0

Less-than-2-year 161 160 99.4 1,663 1,661 99.9

Public 50 50 100.0 218 218 100.0

Private not-for-profit 11 10 90.9 94 93 98.9

Private for-profit 100 100 100.0 1,351 1,350 99.9

 

See notes at end of table. 
A-13

Table A-2a. Title IV institutions responding to the IPEDS spring 2006 Enrollment component, by Part, 

degree-granting status, and level and control of institution: United States—Continued 

Part F, instructional activity3 Part G, retention rates1,4 Degree-granting status and 

level and control of 

institution/office Final universe

Number 

responded

Response 

rate (%) Final universe 

Number 

responded 

Response 

rate (%)

 

All institutions 6,455 6,446 99.9 5,750 5,747 99.9

 

Public 2,013 2,010 99.9 1,949 1,948 99.9

Private not-for-profit 1,862 1,860 99.9 1,508 1,507 99.9

Private for-profit 2,580 2,576 99.8 2,293 2,292 100.0

4-year 2,599 2,596 99.9 2,206 2,205 100.0

 Public 641 639 99.7 591 590 99.8

 Private not-for-profit 1,550 1,549 99.9 1,243 1,243 100.0

 Private for-profit 408 408 100.0 372 372 100.0

2-year 2,193 2,189 99.8 2,159 2,159 100.0

 Public 1,154 1,153 99.9 1,148 1,148 100.0

 Private not-for-profit 218 218 100.0 200 200 100.0

 Private for-profit 821 818 99.6 811 811 100.0

Less-than-2-year 1,663 1,661 99.9 1,385 1,383 99.9

 Public 218 218 100.0 210 210 100.0

 Private not-for-profit 94 93 98.9 65 64 98.5

 Private for-profit 1,351 1,350 99.9 1,110 1,109 99.9

 

Degree-granting 4,276 4,269 99.8 3,888 3,887 100.0

 

4-year 2,582 2,579 99.9 2,205 2,204 100.0

Public 640 638 99.7 591 590 99.8

Private not-for-profit 1,534 1,533 99.9 1,242 1,242 100.0

Private for-profit 408 408 100.0 372 372 100.0

2-year 1,694 1,690 99.8 1,683 1,683 100.0

Public 1,053 1,052 99.9 1,047 1,047 100.0

Private not-for-profit 113 113 100.0 112 112 100.0

Private for-profit 528 525 99.4 524 524 100.0

 

Non-degree-granting 2,179 2,177 99.9 1,862 1,860 99.9

 

4-year 17 17 100.0 1 1 100.0

Public 1 1 100.0 0 0 †

Private not-for-profit 16 16 100.0 1 1 100.0

Private for-profit 0 0 † 0 0 †

2-year 499 499 100.0 476 476 100.0

Public 101 101 100.0 101 101 100.0

Private not-for-profit 105 105 100.0 88 88 100.0

Private for-profit 293 293 100.0 287 287 100.0

Less-than-2-year 1,663 1,661 99.9 1,385 1,383 99.9

Public 218 218 100.0 210 210 100.0

Private not-for-profit 94 93 98.9 65 64 98.5

Private for-profit 1,351 1,350 99.9 1,110 1,109 99.9

† Not applicable. 

1

 Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were not imputed, and they are not

represented in this table. 

2

 These data are not required for program-reporting institutions. 

3

 Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were imputed, and they are represented in 

this table. These six institutions and one additional institution were not eligible for Part A, but were eligible for Parts E and F. 4

 These data are not required for institutions that have only less-than-1-year programs. 

NOTE: The other jurisdictions include American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Marshall Islands, the 

Northern Marianas, Palau, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data 

System (IPEDS), Spring 2006, Enrollment component. 
A-14

Once the data were complete and all locks were applied, IPEDS help desk staff conducted a final 

review. If any additional problems were detected, the help desk staff contacted the institutions to 

resolve any remaining questions. Once the data were reviewed and, if necessary, problems 

resolved, most data were migrated to the Peer Analysis System (PAS), where they were made 

available to other responding institutions for comparison purposes. Because of confidentiality 

issues, Student Financial Aid and Graduation Rates data were not immediately available in the 

PAS. 

Survey Components 

Enrollment 

This component of the web-based survey has seven separate parts. Parts A, B, C, and D data are 

reported as of the institution’s official fall reporting date (or October 15, 2005) for the spring 

2006 data collection. Part A collects summary data on the number of students enrolled in the fall, 

including the number of first-time4

 degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate (freshmen) students; 

the total number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates; total undergraduates; total 

graduate students; and total first-professional students—all by race/ ethnicity, gender, and 

enrollment status (full or part time). Part B (which was required this year, but is optional for 

collections in odd numbered years) collects summary data on the number of students enrolled in 

the fall in each student level (undergraduate, graduate, and first-professional) by age category, 

gender, and enrollment status. Part C (which was optional for the spring 2006 collection) collects 

summary data on the residence of first-time degree/certificate-seeking (undergraduate-level) 

students and the number of those students enrolled in the fall who completed high school in the 

last 12 months, by state of residence. Part D collects data on the total number of undergraduate 

students that entered the institution for the first time in the fall term. This includes both full-time 

and part-time undergraduate students, whether degree/certificate-seeking or not, and any students 

who transferred into the institution. 

Parts E and F collect data for a 12-month reporting period in the previous year; institutions must 

indicate the 12-month period for which they are reporting—either July 1, 2004, through June 30, 

2005, or September 1, 2004, through August 31, 2005. Part E collects total unduplicated student 

counts by race/ethnicity, gender, and student level for those students enrolled during the 

reporting period. Students who attend at different levels in one year are counted at the highest 

level attained by the student. Part F collects data on the total amount of instructional activity and 

full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment for those students. 

Part G collects data on retention rates. Four-year institutions report one rate for full-time, firsttime bachelor’s-seeking undergraduate students and another for part-time, first-time bachelor’sseeking undergraduate students. Less-than-4-year institutions report one rate for full-time, firsttime degree/certificate-seeking students and another for part-time, first-time degree/certificateseeking students. Part G was required for the first time in the spring 2006 collection. 

 

4

 Throughout this publication, the term “first-time” refers to students who have not attended any institution 

previously. See the glossary for further definition of a first-time student. 
A-15

Student Financial Aid 

This component of the web-based survey has two parts: a section on student counts and a section 

on financial aid. Data are collected based on the 2004-05 academic year for those institutions that 

are part of the IPEDS universe and indicate that they enrolled full-time, first-time students in 

2004-05. Student counts are collected based on fall 2004 enrollment or unduplicated counts for 

2004-05, and institutions that charge tuition based on residency are asked to provide counts by 

in-district, in-state, and out-of-state students. The number of full-time, first-time degree/ 

certificate-seeking undergraduate students who received financial aid is collected by type of aid. 

For each type of aid, the average amount of aid received by those students for the entire 

academic year is also collected. Types of aid include federal grants (grants/educational assistance 

funds), state/local grants (grants/scholarships/waivers), institutional grants (scholarships/ 

fellowships), and loans to students. 

Finance 

This component of the web-based survey collects summary data on each institution’s financial 

status in fiscal year 2005. The Finance component has different versions of the form based 

mainly on control of the institution: public, private not-for-profit, and private for-profit. This 

year public institutions were allowed to choose between two versions of the survey depending on 

which standards were used for their internal accounting: (1) Government Accounting Standards 

Board (GASB) Statements 34 and 35 reporting standards or (2) Financial Accounting Standards 

Board (FASB) reporting standards. 

For public institutions that used GASB reporting standards to prepare their financial statements, 

data are collected on statement of net assets, plant, property, and equipment (Part A), revenues 

and other additions (Part B), expenses and other deductions (Part C), summary of changes in net 

assets (Part D), scholarships and fellowships (Part E), component units that report using FASB 

standards (Part F), component units that report using GASB standards (Part G), and endowment 

assets (Part H). Additionally, certain data are collected for the U.S. Bureau of the Census, 

including revenue data (Part J), expenditure data (Part K), and debts and assets (Part L).5

Private not-for-profit institutions and public institutions that used FASB reporting standards to 

prepare their financial statements report data on their statement of financial position (Part A), 

summary of changes in net assets (Part B), student grants (Part C), revenues and investment 

return (Part D), expenses by functional and natural classification (Part E), and endowment assets 

(Part H). A shortened version of the not-for-profit form has been developed for private for-profit 

institutions, and data are collected on balance sheet information (Part A), summary of changes in 

equity (Part B), student grants (Part C), revenues and investment return (Part D), and expenses 

by function (Part E). 

Graduation Rates 

This component collects the number of students entering the institution as full-time, first-time 

degree/certificate-seeking students in a particular year (cohort), by race/ethnicity and gender; the 

number of students in this cohort completing within 150 percent of normal time to program 

completion; the number that transferred to other institutions; the number receiving athletically 

related student aid; and the number of athletes completing within 150 percent of normal time. 

This survey was developed to help institutions comply with requirements of the Student Right-

 

5

 Part I has been discontinued and is no longer applicable. 
A-16

to-Know legislation. For 4-year institutions, the cohort consists of those students who first 

started in the 1998-99 academic year, and for 2-year and less-than-2-year institutions, the cohort 

is those students starting in the 2001-02 academic year. Institutions operating on standard 

academic terms (semester, trimester, quarter) report on a fall cohort; all other institutions report 

on a full 12-month period (September 1 through August 31). 

The 2005-06 survey forms are available at 

http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/web2000/SpringDataItems.asp. 

Edit Procedures 

Edit checks were built into the web-based instrument to detect major reporting errors. The 

system automatically generated percentages and totals on each component, and edit checks 

compared current responses to previously reported data. The edit checks could be run by the 

keyholder at any time during the collection, and all edit failures were required to be resolved 

before the keyholder could lock the data. As edit checks were executed, survey respondents were 

allowed to correct any errors detected by the system. If data were entered correctly but failed the 

edit checks, the survey respondents were asked either to confirm that the data were correct as 

entered or to explain why the data appeared to be out of the expected data range. Additionally, 

some edit failures were “fatal;” in these cases, the data had to be corrected rather than confirmed 

or explained. For the Graduation Rates component, respondents were permitted to change the 

initial cohort (previously reported numbers brought forward from responses to the Enrollment 

component) if the data were incorrectly reported. Survey respondents were also provided with a 

caveats box on each survey component and were encouraged to use this area to explain any 

special circumstances that might not be evident in their reported data. Finally, the data were 

manually reviewed for additional inconsistencies by coordinators (when applicable) and the 

IPEDS help desk staff. When necessary, keyholders were contacted to verify the accuracy of the 

data. 

The Enrollment survey had several automated edit checks. Among them, the number of full-time, 

first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students had to be less than or equal to the 

total number of students. Current year data were compared to data from previous years, and large 

discrepancies had to be justified in the edit explanations. Student counts, by level, were 

compared to activity hours to ensure hours were reported if students were reported at the 

undergraduate and graduate levels. Total first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate 

students in Part A (reported by race/ethnicity) had to equal the number reported in Part B 

(reported by age). For this collection cycle, Part C data were optional; however, if provided, total 

first-time degree/certificate-seeking students in Part A (reported by race/ethnicity) had to equal 

total first-time degree/certificate-seeking students in Part C (reported by state of residence, U.S. 

territory, or foreign country). If the system detected discrepancies in the numbers reported in 

Parts A, B, and C, balance amounts were generated and these balances were entered into 

“unknown” fields. This resulted in some negative numbers in the “unknown” fields, which were 

subsequently corrected prior to data cleaning and imputation. 

Edits were also applied to the Student Financial Aid component of the survey. For example, the 

number of full-time, first-time students had to be less than or equal to the total number of 

undergraduate students enrolled. The number of full-time, first-time students who received any 

financial aid during the full academic year had to be less than or equal to the number of full-time, 

first-time undergraduate students. For institutions that charged by residency, the sum of in-
A-17

district, in-state, and out-of-state full-time, first-time undergraduate students could not exceed the 

number of full-time, first-time undergraduate students. The number of full-time, first-time 

undergraduate students receiving federal grants could not exceed the number of full-time, firsttime undergraduate students who received any financial aid during the full academic year. The 

same criteria applied to state/local grants, institutional grants, and loans to students. 

For the Finance component, current year data were compared to the previous year’s data and 

large discrepancies had to be justified in the edit explanations. In the version of the Finance 

component for private, not-for-profit institutions, total net assets had to equal total unrestricted 

net assets plus total restricted net assets. Total net assets also had to equal total assets minus total 

liabilities. For all versions of the Finance component, selected fields—such as other sources of 

revenue, other expenses, and long-term debt outstanding at the end of the fiscal year—were 

generated by the collection system using predetermined formulas. Institutions were instructed to 

compare the generated totals to the information in their financial statement and resolve any data 

entry errors. 

For the Graduation Rates component, individual cells were summed to ensure that they did not 

exceed the revised cohort for any race/ethnicity or gender classification. Additionally, counts for 

athletic subcohorts were summed to ensure that they did not exceed the total cohort for any 

race/ethnicity or gender classification. Finally, if cohort members were reported for either section 

of the Graduation Rates component (bachelor’s-seeking or other-than-bachelor’s-seeking), at 

least one cell had to be completed in each applicable section. 

Imputation Procedures 

The Enrollment data, Finance data, Graduation Rates data, and Student Financial Aid data were 

all subject to imputation for nonresponse—both total (institutional) nonresponse and partial 

(item) nonresponse. In addition, the imputation base was restricted to institutions satisfying all of 

the following conditions: 

• The institution must participate in Title IV student financial aid programs. 

• The institution must be currently active6

 in IPEDS. 

• The institution must not be an administrative office. 

• The institution must not be a child institution (a child institution’s data are reported by 

another institution, referred to as the “parent”). 

• For the Graduation Rates component, the institution must have enrolled full-time, first-time 

students for the cohort year.

Enrollment 

For Part A of the Enrollment component, 110 imputation groups and 48 collapsed imputation 

groups were formed primarily based on institutional sector and undergraduate, graduate, and 

first-professional offerings. 

 

6

 Institutions that did not respond were verified as currently active (open for business) prior to imputation through 

telephone calls and e-mail. 
A-18

The following imputation methods were used (in order of preference) to impute missing data in 

enrollment Parts A, B, E, and F: 

• Carry Forward—Reported 2004 (or 2003) enrollment data were carried forward to the 

current year. The number of students reported in 2004 (or 2003) was used as the base value 

for the imputation. This base value was then multiplied by either the ratio of current year to 

past year median part-time students or the ratio of current year to past year median full-time 

students (whichever was applicable) within the imputation group to adjust for year-to-year 

change. Medians were determined within imputation groups. 

• Nearest Neighbor Fall Enrollment Part A—Reported 2005 enrollment Part A data were used 

in defining the distance measure for this method. In particular, the distance between two 

institutions was defined as the maximum relative difference in enrollment count among the 

levels of study (undergraduate, graduate, first-professional). The nearest neighbor of the 

imputee was selected from the responding institutions in the same imputation group as the 

donor. The donor’s unduplicated enrollment counts (or instructional activity hours) were 

multiplied by the ratio of the imputee’s fall enrollment count to the donor’s fall enrollment 

count to adjust for the difference between the two institutions. These adjusted values were 

used as the imputed values. 

• Nearest Neighbor Completions—The completions data for academic year 2005-06 were used 

in defining the distance measure for this method. In particular, the distance between two 

institutions was defined as the maximum relative difference in award count among the levels 

of study (undergraduate, graduate, first-professional). The nearest neighbor of the imputee 

was selected from the responding institutions in the same imputation group as the donor. The 

donor’s fall enrollment counts (or unduplicated enrollment counts or instructional activity 

hours) were multiplied by the ratio of the imputee’s award count to the donor’s award count 

to adjust for the difference between the two institutions. These adjusted values were used as 

the imputed values. The identified donor’s award counts were used to impute for Part A and 

Part E data simultaneously, where applicable. Donors for Part B were identified after Part A 

was imputed in order to ensure that the total enrollment in a given institution was the same 

across all parts of the Fall Enrollment survey. 

• Ratio Adjustment Based on Part A Data—The Fall Enrollment Part A dataset for academic 

year 2005-06 was used to determine the median contact or credit hours per full-time 

equivalent (FTE) student. This ratio was calculated for each collapsed imputation group for 

undergraduate credit hours, undergraduate contact hours, and graduate credit hours. An 

institution’s FTE, based on the institution’s Part A data, is equal to an institution’s full-time 

students plus one-third its part-time students. The median ratio for each collapsed imputation 

group was applied to the Part F nonrespondent’s Part A enrollment. For institutions that had 

undergraduate offerings, the institution’s calendar year indicator determined whether the 

imputed activity hours were assigned to contact or credit hours. 

• Group Median—For each imputation group, the median enrollment count of all responding 

institutions was calculated. The responding institution that had the closest enrollment count 

to this median was designated as the “median” institution. Enrollment counts were imputed 

using the values from the median institution. For public institutions, if there were at least 

three donors from the imputee’s state, the median institution was chosen from the institutions 

within the same state as the imputee. Otherwise, the median institution was chosen from the 

entire imputation group. The median institution used to impute for enrollment counts was 
A-19

used to impute for the unduplicated enrollment counts and the instructional activity hours, 

where applicable. 

For total nonrespondents, if there were past enrollment data, then the Carry Forward method was 

used. Alternately, if there were past completions data, the Nearest Neighbor method was used. 

Otherwise the Group Median method was used. Partial nonresponse was determined by 

comparison with the existing past fall enrollment data. The three types of partial nonrespondents 

imputed using the Carry Forward method were 

• missing a whole level—institutions missing all the lines for undergraduate, graduate, or firstprofessional offering; 

• missing a half level—full-time data were present but part-time data were missing, or parttime data were present and full-time data were missing; and 

• missing data within undergraduate level—first-time data were present, but total 

undergraduates data were missing, or total undergraduates data were present, but first-time 

data were missing. 

Table A-3 provides the fall enrollment counts (reported and imputed) and percentages that were 

imputed for all Title IV institutions in the United States, by control of institution, student level, 

attendance status, gender, degree-granting status, and age of student. 

Table A-4 provides the same counts as Table A-3 except that it is for only those first-time 

students who graduated from high school in the past 12 months. 

Table A-5 provides the unduplicated headcount data (reported and imputed) and percentages that 

were imputed for all Title IV institutions in the United States, by control of institution, student 

level, gender, and degree-granting status. 

Table A-6 provides the instructional activity (reported and imputed) and percentages that were 

imputed for all Title IV institutions in the United States, by control of institution, degree-granting 

status, and type of instructional activity (credit or contact hour). 

Table A-7 provides the number and percentage of institutions with imputed 1-year retention rates 

for first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students for all Title IV institutions in the 

United States, by control, degree-granting status, and attendance status. 
A-20

Table A-3. Enrollment and percentage imputed for all Title IV institutions, by control of institution, student level, 

attendance status, gender, degree-granting status, and age of student: United States, fall 2005 

Total Public Private not-for-profit Private for-profit 

Imputed Imputed Imputed Imputed 

Student level, attendance 

status, gender, degreegranting status, and age of 

student 

Fall 

enrollment Number Percent 

Fall 

enrollment Number Percent

Fall 

enrollment Number Percent 

Fall 

enrollment Number Percent

All students 17,921,804 4,776 # 13,115,177 4,448 # 3,484,013 291 # 1,322,614 37 #

 

Undergraduate 15,398,004 4,776 # 11,791,037 4,448 # 2,447,436 291 # 1,159,531 37 #

First-time 2,879,541 1,406 # 1,982,489 1,230 0.1 499,899 139 # 397,153 37 #

Other undergraduate 12,518,463 3,370 # 9,808,548 3,218 # 1,947,537 152 # 762,378 0 0.0

Graduate 2,186,776 0 0.0 1,185,933 0 0.0 839,288 0 0.0 161,555 0 0.0

First-professional 337,024 0 0.0 138,207 0 0.0 197,289 0 0.0 1,528 0 0.0

 

Full time 11,151,925 4,776 # 7,468,299 4,448 0.1 2,587,430 291 # 1,096,196 37 #

Part time 6,769,879 0 0.0 5,646,878 0 0.0 896,583 0 0.0 226,418 0 0.0

 

Men 7,593,063 3,847 0.1 5,631,807 3,770 0.1 1,472,884 53 # 488,372 24 #

Women 10,328,741 929 # 7,483,370 678 # 2,011,129 238 # 834,242 13 #

Degree-granting 17,487,475 4,448 # 13,021,834 4,448 # 3,454,692 0 0.0 1,010,949 0 0.0

Non-degree-granting 434,329 328 0.1 93,343 0 0.0 29,321 291 1.0 311,665 37 #

Age of student 

Under 18 577,520 80 # 505,902 80 # 60,932 0 0.0 10,686 0 0.0

18-19 3,791,549 2,009 0.1 2,897,601 1,926 0.1 754,540 83 # 139,408 0 0.0

20-21 3,574,661 2,029 0.1 2,669,047 1,924 0.1 744,902 105 # 160,712 0 0.0

22-24 2,984,403 552 # 2,254,009 498 # 535,198 54 # 195,196 0 0.0

25-29 2,488,310 45 # 1,716,186 20 # 506,598 25 # 265,526 0 0.0

30-34 1,401,157 14 # 946,577 0 0.0 271,987 14 # 182,593 0 0.0

35-39 978,258 8 # 660,151 0 0.0 187,398 8 # 130,709 0 0.0

40-49 1,328,559 1 # 917,027 0 0.0 254,360 1 # 157,172 0 0.0

50-64 607,294 0 0.0 440,721 0 0.0 111,444 0 0.0 55,129 0 0.0

65 and over 72,977 0 0.0 66,306 0 0.0 5,095 0 0.0 1,576 0 0.0

Age unknown 117,116 38 # 41,650 0 0.0 51,559 1 # 23,907 37 0.2

# Rounds to zero. 

NOTE: Table is restricted to U.S. institutions only. No students were imputed for institutions in other jurisdictions. This table is based on the enrollment by 

race/ethnicity and gender section (Part A) and the enrollment by age and gender section (Part B) of the Enrollment component. Due to natural disaster, 

six institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were not imputed, and they are not represented in this table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Spring 

2006, Enrollment component. 

Table A-4. Entering class of undergraduate students and percentage imputed for all Title IV academic year institutions, 

by control of institution and degree-granting status: United States, fall 2005 

Total Public Private not-for-profit Private for-profit 

Imputed Imputed Imputed Imputed 

Degree-granting status 

Entering 

Class Number Percent 

Entering 

Class Number Percent

Entering 

Class Number Percent 

Entering 

Class Number Percent

All institutions 4,293,654 1,406 # 3,340,641 1,230 # 676,115 139 # 276,898 37 #

 

Degree-granting 4,255,202 1,230 # 3,325,771 1,230 # 670,922 0 0.0 258,509 0 0.0

Non-degree-granting 38,452 176 0.5 14,870 0 0.0 5,193 139 2.7 18,389 37 0.2

# Rounds to zero. 

NOTE: Table is restricted to U.S. institutions only. No total entering class counts were imputed for institutions in other jurisdictions. This table is based on 

the total entering class section (Part D) of the Enrollment component. Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their 

data were not imputed, and they are not represented in this table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Spring 

2006, Enrollment component. 
A-21

Table A-5. Unduplicated count and percentage imputed for all Title IV institutions, by control of institution, student level, 

gender, and degree-granting status: United States, 2004-05 

Total Public Private not-for-profit Private for-profit 

Imputed Imputed Imputed Imputed 

Student level, gender, 

and degree-granting 

status 

Unduplicated 

count Number % 

Unduplicated 

count Number %

Unduplicated 

count Number % 

Unduplicated 

count Number %

All students 24,485,664 15,730 0.1 18,223,997 12,480 0.1 4,267,346 2,097 # 1,994,321 1,153 0.1

 

Undergraduate 21,070,170 14,600 0.1 16,423,538 11,486 0.1 2,877,620 1,961 0.1 1,769,012 1,153 0.1

Graduate 3,056,135 1,130 # 1,655,424 994 0.1 1,176,814 136 # 223,897 0 0.0

First-professional 359,359 0 0.0 145,035 0 0.0 212,912 0 0.0 1,412 0 0.0

Men 10,351,852 6,883 0.1 7,823,947 6,091 0.1 1,779,434 433 # 748,471 359 #

Women 14,133,812 8,847 0.1 10,400,050 6,389 0.1 2,487,912 1,664 0.1 1,245,850 794 0.1

 

Degree-granting 23,798,595 15,004 0.1 18,058,078 12,480 0.1 4,222,755 1,432 # 1,517,762 1,092 0.1

Non-degree-granting 687,069 726 0.1 165,919 0 0.0 44,591 665 1.5 476,559 61 #

# Rounds to zero. 

NOTE: Table is restricted to U.S. institutions only. No students were imputed for institutions in other jurisdictions. This table is based on the 12 month 

selection and unduplicated count section (Part E) of the Enrollment component. Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this 

survey; their data were imputed, and they are represented in this table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Spring 

2006, Enrollment component. 

Table A-6. Instructional activity (in hours) and percentage imputed for all Title IV institutions, by control of institution, 

degree-granting status, and type of instructional activity: United States, 2004-05 

Total Public Private not-for-profit Private for-profit 

Imputed Imputed Imputed Imputed 

Degree-granting status 

and type of instructional 

activities Total amount Amount % Total amount Amount % Total amount Amount % Total amount Amount %

Credit hour activity 454,795,845 357,256 0.1 296,619,659 267,201 0.1 89,322,231 46,923 0.1 68,853,955 43,132 0.1

Undergraduate 410,563,996 341,396 0.1 274,505,843 253,683 0.1 70,477,238 44,581 0.1 65,580,915 43,132 0.1

Graduate 44,231,849 15,860 # 22,113,816 13,518 0.1 18,844,993 2,342 # 3,273,040 0 0.0

Contact hour activity 572,280,344 0 0.0 239,405,642 0 0.0 23,439,955 0 0.0 309,434,747 0 0.0

 

Degree-granting 

Credit hour activity 444,338,555 345,123 0.1 296,183,845 267,201 0.1 88,860,646 35,438 # 59,294,064 42,484 0.1

Undergraduate 400,176,348 329,263 0.1 274,071,429 253,683 0.1 70,083,895 33,096 # 56,021,024 42,484 0.1

Graduate 44,162,207 15,860 # 22,112,416 13,518 0.1 18,776,751 2,342 # 3,273,040 0 0.0

Contact hour activity 250,163,357 0 0.0 170,221,882 0 0.0 4,654,586 0 0.0 75,286,889 0 0.0

 

Non-degree-granting 

Credit hour activity 10,457,290 12,133 0.1 435,814 0 0.0 461,585 11,485 2.5 9,559,891 648 #

Undergraduate 10,387,648 12,133 0.1 434,414 0 0.0 393,343 11,485 2.9 9,559,891 648 #

Graduate 69,642 0 0.0 1,400 0 0.0 68,242 0 0.0 † † †

Contact hour activity 322,116,987 0 0.0 69,183,760 0 0.0 18,785,369 0 0.0 234,147,858 0 0.0

† Not applicable. 

# Rounds to zero. 

NOTE: Table is restricted to U.S. institutions only. No credit hour or contact hour activity data were imputed for institutions in other jurisdictions. This 

table is based on the instructional activity section (Part F) of the Enrollment component. Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to 

this survey; their data were imputed, and they are represented in this table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Spring 

2006, Enrollment component. 
A-22

Table A-7. Number and percentage of Title IV institutions with imputed 1-year retention rates for first-time 

degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students, by control, degree-granting status, and attendance status: 

United States, fall 2005 

Total Public Private not-for-profit Private for-profit 

Degree-granting status Imputed Imputed Imputed Imputed 

and attendance status 

All 

institutions Number Percent 

All 

institutions Number Percent

All 

institutions Number Percent 

All 

institutions Number Percent

All institutions 5,636 3 0.1 1,934 1 0.1 1,486 1 0.1 2,216 1 #

 

Full-time students 5,611 3 0.1 1,929 1 0.1 1,478 1 0.1 2,204 1 #

Part-time students 3,744 1 # 1,803 0 0.0 883 1 0.1 1,058 0 0.0

 

Degree-granting 3,823 1 # 1,627 1 0.1 1,338 0 0.0 858 0 0.0

Full-time students 3,812 1 # 1,627 1 0.1 1,330 0 0.0 855 0 0.0

Part-time students 2,886 0 0.0 1,602 0 0.0 837 0 0.0 447 0 0.0

Non-degree-granting 1,813 2 # 307 0 0.0 148 1 0.1 1,358 1 #

Full-time students 1,799 2 # 302 0 0.0 148 1 0.1 1,349 1 #

Part-time students 858 1 # 201 0 0.0 46 1 0.1 611 0 0.0

# Rounds to zero. 

NOTE: Table is restricted to U.S. institutions only. No retention rates were imputed for institutions in other jurisdictions. This table is based on the 

retention rate section (Part G) of the Enrollment component. Due to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data 

were not imputed, and they are not represented in this table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Spring 

2006, Enrollment component. 

Finance 

For the Finance component, Parts A through E of the public GASB reporting form, the private 

not-for-profit FASB reporting form, and the private for-profit F-3 reporting form were subject to 

imputation. The imputation groups were created separately for public, private not-for-profit, and 

private for-profit institutions. Thirty imputation groups were formed based primarily on 

institutional sector, graduate or first-professional offering, medical degree offering, state (for 

public only), and religious affiliation (for private not-for-profit only). 

The following imputation methods were used (in order of preference) to impute missing data in 

the Finance component of the survey: 

• Carry Forward—Reported prior finance data were carried forward to the current year. The 

values were then multiplied by a median inflation adjustment from within the imputation 

group to account for year-to-year change. For variables deemed proportional to enrollment, 

such as total tuition and fees or total student grants, further adjustment by FTE enrollment 

ratios was made. 

• Nearest Neighbor FTE—Data from a nearest neighbor of the imputee based on previous 

years’ FTE enrollment values within the imputation group were used as the imputed values. 

An imputee/donor FTE adjustment for variables closely related to FTE was made to the 

imputed values. For public imputees, only institutions within the same state as the imputee 

were considered as potential donors. If there were no potential donors within the same state, 

then this restriction did not apply. 

• Nearest Neighbor EAP (Employees by Assigned Position)—Data from a nearest neighbor of 

the imputee based on the current or previous year EAP data within the imputation group were 

used as the imputed values. The number of total employees reported in the EAP dataset was 
A-23

used in defining the distance measure. An imputee/donor adjustment was made to the 

imputed values. For public imputees, only institutions within the same state as the imputee 

were considered as potential donors. If there were no potential donors within the same state, 

then this restriction did not apply. 

If an institution was a nonrespondent and had finance data in the previous 2 years, then the Carry 

Forward method was used. If the finance data of previous 2 years were not available but the Fall 

Enrollment data of previous years were, then the Nearest Neighbor-FTE method was used. If 

neither finance nor FTE data were available, the Nearest Neighbor-EAP method was used if the 

EAP data for the previous years were available. Partial nonresponse was determined by 

comparison with the existing past data. Partial nonrespondents were imputed by applying the 

above methods to the missing parts. 

Since no information was available on whether they actually adopted GASB or FASB to prepare 

their financial statements, public imputees were imputed using data from public GASB donors. 

Private not-for-profit imputees were imputed using data from private not-for-profit donors, not 

from public FASB donors. 

Table A-8 provides the revenues and expenditures/expenses (reported and imputed) as well as 

the percentages of these amounts that were imputed for all Title IV institutions in the United 

States, by control of institution and type of funds. 

Graduation Rates 

The variables used to define imputation groups for the Graduation Rates component were 

• sector; 

• medical offering; 

• first-professional offering; 

• graduate offering; 

• bachelor’s degree (LEVEL5=1); and 

• less than 1 year or at least 1 but less than 2 years or associate’s degree or at least 2 but less 

than 4 years (LEVEL1=1 or LEVEL2=1 or LEVEL3=1 or LEVEL4=1). 

Each combination of the above criteria formed a unique imputation group. Imputation groups for 

institutions in sector 9 (private for-profit less-than-2-year institutions) were also defined by the 

combination of LEVEL1 and LEVEL2. A donor was selected from the same imputation group as 

the imputee. 

The following imputation methods were used (in order of preference) to impute missing data in 

the Graduation Rate component of the survey: 

• Carry Forward—The imputed school’s previous year’s data were used as the donor values. 

No year-to-year adjustment was necessary because the graduation rate for last year’s cohort 

is the best estimate of the graduation rate for this year’s cohort. 
A-24

Table A-8. Revenues and expenses and the percentages imputed for Title IV institutions, by control of 

institution and type of funds: United States, fiscal year 2005 

[Amounts are in thousands of dollars] 

Total Public (GASB)1

 Public (FASB)2

Imputed Imputed Imputed 

Type of funds Total funds Amount % Total funds Amount % Total funds Amount %

 

Total revenues and 

investment 

returns $392,253,439 $174,740 # $229,496,968 $39,476 # $7,644,153 $0 0.0

 

Tuition and fees 92,336,695 70,416 0.1 36,972,832 5,627 # 1,815,282 0 0.0

Government 

appropriations, grants, 

and contracts 132,700,380 73,026 0.1 112,646,889 31,208 # 2,164,087 0 0.0

 Federal 50,686,950 54,152 0.1 33,854,058 14,460 # 1,057,274 0 0.0

 State and local 82,013,431 18,873 # 78,792,831 16,748 # 1,106,813 0 0.0

Private gifts, grants, and 

contracts 20,327,768 10,791 0.1 4,107,299 0 0.0 496,275 0 0.0

Sales and services of 

educational activities 4,184,856 222 # † † † 129,201 0 0.0

Auxiliary enterprises 28,834,573 11,181 # 17,228,999 631 # 486,958 0 0.0

Hospitals 32,149,354 0 0.0 20,077,555 0 0.0 1,693,992 0 0.0

Contributions from 

affiliated entities 1,078,410 0 0.0 † † † 6,925 0 0.0

Investment return 40,060,581 5,871 # 8,947,615 53 # 605,126 0 0.0

Independent operations 

revenue 5,711,639 0 0.0 571,091 0 0.0 19,075 0 0.0

Other revenue 34,869,182 3,234 # 28,944,688 1,957 # 227,232 0 0.0

 

Total expenses 340,584,255 173,651 0.1 211,129,558 41,157 # 6,798,915 0 0.0

 

Instruction 100,722,615 48,048 # 59,071,631 12,814 # 1,808,282 0 0.0

Research and public 

service 46,967,862 10,828 # 30,700,557 1,620 # 1,417,153 0 0.0

Academic support, 

student services, and 

institutional support 81,710,195 80,221 0.1 41,007,633 15,293 # 1,366,100 0 0.0

Operation and 

maintenance of plant 13,475,480 2,960 # 13,475,480 2,960 # † † †

Scholarships and 

fellowships/aid 9,565,817 20,307 0.2 8,418,243 6,141 0.1 13,531 0 0.0

Auxiliary enterprises 28,015,103 8,098 # 16,256,356 725 # 458,582 0 0.0

Hospitals 29,310,541 0 0.0 18,463,199 0 0.0 1,666,566 0 0.0

Independent operations 4,881,945 0 0.0 637,736 0 0.0 20,430 0 0.0

Other expenses 25,934,696 3,189 # 23,098,724 1,604 # 48,271 0 0.0

 

See notes at end of table. 
A-25

Table A-8. Revenues and expenses and the percentages imputed for Title IV institutions, by control of 

institution and type of funds: United States, fiscal year 2005—Continued 

[Amounts are in thousands of dollars] 

Private not-for-profit Private for-profit 

Imputed Imputed 

Type of funds Total funds Amount % Total funds Amount %

 

Total revenues and 

investment 

returns $140,868,955 $119,892 0.1 $14,243,363 $15,372 0.1 

 

Tuition and fees 41,554,248 50,626 0.1 11,994,333 14,162 0.1 

Government 

appropriations, grants, 

and contracts 16,711,289 41,410 0.2 1,178,116 407 # 

 Federal 14,699,232 39,285 0.3 1,076,386 407 # 

 State and local 2,012,057 2,126 0.1 101,730 0 0.0 

Private gifts, grants, and 

contracts 15,712,370 10,791 0.1 11,824 0 0.0 

Sales and services of 

educational activities 3,638,152 0 0.0 417,504 222 0.1 

Auxiliary enterprises 10,840,956 10,551 0.1 277,659 0 0.0 

Hospitals 10,377,808 0 0.0 † † † 

Contributions from 

affiliated entities 1,071,485 0 0.0 † † † 

Investment return 30,471,085 5,728 # 36,754 89 0.2 

Independent operations 

revenue 5,121,473 0 0.0 † † † 

Other revenue 5,370,089 785 # 327,173 491 0.2 

 

Total expenses 110,998,820 117,050 0.1 11,656,961 15,444 0.1 

 

Instruction 36,544,384 30,406 0.1 3,298,319 4,827 0.1 

Research and public 

service 14,834,348 9,208 0.1 15,804 0 0.0 

Academic support, 

student services, and 

institutional support 32,365,638 55,071 0.2 6,970,825 9,858 0.1 

Operation and 

maintenance of plant † † † † † † 

Scholarships and 

fellowships/aid 1,070,664 14,167 1.3 63,379 0 0.0 

Auxiliary enterprises 10,957,268 7,169 0.1 342,897 204 0.1 

Hospitals 9,180,775 0 0.0 † † † 

Independent operations 4,223,779 0 0.0 † † † 

Other expenses 1,821,962 1,029 0.1 965,738 555 0.1 

† Not applicable. 

# Rounds to zero. 

1 Public institutions that use Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards to prepare their financial statements. 2 Public institutions that use Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) standards to prepare their financial statements.

NOTE: All public FASB data are reported, not imputed, because public imputees are imputed using data from public GASB donors. 

This table is restricted to U.S. institutions only. No revenues or expenditures were imputed for institutions in other jurisdictions. Due 

to natural disaster, six institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were imputed, and they are represented in this 

table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data 

System (IPEDS), Spring 2006, Finance component. 
A-26

• Nearest Neighbor—The responding institution with the nearest “distance” to the imputee 

within the imputee’s imputation group was used as the donor. The distance was calculated 

from a predicted graduation rate and either the Completions data or the Fall Enrollment data. 

• Group Median—A median institution in each imputation group was determined and used as 

a donor for imputees in that imputation group. 

When previous year’s data were not available, the Nearest Neighbor imputation method was 

used if sufficient data were available. Otherwise, the Group Median imputation procedure was 

used. Group Median and Nearest Neighbor imputations were performed within imputation 

groups. 

Table A-9 provides the GRS cohort student counts (reported and imputed) and percentages that 

were imputed for all Title IV institutions in the United States, by control of institution and 

student level. Table A-9 includes counts and percentages for imputation related to data collected 

regarding students receiving athletically related student aid that are included in the data file. 

These data were collected as required by the Student Right-to-Know Act, but are not included in 

the findings reported in this document. 

Student Financial Aid 

For the Student Financial Aid component, 28 imputation groups were formed primarily based on 

institutional sector and calendar system, state FIPS code, and religious affiliation. Medical 

degree offering was not considered since the existence of a medical school does not impact SFA. 

Also, graduate or first-professional offering was not considered since SFA only applies to fulltime, first-time students. 

The following imputation procedures were used to impute missing data in the Student Financial 

Aid component of the survey. 

If available, we first obtained 

• for academic year reporters, the total number of undergraduates and number of full-time, 

first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates from the enrollment data for fall 2004; 

and 

• for program reporters, the unduplicated count of all students enrolled from the unduplicated 

count data for academic year 2005-06. 

Then the following imputation methods, in order, were used to impute the remaining missing 

data: 

• Carry Forward—This method was for institutions that responded to the previous years’ 

Student Financial Aid survey. Reported prior student financial aid data were carried forward 

to the current year. The values were then adjusted for year-to-year changes. 

• Nearest Neighbor—The responding institution with the nearest “distance” to the imputee 

within the imputee’s imputation group was used as the donor. The distance was calculated 

from the Finance data or the Fall Enrollment data. An imputee/donor adjustment was made to 

the imputed values. 
A-27

Table A-9. Student counts and percentage imputed for all Title IV institutions, by control of institution 

and student level: United States, cohort years 1999 and 2002 

Total Public 

Imputed Imputed 

Student level Students Number Percent Students Number Percent 

Section II—Bachelor’s degree-seeking 

Bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking subcohort 1,146,232 2,699 0.2 739,632 1,543 0.2

Total exclusions 3,138 0 0.0 1,669 0 0.0

Adjusted bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking subcohort 1,143,094 2,699 0.2 737,963 1,543 0.2

Total completers within 150% 658,409 1,596 0.2 401,151 1,051 0.3

Completers of programs of <2 years 1,380 0 0.0 472 0 0.0

Completers of programs of 2-4 years 4,832 20 0.4 1,582 8 0.5

Completers of bachelor’s or equivalent degrees 652,197 1,576 0.2 399,097 1,043 0.3

Completed the program in 4 years or less 403,814 1,322 0.3 205,644 1,010 0.5

Completed the program in 5 years 193,516 149 0.1 150,655 22 #

Completed the program in 6 years 54,867 105 0.2 42,798 11 #

Total transfer-out students (noncompleters) 94,103 3 # 78,726 0 0.0

Noncompleters enrolled and noncompleters not enrolled 390,582 1,100 0.3 258,086 492 0.2

Still enrolled in programs of 5 years or longer 1,751 0 0.0 1,315 0 0.0

Other noncompleters1 388,831 1,100 0.3 256,771 492 0.2

Section III—Other than bachelor’s degree-seeking at 

4-year institutions 

Other than bachelor’s degree-seeking subcohort 126,716 10 # 49,017 0 0.0

Total exclusions 923 0 0.0 313 0 0.0

Adjusted other than bachelor’s degree-seeking subcohort 125,793 10 # 48,704 0 0.0

Total completers within 150% 51,376 10 # 12,524 0 0.0

Completers of programs of <2 years 18,147 0 0.0 892 0 0.0

Completers of programs of 2-4 years 27,885 10 # 8,536 0 0.0

Completers of bachelor’s or equivalent degrees 5,344 0 0.0 3,096 0 0.0

Total transfer-out students (noncompleters) 9,843 0 0.0 8,091 0 0.0

Noncompleters enrolled and noncompleters not enrolled 64,574 0 0.0 28,089 0 0.0

Still enrolled in programs of 5 years or longer 94 0 0.0 8 0 0.0

Other noncompleters1 64,480 0 0.0 28,081 0 0.0

Section IV—Degree/certificate-seeking at less-than4-year institutions 

Degree/certificate-seeking subcohort 1,023,180 1,946 0.2 595,174 203 #

Total exclusions 2,831 8 0.3 1,613 0 0.0

Adjusted degree/certificate-seeking subcohort 1,020,349 1,938 0.2 593,561 203 #

Total completers within 150% 424,222 974 0.2 153,651 18 #

Completers of programs of <2 years 311,496 839 0.3 59,851 0 0.0

Completers of programs of 2-4 years 112,726 135 0.1 93,800 18 #

Total transfer-out students (noncompleters) 101,123 39 # 94,814 23 #

Noncompleters enrolled and noncompleters not enrolled 495,004 925 0.2 345,096 162 #

Still enrolled in programs of 3 years or longer 1,437 0 0.0 1,172 0 0.0

Other noncompleters1 493,567 925 0.2 343,924 162 #

Section V—Total number of students receiving 

athletically related student aid 

Total students receiving athletically related student aid 189,670 232 0.1 111,671 8 #

Football 33,389 0 0.0 22,697 0 0.0

Basketball 28,451 52 0.2 16,299 4 #

Baseball 21,509 23 0.1 13,053 0 0.0

Cross-country/track 21,677 48 0.2 13,399 4 #

All other sports 84,644 109 0.1 46,223 0 0.0

Section VI—Subcohort of students receiving 

athletically related student aid (all sports) 

Athletic subcohort 51,800 32 0.1 31,604 8 #

Total exclusions 145 0 0.0 92 0 0.0

Adjusted athletic subcohort 51,655 32 0.1 31,512 8 #

Total completers within 150% 25,629 13 0.1 14,322 2 #

Completers of programs of <2 years 489 0 0.0 393 0 0.0

Completers of programs of 2-4 years 4,058 2 # 3,450 2 0.1

Completers of bachelor’s or equivalent degrees 21,082 11 0.1 10,479 0 0.0

Total transfer-out student (noncompleters) 6,177 3 # 4,789 0 0.0

Not completed within 150% 19,849 16 0.1 12,401 6 #

See notes at end of table.
A-28

Table A-9. Student counts and percentage imputed for all Title IV institutions, by control of institution 

and student level: United States, cohort years 1999 and 2002—Continued 

Private not-for-profit Private for-profit 

Imputed Imputed 

Student level Students Number Percent Students Number Percent

Section II—Bachelor’s degree-seeking 

Bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking subcohort 388,440 1,156 0.3 18,160 0 0.0

Total exclusions 1,447 0 0.0 22 0 0.0

Adjusted bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking subcohort 386,993 1,156 0.3 18,138 0 0.0

Total completers within 150% 251,104 545 0.2 6,154 0 0.0

Completers of programs of <2 years 530 0 0.0 378 0 0.0

Completers of programs of 2-4 years 2,758 12 0.4 492 0 0.0

Completers of bachelor’s or equivalent degrees 247,816 533 0.2 5,284 0 0.0

Completed the program in 4 years or less 194,165 312 0.2 4,005 0 0.0

Completed the program in 5 years 41,981 127 0.3 880 0 0.0

Completed the program in 6 years 11,670 94 0.8 399 0 0.0

Total transfer-out students (noncompleters) 15,214 3 # 163 0 0.0

Noncompleters enrolled and noncompleters not enrolled 120,675 608 0.5 11,821 0 0.0

Still enrolled in programs of 5 years or longer 434 0 0.0 2 0 0.0

Other noncompleters1 120,241 608 0.5 11,819 0 0.0

Section III—Other than bachelor’s degree-seeking at 

4-year institutions 

Other than bachelor’s degree-seeking subcohort 26,940 0 0.0 50,759 10 #

Total exclusions 591 0 0.0 19 0 0.0

Adjusted other than bachelor’s degree-seeking subcohort 26,349 0 0.0 50,740 10 #

Total completers within 150% 11,247 0 0.0 27,605 10 #

Completers of programs of <2 years 2,319 0 0.0 14,936 0 0.0

Completers of programs of 2-4 years 7,196 0 0.0 12,153 10 0.1

Completers of bachelor’s or equivalent degrees 1,732 0 0.0 516 0 0.0

Total transfer-out students (noncompleters) 1,494 0 0.0 258 0 0.0

Noncompleters enrolled and noncompleters not enrolled 13,608 0 0.0 22,877 0 0.0

Still enrolled in programs of 5 years or longer 86 0 0.0 0 0 †

Other noncompleters1 13,522 0 0.0 22,877 0 0.0

Section IV—Degree/certificate-seeking at less-than4-year institutions 

Degree/certificate-seeking subcohort 27,574 194 0.7 400,432 1,549 0.4

Total exclusions 54 0 0.0 1,164 8 0.7

Adjusted degree/certificate-seeking subcohort 27,520 194 0.7 399,268 1,541 0.4

Total completers within 150% 18,014 148 0.8 252,557 808 0.3

Completers of programs of <2 years 14,258 148 1.0 237,387 691 0.3

Completers of programs of 2-4 years 3,756 0 0.0 15,170 117 0.8

Total transfer-out students (noncompleters) 1,529 0 0.0 4,780 16 0.3

Noncompleters enrolled and noncompleters not enrolled 7,977 46 0.6 141,931 717 0.5

Still enrolled in programs of 3 years or longer 16 0 0.0 249 0 0.0

Other noncompleters1 7,961 46 0.6 141,682 717 0.5

Section V—Total number of students receiving 

athletically related student aid 

Total students receiving athletically related student aid 77,160 224 0.3 839 0 0.0

Football 10,692 0 0.0 † † †

Basketball 11,937 48 0.4 215 0 0.0

Baseball 8,318 23 0.3 138 0 0.0

Cross-country/track 8,248 44 0.5 30 0 0.0

All other sports 37,965 109 0.3 456 0 0.0

See notes at end of table.
A-29

Table A-9. Student counts and percentage imputed for all Title IV institutions, by control of institution 

and student level: United States, cohort years 1999 and 2002—Continued 

Private not-for-profit Private for-profit 

Imputed Imputed 

Student level Students Number Percent Students Number Percent 

Section VI—Subcohort of students receiving 

athletically related student (all sports) 

Athletic subcohort 19,930 24 0.1 266 0 0.0

Total exclusions 53 0 0.0 0 0 †

Adjusted athletic subcohort 19,877 24 0.1 266 0 0.0

Total completers within 150% 11,189 11 0.1 118 0 0.0

Completers of programs of <2 years 84 0 0.0 12 0 0.0

Completers of programs of 2-4 years 565 0 0.0 43 0 0.0

Completers of bachelor’s or equivalent degrees 10,540 11 0.1 63 0 0.0

Total transfer-out student (noncompleters) 1,386 3 0.2 2 0 0.0

Not completed within 150% 7,302 10 0.1 146 0 0.0

† Not applicable. 

# Rounds to zero. 

1 This line is calculated from the numbers in the table. It is not represented in the dataset. 

NOTE: This table is restricted to U.S. institutions only. Cohort year 1999 is applicable to 4-year institutions, while cohort year 2002 

is applicable to 2-year and less-than-2-year institutions. For institutions in other jurisdictions there were no imputed students or 

imputed completers. Due to natural disaster, seven institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were imputed, and 

they are represented in this table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data 

System (IPEDS), Spring 2006, Graduation Rates component. 

• Group Median—A median institution in each imputation group based on ranks of “student 

count” and “average aid amount” variables was determined and used as a donor for imputees 

in that imputation group. The donor’s values were assigned to the imputee with no 

adjustments. 

Table A-10 provides the financial aid recipients (reported and imputed) and percentages that 

were imputed for all Title IV institutions in the United States, by type of aid, control and level of 

institution. 

Data Perturbation and Confidentiality 

Four laws cover protection of the confidentiality of individually identifiable information 

collected by NCES—the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended; the E-Government Act of 2002; the 

Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002; and the USA Patriot Act of 2001. Therefore, 

Under law, public use data collected and distributed by the National Center for 

Education Statistics (NCES) may be used only for statistical purposes and may 

not be disclosed, or used, in identifiable form for any other purpose except as 

required by law. Any effort to determine the identity of any reported case by 

public-use data users is prohibited by law. Violations are subject to Class E felony 

charges of a fine up to $250,000 and/or a prison term up to 5 years.

In order to preserve individuals’ confidentiality, data in the SFA and GRS data files were subject 

to perturbation. Perturbation techniques directly alter the individual respondent's data for some 

variables, but preserve the level of detail in all variables included in the data file. Blanking and 

imputing for randomly selected records; blurring (e.g., combining multiple records through some 

averaging process into a single record); adding random noise; and data swapping or switching 
A-30

(e.g., switching the sex variable from a predetermined pair of individuals) for a subset of records 

are all examples of perturbation techniques. All student financial aid and graduation rate data in 

this report and in the IPEDS Peer Analysis System are based on the perturbed data. 

Table A-10. Financial aid recipients and percentage imputed for all Title IV institutions, by type of aid and 

level and control of institution: United States, academic year 2005-06 

Federal grants State/local grants 

Imputed Imputed 

Level and control of institution 

Number 

receiving Number Percent

Number 

receiving Number Percent

Total recipients 1,018,031 1,906 0.2 732,208 396 0.1

4-year 442,077 867 0.2 496,944 322 0.1

Public 251,746 333 0.1 339,300 8 #

Private not-for-profit 125,107 534 0.4 144,373 314 0.2

Private for-profit 65,224 0 0.0 13,271 0 0.0

2-year 395,192 605 0.2 220,585 12 #

Public 254,255 220 0.1 191,125 9 #

Private not-for-profit 8,660 0 0.0 5,209 0 0.0

Private for-profit 132,277 385 0.3 24,251 3 #

Less-than-2-year 180,762 434 0.2 14,679 62 0.4

Public 12,221 0 0.0 3,427 0 0.0

Private not-for-profit 7,635 57 0.7 2,061 50 2.4

Private for-profit 160,906 377 0.2 9,191 12 0.1

Institutional grants Loans to students 

Imputed Imputed 

Level and control of institution 

Number 

receiving Number Percent

Number 

receiving Number Percent

Total recipients 736,229 584 0.1 1,191,021 1,370 0.1

4-year 636,947 547 0.1 760,391 923 0.1

Public 283,867 5 # 393,875 153 #

Private not-for-profit 339,122 542 0.2 274,527 770 0.3

Private for-profit 13,958 0 0.0 91,989 0 0.0

2-year 84,177 8 # 269,907 164 0.1

Public 69,149 8 # 111,926 147 0.1

Private not-for-profit 5,417 0 0.0 8,038 0 0.0

Private for-profit 9,611 0 0.0 149,943 17 #

Less-than-2-year 15,105 29 0.2 160,723 283 0.2

Public 1,491 0 0.0 6,077 0 0.0

Private not-for-profit 1,058 0 0.0 4,183 0 0.0

Private for-profit 12,556 29 0.2 150,463 283 0.2

# Rounds to zero. 

NOTE: Table is restricted to U.S. institutions only. For institutions in other jurisdictions, 0 recipients were imputed. Due to natural 

disaster, seven institutions were unable to respond to this survey; their data were imputed, and they are represented in this table. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data 

System (IPEDS), Spring 2006, Student Financial Aid component. 
B-1 

Appendix B: 

Glossary of IPEDS Terms 

academic year: The period of time generally extending from September to June; usually equated to 2 

semesters or trimesters, 3 quarters, or the period covered by a 4-1-4 calendar system. 

adjusted cohort: In the Graduation Rates component of IPEDS, an institution’s revised cohort minus 

any allowable exclusions. 

administrative office: The system or central office in a multi-campus 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 established for tracking purposes. 

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

percent of the normal (or expected) time for completion. 

component unit: This term applies to GASB institutions only. A component unit is a legally separate 

organizations for which the governing board and/or management of the primary institution is 

financially accountable. It can be another organization for which the nature and significance of its 

relationship with a primary institution is such that exclusion would cause the primary institution’s 

financial statements to be misleading or incomplete. 

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). 

coordinator: The person responsible for Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 

survey related coordination activities for a specified group of schools within a state. This person may 

have certain viewing, verifying, and locking privileges on the data collection system. 

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. 

degree-granting institution: An institution offering an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, doctor’s, or 

first-professional degree. 
B-2 

donor: A responding institution whose values are assigned to the imputee. 

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. 

FASB (Financial Accounting Standards Board): 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 Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) for the setting of 

accounting standards for local and state government entities. 

federal grants: Grants provided by federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Education, 

including Title IV Pell Grants and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG). Also 

includes need-based and merit-based educational assistance funds and training vouchers provided 

from other federal agencies and/or federally-sponsored educational benefits programs, including the 

Veteran's Administration, Department of Labor, and other federal agencies. (Used for reporting on 

the Student Financial Aid component.) 

financial aid: Grants, loans, assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, tuition waivers, tuition 

discounts, veteran's benefits, employer aid (tuition reimbursement) and other monies (other than from 

relatives/friends) provided to students to meet expenses. This includes Title IV subsidized and 

unsubsidized loans made directly to students. 

first-professional student: A student enrolled in any of the following degree programs: 

Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.) Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) 

Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.) Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) 

Law (L.L.B., J.D.) Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.) 

Medicine (M.D.) Theology (M.Div., M.H.L., B.D., or Ordination) 

Optometry (O.D.) Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) 

first-time student (undergraduate): A student 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). 

FTE (full-time equivalent): A measurement equal to one student enrolled full time for one academic 

year. Total FTE enrollment includes full time plus the calculated equivalent of the part-time 

enrollment. The full-time equivalent of the part-time students can be estimated using different factors 

depending on the type and control of institution and level of student. 

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 
B-3 

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. First-professional—As defined by the 

institution. 

full-year cohort: The group of students entering at any time during the 12-month period September 1 

through August 31 that is established for tracking and reporting Graduation Rate (GRS) 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. 

GASB (Government Accounting Standards Board): The Governmental Accounting Standards Board 

(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 or first-professional 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. 

imputation: A method of estimating data for an entity that did not respond to a data item or survey. 

imputee: A nonresponding institution that has its values imputed. 

in-district student: A student who is a legal resident of the locality in which he/she attends school and 

thus is entitled to reduced tuition charges if offered by the institution. 

in-state student: A student who is a legal resident of the state in which he/she attends school and thus 

is entitled to reduced tuition charges if offered by the institution. 

institutional affiliation: A classification that indicates whether a private not-for-profit institution is 

associated with a religious group or denomination. Private not-for-profit institutions may be either 

independent or religiously affiliated. 

institutional grants: Scholarships and fellowships granted and funded by the institution and/or 

individual departments within the institution, (i.e., instruction, research, public service) that may 

contribute indirectly to the enhancement of these programs. Includes scholarships targeted to certain 

individuals (e.g., based on state of residence, major field of study, athletic team participation) for 

which the institution designates the recipient. 

instructional activity: The provision of coursework to students. 
B-4 

keyholder: The person designated by an official institutional representative to have in their 

possession the necessary UserID and password to gain access to the Integrated Postsecondary 

Education Data System (IPEDS) data collection system to complete the survey. The keyholder is 

responsible for entering data and locking the site by each survey completion date. 

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). 

loans to students: Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is 

the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all 

institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly 

to parents. 

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 termbased 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. 

non-degree-granting institution: An institution offering only postbaccalaureate, post-master’s, or 

first-professional certificates, or certificates or diplomas of 4 years or less. 

OPE: Office of Postsecondary Education 

other degree-seeking subcohort: A cohort of students who were seeking a degree or certificate other 

than bachelor’s degree upon entry. 

out-of-state student: A student who is not a legal resident of the state in which he/she attends school. 

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. First-professional—As defined by the 

institution. 

PEPS (Postsecondary Education Participation System): Database used by OPE to track all 

institutions eligible for Title IV federal student financial aid programs. 

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

the provision of postsecondary education. Postsecondary education is 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. For IPEDS, 

these institutions must be open to the public. 
B-5 

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. 

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 not-for-profit institution: A private institution in which the individual(s) or agency in control 

receives no compensation, other than wages, rent, or other expenses for the assumption of risk. These 

include both independent not-for-profit schools and those affiliated with a religious organization. 

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, 

certificate, or quarter in the summer. 

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 used to describe groups to which individuals belong, identify with, or 

belong in the eyes of the community. The categories do not denote scientific definitions of 

anthropological origins. A person may be counted in only one group. The groups used to categorize 

U.S. citizens and resident aliens (and other eligible noncitizens) are as follows: 

 White, non-Hispanic 

 Black, non-Hispanic 

 Hispanic 

 Asian/Pacific Islander 

 American Indian/Alaska Native 

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 either an alien registration card (Form I-551 or I-151), 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 not-for-profit, 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 (lessthan-2-year). For example: public 4-year institutions. 
B-6 

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 charges: Average amount for tuition and fees, room or board charged to all students by the 

institution. Tuition and fees may vary by the level of student (undergraduate, graduate, or firstprofessional). 

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. 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 (GRS) 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). 

transfer-in student: A student entering the reporting institution for the first time but known to have 

previously attended a postsecondary institution at the same level (e.g., undergraduate, graduate). The 

student may transfer with or without credit. 

transfer-out rate: Total number of students who are known to have transferred out of the reporting 

institution within 150 percent of normal time to completion divided by the revised cohort minus 

allowable exclusions. 

transfer-out student: A student who leaves the reporting institution and enrolls at another institution. 

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. 

unduplicated count: The sum of students enrolled for credit with each student counted only once 

during the reporting period, regardless of when the student enrolled. 

UserID: A series of numbers possibly with an alpha prefix that is created for a specific user to be able 

to access a system. For security purposes, each user is required to have a UserID and a password in 

order to access the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data collection system.