Persistence and

Attainment of

2003–04 Beginning

Postsecondary

Students: After Three

Years

First Look

U.S. Department of Education

NCES 2007-169
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK 
U.S. Department of Education 

NCES 2007-169 

Persistence and 

Attainment of 

2003–04 Beginning 

Postsecondary 

Students: After Three 

Years 

First Look 

August 2007 

Lutz Berkner 

Shirley He 

MPR Associates, Inc. 

Marcinda Mason 

Sara Wheeless 

RTI International 

Tracy Hunt-White 

Project Officer 

National Center for 

Education Statistics 
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 mandate 

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August 2007 

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Suggested Citation 

Berkner, L., He, S., Mason, M., and Wheeless, S. (2007). Persistence and Attainment of 2003–04 Beginning 

Postsecondary Students: After Three Years (NCES 2007-169). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of 

Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC. Retrieved [date] from 

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

Content Contact 

Aurora D’Amico 

(202) 502-7334 

aurora.d’amico@ed.gov
iii 

Foreword 

This report provides a brief description of the degree attainment and persistence of a 

nationally representative sample of students who began postsecondary education for the first 

time in the 2003–04 academic year. The report provides a first look at the experience of these 

students over three academic years, from July 2003 to June 2006, and provides information about 

rates of program completion, transfer, and attrition for students who first enrolled at various 

types of postsecondary institutions using data from the 2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary 

Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06). 

The BPS survey is the longitudinal component of the 2003–04 National Postsecondary 

Student Aid Study (NPSAS:04), a nationally representative sample that includes students 

enrolled in all types of postsecondary institutions. The BPS:04/06 cohort consists of students in 

the NPSAS:04 sample that were identified as having enrolled in postsecondary education for the 

first time during the 2003–04 academic year. These beginning students were initially interviewed 

in 2004, at the end of their first year in postsecondary education, and then interviewed again in 

2006, three years after they had started. The information in this report may be compared to a 

previous NCES report that examined the degree attainment and persistence after three years of 

students who began postsecondary education for the first time in 1995–96 (Berkner, Horn, and 

Clune 2000). 

The estimates presented in the report were produced using the NCES Data Analysis System 

(DAS), a web-based software application that enables users to specify and generate tables for 

most of the postsecondary surveys conducted by NCES. The DAS produces the design-adjusted 

standard errors necessary for testing the statistical significance of differences in the estimates. 

The DAS for BPS:04/06 is available on the NCES website (http://nces.ed.gov/das). For more 

information on the DAS, see appendix B of this report. 
iv 

Acknowledgments 

The 2004–06 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study was conducted by RTI 

International and MPR Associates for the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES). 

Jennifer Wine of RTI was responsible for the overall direction and management of the project. 

Others at RTI who made major contributions were Jeff Franklin for student interviews; Joe 

Simpson for data processing; Melissa Cominole for instrument development; Theresa Gilligan, 

Donna Anderson, and Kristin Dudley for the data files; and Darryl Creel for imputations. 

At MPR, Vicky Dingler, Stephen Lew, and Joanna Wu wrote programs for the derived 

variables and created the Data Analysis System files. Alicia Broadway formatted the tables and 

the text of the report. 

At NCES, Tracy Hunt-White and Linda Zimbler reviewed the work at every phase of the 

project and contributed many helpful comments and suggestions for improvements. Paula 

Knepper and Marilyn Seastrom, Chief Statistician, provided a comprehensive technical and 

methodological review of the report. 

The report was also reviewed by C. Dennis Carroll and Thomas Weko at NCES, Daniel 

Goldenberg (Office of Postsecondary Education), Professor John Braxton (Vanderbilt 

University), Professor Marvin Titus (North Carolina State University), and Dawn Terkla (Tufts 

University). 
v 

Contents 

Page 

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

Acknowledgments...................................................................................................................... iv 

List of Tables.............................................................................................................................. vi 

List of Figures............................................................................................................................. viii

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

Selected Results.......................................................................................................................... 3

References................................................................................................................................... 5 

Figures and Tables..................................................................................................................... 7

Appendix A—Glossary.............................................................................................................. 21 

Appendix B—Technical Notes and Methodology ................................................................... 29
vi 

List of Tables 

Table Page 

1 Degree attainment and persistence anywhere of 2003–04 beginning postsecondary 

students as of June 2006, by first type of institution attended, degree plans first year, 

enrollment patterns, and student characteristics: All beginning students........................ 9 

2 Degree attainment and persistence anywhere of 2003–04 beginning postsecondary 

students as of June 2006, by degree plans first year, transfer and degree plans, 

enrollment patterns, and student characteristics: Students beginning at public 2-year 

institutions........................................................................................................................ 11 

3 Degree attainment and persistence anywhere of 2003–04 beginning postsecondary 

students as of June 2006, by type of first institution attended, degree plans first year, 

enrollment patterns, and student characteristics: Students beginning at 4-year 

institutions........................................................................................................................ 13 

4 Degree attainment and retention at the first institution attended of 2003–04 beginning 

postsecondary students as of June 2006, by first type of institution attended, degree 

plans first year, enrollment patterns, and student characteristics: All beginning 

students ............................................................................................................................ 15 

5 Degree attainment and retention at the first institution attended of 2003–04 beginning 

postsecondary students as of June 2006, by degree plans first year, transfer and 

degree plans, enrollment patterns, and student characteristics: Students beginning at 

public 2-year institutions.................................................................................................. 17

6 Degree attainment and retention at the first institution attended of 2003–04 beginning 

postsecondary students as of June 2006, by degree plans first year, enrollment 

patterns, and student characteristics: Students beginning at 4-year institutions.............. 19 
List of Tables 

vii 

Table Page 

Appendix B—Technical Notes and Methodology 

B-1 Numbers of NPSAS:04 sampled, eligible, and participating institutions and 

enrollment list participation rates, by type of institution: 2004 ...................................... 34 

B-2 Numbers of NPSAS:04 sampled and eligible students and response rates, by type of 

institution and student type: 2004 ................................................................................... 35 

B-3 Distribution of BPS:04/06 full-scale sample, by base-year response status: 2004 ......... 38 

B-4 BPS:04/06 sample allocation for NPSAS:04 student interview: 2004 ........................... 40 

B-5 Allocation of ineligible and final eligible BPS:04/06 sample members by interview 

status: 2006...................................................................................................................... 41 

B-6 Summary of BPS:04/06 weight components: 2006 ........................................................ 45 

B-7 Summary of institution nonresponse bias analysis for all institutions, by type of 

institution: 2006............................................................................................................... 48 

B-8 Comparison of BPS:04/06 respondents and nonrespondents, by characteristics: 2006.. 52 

B-9 Summary of student nonresponse bias for all students, by type of institution: 2006...... 54 
viii 

List of Figures 

Figure Page 

1 Percentage distribution of first-time beginners who were recent (2003) high school 

graduates, enrolled full time in the fall of 2003, and had bachelor’s degree plans, by 

their enrollment status or degree attainment at the first institution attended and 

anywhere in postsecondary education as of June 2006 ................................................... 8 
1 

Introduction 

Approximately 4 million undergraduates started postsecondary education for the first time 

during the 2003–04 academic year, enrolling in a wide variety of institutions, including 4-year 

colleges and universities, public 2-year community colleges, and private for-profit institutions 

offering career-oriented and vocational programs. A sample of these first-time beginning 

students was surveyed in 2004, at the end of their first year in postsecondary education, and then 

surveyed again in 2006, three years after they had started. This report provides a first look at the 

results of the 2006 survey data to describe the patterns of enrollment and program completion of 

the 2003–04 beginning students during that three-year period. 

The data in this report are from the 2004–06 Beginning Postsecondary Students 

Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06), the latest in a series of BPS studies covering the years 1990–94 

(BPS: 90/94), 1996–2001 (BPS: 96/01), and now 2004–06 (BPS:04/06). The students in the 

BPS:04/06 study will be contacted again and interviewed in 2009. The descriptive reports and 

public access datasets for all of these studies are available on the NCES website 

(http://nces.ed.gov/das). 

The BPS:04/06 study includes the results of the 2004 survey, administered during the 

students’ first year of enrollment, as well as the results of the First Follow-up of 2006. The 2004 

survey was administered as part of the 2003–04 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study 

(NPSAS:04). NPSAS:04 is a nationally representative sample of about 90,000 undergraduate, 

graduate, and first-professional students in about 1,600 postsecondary institutions in the 50 

states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico1 that are eligible to participate in the federal 

Title IV student aid programs. Approximately 19,000 respondents were identified as first-time 

beginners in the NPSAS:04 survey and became the sample for the BPS:04/06 longitudinal study. 

The NPSAS:04 study sample represents the approximately 19 million undergraduates enrolled in 

2003–04, while the BPS:04/06 study sample represents about 4 million of these undergraduates 

who were first-time beginners that academic year. 

The information about the beginning postsecondary students in their first year comes from 

NPSAS:04, which is based on a wide variety of sources such as institutional records, federal 

financial aid applications, and federal student loan and Pell grant records, as well as a student 

 

1

 No differences were detected in table totals when Puerto Rico was excluded. 
Introduction 

2 

interview. The information about the beginning postsecondary students in 2006 is primarily 

based on the follow-up student interview, supplemented with data from the same federal 

databases, college admissions test agencies, and the National Student Clearinghouse enrollment 

records. The student interviews in both years used a web-based questionnaire that was either 

self-administered or conducted via telephone with a trained interviewer. In 2006, about 15,000 

students completed the interview, resulting in a weighted response rate of 77 percent. The 

technical notes in appendix B supply additional information about response rates, the 

methodology of the data collection, file preparation, and analysis. 

The tables in this report present information about beginning student enrollment and 

program completion from two different perspectives. The first is from the perspective of the 

students. It looks at the beginning students’ enrollment history and degree attainment at any

postsecondary institution over the three-year period under consideration. This will be referred to 

as student attainment and persistence anywhere (tables 1–3). The second is from the perspective 

of the first institution attended. The first institution attended designates students as first-time 

beginners (or freshmen) and reports whether those students continue to be enrolled or complete a 

program at that institution. This perspective will be referred to as attainment and retention at the 

first institution attended (tables 4–6). The difference between these two perspectives reflects the 

fact that many students transfer out of the first institution attended. When beginning students 

leave the institution where they first enrolled and then enroll at a different institution, they 

continue to persist in postsecondary education, but from the perspective of the institution where 

they started, they have no longer been retained. Figure 1 illustrates the relationship of these two 

perspectives for first-time beginners who were recent (2003) high school graduates with 

bachelor’s degree plans and were enrolled full time in the fall of 2003. 

The normal length of time it takes for a full-time student to complete a program and attain 

a certificate or degree depends on the type of program. Vocational certificate programs normally 

take less than two years to complete, associate’s degree programs can be completed in two or 

three years, and bachelor’s degree programs can be completed in four or five years. The threeyear period covered in this report (from July 2003 to June 2006) is long enough for students 

beginning in 2003–04 to complete certificates and associate’s degrees, but too short for most 

students to complete bachelor’s degrees at 4-year colleges and universities. 

A glossary describing the variables used in the tables is provided in appendix A. All 

comparisons made in the Selected Findings were tested using Student’s t statistic, and all 

differences cited were statistically significant at the .05 level. Standard errors for estimates in this 

report are available at http://nces.ed.gov/das/library/reports.asp. 
3 

Selected Results 

Attainment and persistence anywhere through 2006 

• Among the beginning students who were recent (2003) high school graduates, enrolled 

full time in the fall of 2003, and had bachelor’s degree plans, 83 percent had not attained 

a degree and were still enrolled at some postsecondary institution three years later; 5 

percent had attained a degree or certificate; and 12 percent had not attained any degree 

and were no longer enrolled in June 2006 (figure 1 and table 1). 

• Among the 2003–04 beginning students who first enrolled at a public 2-year institution 

and then transferred to another institution, 18 percent had attained a certificate or 

associate’s degree and were still enrolled at some postsecondary institution in June 2006; 

62 percent had not yet attained any degree and were still enrolled at some postsecondary 

institution (table 2). 

• Fifty percent of the beginning independent students who first enrolled at 4-year 

institutions in 2003–04 had not attained any degree and were no longer enrolled; 41 

percent had not attained any degree, but were still enrolled; 5 percent had attained a 

degree or certificate and were still enrolled; and 5 percent had attained a degree or 

certificate and were no longer enrolled (table 3). 

Attainment and retention at the first institution attended 

• Among the beginning students who were recent (2003) high school graduates, enrolled 

full time in the fall of 2003, and had bachelor’s degree plans, 70 percent were still 

enrolled at their first institution without a degree, 4 percent had attained a degree or 

certificate at their first institution, and 20 percent had transferred elsewhere without a 

degree by June 2006. Seven percent had left the first institution attended without a degree 

or certificate and did not enroll anywhere else within three years (figure 1 and table 4). 

• Among the students who were recent (2003) high school graduates, first enrolled at a 

public 2-year institution full time in the fall of 2003, and had associate’s degree plans, 23 

percent attained an associate’s degree at that institution, 31 percent were still enrolled 

there without a degree, 24 percent had transferred elsewhere without a degree by June 

2006, and 21 percent had not attained any degree at the first institution and did not enroll 

anywhere else (table 5). 

• Five percent of the beginning students who first enrolled at a doctorate-granting 4-year 

institution in 2003–04 had attained some degree at that institution within three years, 71 

percent were still enrolled there without a degree, and 17 percent had transferred 

elsewhere without a degree by June 2006. Eight percent had left the institution and did 

not enroll anywhere else within three years (table 6).
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5 

References 

Berkner, L., Horn, L., and Clune, M. (2000). Descriptive Summary of 1995–96 Beginning 

Postsecondary Students: Three Years Later (NCES 2000-154). National Center for Education 

Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC. 

Breiman, L., Friedman, J.H., Olshen, R.A., and Stone, C.J. (1984). Classification and Regression 

Trees. London: Chapman & Hall. 

Cominole, M., Siegel, P., Dudley, K., Roe, D., and Gilligan, T. (2006). 2004 National 

Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:04) Full Scale Methodology Report (NCES 2006-

180). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. 

Department of Education. Washington, DC. 

Cominole, M., Wheeless, S., Dudley, K., Franklin, J., and Wine, J. (2007). 2004/06 Beginning 

Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06) Methodology Report (NCES 2007-

184). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. 

Department of Education. Washington, DC. 

Cox, B. (1980). The Weighted Sequential Hot Deck Imputation Procedure. Proceedings of the 

American Statistical Association, Section on Survey Research Methods, pp. 721–726. 

Iannacchione, V. (1982). Weighted Sequential Hot Deck Imputation Macros. Presented at the 

Seventh Annual SAS User’s Group International Conference, San Francisco. 

Kass, G..V. (1980). An Exploratory Technique for Investigating Large Quantities of Categorical 

Data. Applied Statistics, 29: 119–127. 

Kaufman, S. (2004). Using the Bootstrap in a Two-Stage Design When Some Second-Stage 

Strata Have Only One Unit Allocated. In Proceedings of the American Statistical Association, 

Section on Survey Research Methods. 

U.S. Department of Education. (2003). NCES Statistical Standards (NCES 2003-601). National 

Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences. Washington, DC. Retrieved 

March 2, 2005 from http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2003/2003601.pdf.
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7 

Figures and Tables 
Figures 

8 

Figure 1.—Percentage distribution of first-time beginners who were recent (2003) high school graduates, 

Figure 5.—enrolled full time in the fall of 2003, and had bachelor’s degree plans, by their enrollment status 

Figure 5.—or degree attainment at the first institution attended and anywhere in postsecondary education

Figure 5.—as of June 2006

* One percent associate’s degrees and 3 percent bachelor’s degrees.

** Two percent associate’s degrees and 3 percent bachelor’s degrees.

NOTE: The figure includes recent (2003) high school graduates enrolled full time in the fall of 2003 with bachelor’s degree 

plans who started at any type of institution. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003–04 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (BPS:04/06).

70

83

7

12

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Retention at first

institution after three years

Student persistence at any

institution after three years

Percent

No degree, not enrolled

No degree, transferred from

first institution

No degree, still enrolled

Attained degree or certificate

(5)

(13)

(1)

Status in June 2006:

Transfers

20

4* 5**
 Tables

9 

Table 1.—Degree attainment and persistence anywhere of 2003–04 beginning postsecondary students as of 

Table 1.—June 2006, by first type of institution attended, degree plans first year, enrollment patterns, and 

Table 1.—student characteristics: All beginning students

Attained Attained No No

degree, degree, degree, degree,

Institutional and Any Associate’s Bachelor’s not still still not

student characteristics degree Certificate degree degree Total enrolled enrolled enrolled enrolled

 Total 15.9 7.8 7.0 1.0 100.0 8.9 7.0 50.7 33.5

Type of first institution

4-year

Public 5.5 0.6 2.4 2.5 100.0 3.2 2.4 77.2 17.3

Private not-for-profit 7.1 1.0 3.9 2.2 100.0 4.0 3.1 76.8 16.1

Private for-profit 18.2 1.3 15.9 1.0 100.0 8.5 9.7 34.3 47.6

2-year

Public 15.5 5.5 10.0 0.1 100.0 5.5 10.1 39.8 44.6

Private not-for-profit 31.0 10.2 20.8 # 100.0 18.3 12.7 29.6 39.3

Private for-profit 34.1 15.8 18.4 # 100.0 25.6 8.5 13.2 52.6

Less-than-2-year

Public 63.1 62.3 0.6 0.1 100.0 51.8 11.3 6.9 30.0

Private for-profit 50.3 50.2 0.1 # 100.0 41.3 9.0 8.2 41.5

Level of first institution

4-year 7.0 0.8 3.9 2.3 100.0 3.8 3.2 73.8 19.2

2-year 17.6 6.5 11.0 0.1 100.0 7.6 10.0 37.1 45.3

Less-than-2-year 52.2 51.9 0.2 # 100.0 42.8 9.4 8.3 39.5

Degree plans first year

None 9.4 4.8 4.3 0.3 100.0 4.3 5.1 46.9 43.7

Certificate 45.8 43.7 2.0 0.1 100.0 36.4 9.5 13.2 41.0

Associate’s degree 18.6 3.5 14.9 0.2 100.0 6.7 11.9 36.2 45.2

Bachelor’s degree 5.1 0.6 2.2 2.3 100.0 3.0 2.1 77.2 17.7

Enrollment intensity through 

 2006

Always full-time 18.3 8.6 8.3 1.4 100.0 11.1 7.2 53.8 27.9

Mixed 14.9 7.2 7.0 0.7 100.0 6.3 8.6 57.2 28.0

Always part-time 7.0 5.6 1.5 # 100.0 4.3 2.7 23.9 69.1

Transfer status through 2006

Did not transfer 15.4 8.0 6.1 1.2 100.0 10.1 5.2 47.2 37.4

Transferred 17.9 6.9 10.7 0.3 100.0 3.7 14.2 65.2 16.9

Recent (2003) high school 

 graduates enrolled full time 

 in fall 2003

Certificate plans 52.4 47.6 4.3 0.5 100.0 36.6 15.9 19.0 28.6

Associate’s degree plans 28.5 2.4 25.7 0.4 100.0 8.2 20.2 40.1 31.4

Bachelor’s degree plans 5.2 0.3 2.2 2.7 100.0 3.2 2.0 82.6 12.2

See notes at end of table.

Attained degree anywhere through 2006 Persistence anywhere through 2006

Highest degree
Tables 

10 

Table 1.—Degree attainment and persistence anywhere of 2003–04 beginning postsecondary students as of 

Table 1.—June 2006, by first type of institution attended, degree plans first year, enrollment patterns, and 

Table 1.—student characteristics: All beginning students—Continued

Attained Attained No No

degree, degree, degree, degree,

Institutional and Any Associate’s Bachelor’s not still still not

student characteristics degree Certificate degree degree Total enrolled enrolled enrolled enrolled

Gender

Male 14.0 5.8 7.3 0.9 100.0 7.5 6.5 50.4 35.6

Female 17.2 9.3 6.8 1.1 100.0 9.9 7.3 50.9 31.9

Age first year enrolled

18 years or younger 13.0 3.9 7.6 1.5 100.0 5.7 7.3 64.5 22.4

19 years 15.2 5.4 8.2 1.5 100.0 7.6 7.5 57.7 27.2

20–23 years 17.4 10.9 6.3 0.2 100.0 11.3 6.2 33.7 48.9

24–29 years 21.5 16.2 5.2 0.1 100.0 15.7 5.8 26.1 52.4

30 or older 21.4 16.4 4.9 0.1 100.0 15.1 6.3 24.7 53.9

Race/ethnicity

White 15.0 6.1 7.7 1.3 100.0 8.0 7.0 53.8 31.2

Black 15.5 9.7 5.3 0.4 100.0 8.8 6.6 41.1 43.4

Hispanic 20.5 14.1 6.0 0.4 100.0 13.4 7.1 42.3 37.2

Asian/Pacific Islander 14.3 5.5 6.7 2.2 100.0 7.2 7.1 64.7 21.0

American Indian 14.1 10.4 3.6 0.0 100.0 9.6 4.5 50.5 35.4

Multiple races/other 14.8 6.7 7.3 0.8 100.0 7.5 7.3 48.9 36.3

Dependency status first year

Dependent 13.7 4.7 7.6 1.4 100.0 6.6 7.1 60.7 25.6

Independent 21.2 15.4 5.6 0.2 100.0 14.6 6.6 26.2 52.7

Unmarried, no 

 dependents 18.9 11.6 7.0 0.3 100.0 11.4 7.5 29.9 51.3

Single parent 22.4 17.1 5.1 0.2 100.0 16.7 5.7 22.5 55.1

Married 21.4 16.3 5.1 0.1 100.0 14.6 6.8 27.2 51.3

Highest education of parents

High school or less 20.9 12.6 7.9 0.4 100.0 12.8 8.2 35.8 43.2

Some postsecondary 15.7 6.9 8.1 0.7 100.0 8.1 7.5 48.4 36.0

Bachelor’s degree or higher 11.0 3.4 5.7 1.9 100.0 5.5 5.5 67.2 21.9

Dependent student family income 

Less than $32,000 17.6 8.8 7.9 0.8 100.0 9.6 7.9 48.6 33.8

$32,000–59,999 16.4 5.4 9.7 1.2 100.0 7.2 9.1 55.6 28.1

$60,000–91,999 11.3 2.6 7.3 1.4 100.0 5.2 6.1 65.9 22.8

$92,000 or more 9.1 1.4 5.4 2.4 100.0 4.1 5.0 74.5 16.4

# Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Persistence and attainment anywhere include students who transferred out of the first institution attended. “Degree” includes

certificates in vocational programs. Full-time enrollment is enrollment in 12 or more credits per term or 24 credits per year. Black 

includes African American, Hispanic includes Latino, American Indian includes Alaska Native, Pacific Islander includes Native 

Hawaiian, and Other includes respondents having origins in a race not listed. Pacific Islanders have been combined with Asians because

of small sample sizes. Race categories exclude Hispanic origin unless specified. Dependent students were under age 24, unmarried, and 

had no dependents of their own in 2003. Family income of dependent students is the annual income of the parents in 2002. Categories 

represent the income quartile ranges of all dependent student families. Totals include students in private not-for-profit less-than-2-year 

institutions; sample size was too small to show as a separate category. This table includes students enrolled at postsecondary institutions

in Puerto Rico. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003–04 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (BPS:04/06).

 Persistence anywhere through 2006

Highest degree

Attained degree anywhere through 2006
 Tables

11 

Table 2.—Degree attainment and persistence anywhere of 2003–04 beginning postsecondary students as of 

Table 2.—June 2006, by degree plans first year, transfer and degree plans, enrollment patterns, and student 

Table 2.—characteristics: Students beginning at public 2-year institutions

Attained Attained No No

degree, degree, degree, degree,

Institutional and Any Associate’s not still still not

student characteristics degree Certificate degree Total enrolled enrolled enrolled enrolled

 Total 15.5 5.5 10.0 100.0 5.5 10.1 39.8 44.6

Degree plans first year

None 10.0 5.3 4.7 100.0 4.1 5.9 42.6 47.4

Certificate 31.8 26.6 5.2 100.0 21.3 10.5 21.2 47.0

Associate’s degree 16.1 3.4 12.7 100.0 4.4 11.7 39.0 44.9

Bachelor’s degree 8.5 1.7 6.3 100.0 1.7 6.8 54.8 36.7

Type of associate’s degree

Applied fields 17.6 5.2 12.4 100.0 7.3 10.3 33.9 48.5

General education/transfer 14.6 2.7 11.9 100.0 3.2 11.5 42.1 43.2

Transfer and degree plans

Degree, no transfer 19.4 10.5 8.8 100.0 10.0 9.5 31.4 49.2

Degree and transfer 17.5 2.4 15.0 100.0 3.6 13.8 42.7 39.8

No degree, transfer 13.2 2.0 11.1 100.0 1.9 11.3 49.6 37.2

No degree and no transfer 12.8 8.3 4.4 100.0 7.7 5.1 32.4 54.8

Enrollment intensity through 2006

Always full-time 22.8 5.8 16.8 100.0 8.6 14.1 36.5 40.7

Mixed 15.7 6.3 9.4 100.0 4.3 11.4 54.3 29.9

Always part-time 5.6 3.8 1.8 100.0 2.8 2.8 23.9 70.5

Transfer status through 2006

Did not transfer 13.9 5.2 8.7 100.0 6.0 7.8 33.3 52.8

Transferred 21.2 6.4 14.7 100.0 3.5 17.8 62.3 16.4

Recent (2003) high school graduates

 enrolled full time in fall 2003

Certificate plans 40.5 25.9 14.7 100.0 27.3 13.2 22.7 36.8

Associate’s degree plans 26.8 2.2 24.6 100.0 6.0 20.7 42.9 30.4

Bachelor’s degree plans 11.6 0.8 9.9 100.0 1.9 9.7 61.5 26.9

See notes at end of table.

 Persistence anywhere through 2006

Highest degree

Attained degree anywhere through 2006
Tables 

12 

Table 2.—Degree attainment and persistence anywhere of 2003–04 beginning postsecondary students as of 

Table 2.—June 2006, by degree plans first year, transfer and degree plans, enrollment patterns, and student 

Table 2.—characteristics: Students beginning at public 2-year institutions—Continued

Attained Attained No No

degree, degree, degree, degree,

Institutional and Any Associate’s not still still not

student characteristics degree Certificate degree Total enrolled enrolled enrolled enrolled

Gender

Male 14.5 5.1 9.4 100.0 5.5 9.0 38.5 47.0

Female 16.3 5.7 10.5 100.0 5.4 10.9 40.9 42.8

Age first year enrolled

18 years or younger 18.6 3.4 15.0 100.0 3.9 14.6 47.5 33.9

19 years 17.2 4.6 12.5 100.0 6.1 11.0 43.5 39.3

20–23 years 9.9 4.5 5.4 100.0 5.2 4.6 36.4 53.7

24–29 years 12.5 7.3 4.9 100.0 4.9 7.5 32.2 55.3

30 or older 14.5 10.2 4.3 100.0 8.0 6.5 28.1 57.5

Race/ethnicity

White 17.6 6.0 11.6 100.0 6.1 11.5 38.7 43.6

Black 11.1 5.3 5.8 100.0 4.4 6.7 36.3 52.6

Hispanic 11.6 4.1 7.5 100.0 4.0 7.6 42.2 46.2

Asian/Pacific Islander 14.6 4.9 9.2 100.0 4.5 10.1 53.5 31.9

American Indian 14.0 7.5 6.6 100.0 6.7 7.4 59.6 26.3

Multiple races/other 15.7 3.8 11.9 100.0 5.6 10.1 39.5 44.8

Dependency status first year

Dependent 17.2 4.0 13.2 100.0 5.1 12.0 45.2 37.6

Independent 12.7 8.0 4.6 100.0 6.1 6.7 30.6 56.7

Unmarried, no 

 dependents 13.2 7.4 5.6 100.0 5.5 7.7 30.9 55.9

Single parent 9.8 5.6 4.1 100.0 4.7 5.1 29.9 60.3

Married 14.5 10.0 4.5 100.0 7.2 7.2 30.8 54.7

Highest education of parents

High school or less 16.0 6.8 9.1 100.0 6.0 9.9 35.2 48.9

Some postsecondary 15.8 5.4 10.3 100.0 6.0 9.8 38.7 45.4

Bachelor’s degree or higher 15.1 3.4 11.5 100.0 4.3 10.8 47.9 37.0

Dependent student family income 

Less than $32,000 16.4 4.0 12.4 100.0 5.5 11.0 41.7 41.9

$32,000–59,999 20.7 5.0 15.7 100.0 5.9 14.8 42.5 36.8

$60,000–91,999 16.8 3.7 12.9 100.0 5.5 11.3 45.8 37.4

$92,000 or more 13.7 2.6 11.1 100.0 3.2 10.5 53.4 32.9

NOTE: Persistence and attainment anywhere include students who transferred out of the first institution attended. “Degree” includes

certificates in vocational programs. Full-time enrollment is enrollment in 12 or more credits per term or 24 credits per year. Black 

includes African American, Hispanic includes Latino, American Indian includes Alaska Native, Pacific Islander includes Native 

Hawaiian, and Other includes respondents having origins in a race not listed. Pacific Islanders have been combined with Asians because 

of small sample sizes. Race categories exclude Hispanic origin unless specified. Dependent students were under age 24, unmarried, and 

had no dependents of their own in 2003. Family income of dependent students is the annual income of the parents in 2002. Categories 

represent the income quartile ranges of all dependent student families. This table includes students enrolled at postsecondary institutions 

in Puerto Rico. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003–04 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (BPS:04/06).

 Persistence anywhere through 2006

Highest degree

Attained degree anywhere through 2006
 Tables

13 

Table 3.—Degree attainment and persistence anywhere of 2003–04 beginning postsecondary students as of 

Table 4.—June 2006, by type of first institution attended, degree plans first year, enrollment patterns, and 

Table 4.—student characteristics: Students beginning at 4-year institutions

Attained Attained No No

degree, degree, degree, degree,

Institutional and Any Associate’s Bachelor’s not still still not

student characteristics degree Certificate degree degree Total enrolled enrolled enrolled enrolled

 Total 7.0 0.8 3.9 2.3 100.0 3.8 3.2 73.8 19.2

Type of first institution

Public 4-year 5.5 0.6 2.4 2.5 100.0 3.2 2.4 77.2 17.3

Private not-for-profit 4-year 7.1 1.0 3.9 2.2 100.0 4.0 3.1 76.8 16.1

Private for-profit 4-year 18.2 1.3 15.9 1.0 100.0 8.5 9.7 34.3 47.6

Doctorate-granting status of 

 first institution

Doctorate-granting 5.7 0.6 2.2 2.9 100.0 3.4 2.3 81.4 12.9

Non-doctorate-granting 8.3 1.0 5.6 1.7 100.0 4.3 4.0 66.1 25.6

Degree plans first year

None 5.8 0.9 3.7 1.2 100.0 2.5 3.3 65.7 28.5

Certificate 14.1 11.2 0.8 2.1 100.0 12.1 2.0 49.0 36.9

Associate’s degree 23.7 1.7 20.7 1.2 100.0 9.0 14.6 34.7 41.6

Bachelor’s degree 4.5 0.4 1.6 2.5 100.0 3.0 1.5 80.5 15.0

Enrollment intensity through 

 2006

Always full-time 7.4 0.6 4.3 2.5 100.0 4.0 3.4 76.1 16.5

Mixed 6.5 1.5 3.0 2.0 100.0 3.9 2.7 71.1 22.4

Always part-time 0.7 0.7 # # 100.0 0.6 0.1 30.1 69.2

Transfer status through 2006

Did not transfer 6.8 0.5 3.6 2.7 100.0 4.2 2.6 73.5 19.7

Transferred 7.8 1.8 5.5 0.5 100.0 2.3 5.5 75.0 17.2

Recent (2003) high school 

 graduates enrolled full time

 in fall 2003

Certificate plans 11.6 6.6 1.5 3.5 100.0 8.2 3.4 71.1 17.3

Associate’s degree plans 32.2 1.4 28.7 2.0 100.0 11.2 21.0 37.7 30.1

Bachelor’s degree plans 4.8 0.3 1.7 2.8 100.0 3.3 1.5 84.2 11.1

See notes at end of table.

 Persistence anywhere through 2006

Highest degree

Attained degree anywhere through 2006
Tables 

14 

Table 3.—Degree attainment and persistence anywhere of 2003–04 beginning postsecondary students as of 

Table 4.—June 2006, by type of first institution attended, degree plans first year, enrollment patterns, and 

Table 4.—student characteristics: Students beginning at 4-year institutions—Continued

Attained Attained No No

degree, degree, degree, degree,

Institutional and Any Associate’s Bachelor’s not still still not

student characteristics degree Certificate degree degree Total enrolled enrolled enrolled enrolled

Gender

Male 6.9 0.6 4.3 2.0 100.0 3.6 3.3 71.1 22.0

Female 7.1 0.9 3.6 2.5 100.0 4.0 3.0 75.8 17.1

Age first year enrolled

18 years or younger 6.1 0.6 3.1 2.4 100.0 3.5 2.6 79.6 14.3

19 years 8.1 0.5 4.6 3.0 100.0 4.5 3.5 77.0 14.9

20–23 years 7.0 1.2 4.9 0.9 100.0 2.7 4.2 51.4 41.6

24–29 years 10.4 2.5 7.8 0.1 100.0 5.9 4.5 39.3 50.3

30 or older 9.1 2.5 6.2 0.4 100.0 4.4 4.7 38.2 52.8

Race/ethnicity

White 7.1 0.6 4.0 2.6 100.0 4.1 3.1 75.4 17.5

Black 6.3 1.7 3.4 1.1 100.0 3.0 3.3 66.7 27.1

Hispanic 6.0 0.8 3.8 1.4 100.0 3.6 2.4 69.8 24.2

Asian/Pacific Islander 9.3 1.1 4.5 3.7 100.0 4.5 4.8 79.5 11.2

American Indian 1.0 0.3 0.7 0.0 100.0 # 1.0 59.0 40.1

Multiple races/other 6.2 0.7 3.8 1.7 100.0 2.6 3.6 68.6 25.2

Dependency status first year

Dependent 6.7 0.6 3.6 2.5 100.0 3.7 3.0 78.0 15.3

Independent 9.2 2.3 6.3 0.6 100.0 4.7 4.5 41.1 49.7

Unmarried, no dependents 8.0 0.9 6.5 0.6 100.0 5.6 2.3 48.0 44.1

Single parent 11.2 4.1 6.4 0.7 100.0 5.3 6.0 32.4 56.4

Married 8.0 1.7 5.9 0.4 100.0 3.1 4.9 44.4 47.6

Highest education of parents

High school or less 8.5 1.4 5.6 1.5 100.0 4.3 4.2 58.4 33.1

Some postsecondary 8.1 0.9 5.5 1.7 100.0 3.7 4.3 71.1 20.8

Bachelor’s degree or higher 5.9 0.4 2.6 2.9 100.0 3.7 2.2 81.8 12.3

Dependent student family income 

Less than $32,000 7.0 1.1 4.1 1.9 100.0 3.7 3.4 69.4 23.5

$32,000–59,999 7.7 0.4 5.0 2.3 100.0 4.1 3.6 73.3 19.0

$60,000–91,999 6.1 0.8 3.0 2.3 100.0 3.7 2.5 82.2 11.6

$92,000 or more 6.4 0.1 2.8 3.4 100.0 3.7 2.7 84.0 9.6

# Rounds to zero.

NOTE: Persistence and attainment anywhere include students who transferred out of the first institution attended. “Degree” includes 

certificates in vocational programs. Full-time enrollment is enrollment in 12 or more credits per term or 24 credits per year. Black 

includes African American, Hispanic includes Latino, American Indian includes Alaska Native, Pacific Islander includes Native 

Hawaiian, and Other includes respondents having origins in a race not listed. Pacific Islanders have been combined with Asians because 

of small sample sizes. Race categories exclude Hispanic origin unless specified. Dependent students were under age 24, unmarried, and 

had no dependents of their own in 2003. Family income of dependent students is the annual income of the parents in 2002. Categories 

represent the income quartile ranges of all dependent student families. This table includes students enrolled at postsecondary institutions 

in Puerto Rico. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003–04 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (BPS:04/06).

 Persistence anywhere through 2006

Highest degree

Attained degree anywhere through 2006
 Tables

15 

Table 4.—Degree attainment and retention at the first institution attended of 2003–04 beginning 

Table 4.—postsecondary students as of June 2006, by first type of institution attended, degree plans first 

Table 4.—year, enrollment patterns, and student characteristics: All beginning students

No degree, No degree,

No degree, trans- did not

Institutional and Any Associate’s Bachelor’s still ferred enroll

student characteristics degree Certificate degree degree enrolled elsewhere anywhere

 Total 14.4 7.2 6.3 1.0 43.0 17.2 25.5

Type of first institution

4-year

Public 4.1 0.2 1.4 2.5 65.6 19.0 11.3

Private not-for-profit 6.0 0.6 3.2 2.1 65.6 18.0 10.4

Private for-profit 16.9 0.9 15.1 1.0 36.8 11.7 34.6

2-year

Public 13.7 4.4 9.3 † 32.1 19.5 34.7

Private not-for-profit 28.9 9.0 19.9 † 17.3 23.7 30.2

Private for-profit 33.6 15.6 18.1 † 17.8 6.5 42.1

Less-than-2-year

Public 62.0 62.0 † † 5.0 6.3 26.7

Private for-profit 50.0 50.0 † † 8.4 5.1 36.4

Level of first institution

4-year 5.7 0.4 3.1 2.2 63.4 18.1 12.8

2-year 15.9 5.6 10.3 † 30.5 18.4 35.3

Less-than-2-year 51.7 51.7 † † 8.1 5.4 34.8

Degree plans first year

None 7.8 3.9 3.7 0.3 35.1 23.2 33.9

Certificate 44.8 42.9 1.8 0.1 11.9 6.9 36.4

Associate’s degree 16.8 2.6 14.0 0.1 32.3 16.6 34.3

Bachelor’s degree 4.0 0.3 1.5 2.2 64.9 19.5 11.6

Enrollment intensity through 2006

Always full-time 16.9 8.1 7.5 1.4 46.1 15.7 21.4

Mixed 12.7 5.9 6.2 0.6 44.2 26.6 16.5

Always part-time 7.0 5.5 1.5 # 26.7 5.1 61.2

Recent (2003) high school graduates

 enrolled full time in fall 2003

Certificate plans 51.0 46.5 4.1 0.4 14.7 9.8 24.4

Associate’s degree plans 26.0 1.6 24.0 0.3 29.8 22.7 21.5

Bachelor’s degree plans 4.1 0.1 1.4 2.6 69.5 19.7 6.7

See notes at end of table.

Attained degree at the first institution 

Highest degree

through 2006

Retention at the first institution 

through 2006
Tables 

16 

Table 4.—Degree attainment and retention at the first institution attended of 2003–04 beginning 

Table 4.—postsecondary students as of June 2006, by first type of institution attended, degree plans first 

Table 4.—year, enrollment patterns, and student characteristics: All beginning students—Continued

No degree, No degree,

No degree, trans- did not

Institutional and Any Associate’s Bachelor’s still ferred enroll

student characteristics degree Certificate degree degree enrolled elsewhere anywhere

Gender

Male 12.5 5.1 6.5 0.9 41.7 18.7 27.1

Female 15.8 8.7 6.1 1.0 43.9 16.1 24.3

Age first year enrolled

18 years or younger 11.3 3.3 6.6 1.4 53.0 20.7 15.0

19 years 13.0 4.5 7.1 1.5 46.3 21.2 19.5

20–23 years 16.7 10.3 6.2 0.2 29.8 14.1 39.4

24–29 years 20.8 15.8 5.0 # 27.5 8.8 43.0

30 or older 21.0 16.2 4.7 0.1 26.6 6.6 45.8

Race/ethnicity

White 13.5 5.6 6.8 1.2 45.0 18.1 23.4

Black 14.3 9.0 5.0 0.4 35.8 15.3 34.6

Hispanic 19.4 13.5 5.5 0.4 38.5 13.8 28.3

Asian/Pacific Islander 11.7 3.7 6.1 1.9 52.4 21.1 14.8

American Indian 10.7 8.2 2.4 # 49.0 14.3 26.1

Multiple races/other 13.7 5.9 6.9 0.8 39.7 17.0 29.7

Dependency status first year

Dependent 11.9 3.9 6.7 1.3 49.5 20.4 18.2

Independent 20.5 15.1 5.4 0.1 27.1 9.3 43.1

Unmarried, no dependents 18.1 11.1 6.8 0.1 28.0 12.2 41.7

Single parent 21.8 16.6 5.1 0.1 26.1 7.5 44.5

Married 20.9 16.1 4.7 0.1 27.3 9.2 42.6

Highest education of parents

High school or less 19.9 12.0 7.4 0.4 32.6 13.1 34.5

Some postsecondary 13.5 6.0 6.9 0.6 40.9 18.7 26.8

Bachelor’s degree or higher 9.7 2.9 5.1 1.7 54.7 20.4 15.3

Dependent student family income 

Less than $32,000 16.0 7.9 7.3 0.8 42.1 16.5 25.4

$32,000–59,999 14.1 4.5 8.5 1.1 46.1 19.5 20.3

$60,000–91,999 9.3 1.7 6.3 1.3 52.9 22.3 15.5

$92,000 or more 7.8 1.1 4.4 2.3 58.5 23.2 10.4

† Not applicable.

# Rounds to zero.

NOTE: “Degree” includes certificates in vocational programs. Students who attained a degree and continued to be enrolled at the first 

institution are only included in the degree columns. Full-time enrollment is enrollment in 12 or more credits per term or 24 credits per 

year. Black includes African American, Hispanic includes Latino, American Indian includes Alaska Native, Pacific Islander includes 

Native Hawaiian, and Other includes respondents having origins in a race not listed. Pacific Islanders have been combined with Asians 

because of small sample sizes. Race categories exclude Hispanic origin unless specified. Dependent students were under age 24, 

unmarried, and had no dependents of their own in 2003. Family income of dependent students is the annual income of the parents in 

2002. Categories represent the income quartile ranges of all dependent student families. Totals include students in private not-forprofit less-than-2-year institutions; sample size was too small to show as a separate category. This table includes students enrolled at 

postsecondary institutions in Puerto Rico. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003–04 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (BPS:04/06).

through 2006

Highest degree

Attained degree at the first institution Retention at the first institution 

through 2006
 Tables

17 

Table 5.—Degree attainment and retention at the first institution attended of 2003–04 beginning 

Table 5.—postsecondary students as of June 2006, by degree plans first year, transfer and degree plans, 

Table 5.—enrollment patterns, and student characteristics: Students beginning at public 2-year institutions

No degree, No degree,

No degree, trans- did not

Institutional and Any Associate’s still ferred enroll

student characteristics degree Certificate degree enrolled elsewhere anywhere

 Total 13.7 4.4 9.3 32.1 19.5 34.7

Degree plans first year

None 8.3 4.1 4.3 30.5 23.7 37.5

Certificate 29.4 24.2 5.2 19.7 10.0 40.9

Associate’s degree 14.3 2.5 11.8 33.5 17.6 34.6

Bachelor’s degree 7.0 1.4 5.6 36.3 31.5 25.2

Type of associate’s degree

Applied fields 16.4 4.4 12.0 29.4 15.7 38.5

General education/transfer 12.7 1.8 11.0 35.1 19.5 32.6

Transfer and degree plans

Degree, no transfer 17.9 9.5 8.4 31.3 11.2 39.6

Degree and transfer 15.9 1.9 14.0 36.8 17.6 29.8

No degree, transfer 11.5 1.2 10.3 33.7 27.7 27.1

No degree and no transfer 10.2 6.4 3.8 25.9 19.1 44.7

Enrollment intensity through 2006

Always full-time 20.5 4.6 15.9 25.6 22.4 31.5

Mixed 13.0 4.7 8.4 42.3 27.3 17.3

Always part-time 5.5 3.8 1.8 26.6 4.8 63.1

Recent (2003) high school graduates

 enrolled full time in fall 2003

Certificate plans 38.0 23.4 14.7 17.9 14.7 29.4

Associate’s degree plans 24.5 1.4 23.1 30.5 24.3 20.6

Bachelor’s degree plans 9.8 0.4 9.4 36.6 38.7 14.9

See notes at end of table.

Highest degree

Attained degree at the first institution Retention at the first institution

through 2006 through 2006
Tables 

18 

Table 5.—Degree attainment and retention at the first institution attended of 2003–04 beginning 

Table 5.—postsecondary students as of June 2006, by degree plans first year, transfer and degree plans, 

Table 5.—enrollment patterns, and student characteristics: Students beginning at public 2-year institutions

Table 5.——Continued

No degree, No degree,

No degree, trans- did not

Institutional and Any Associate’s still ferred enroll

student characteristics degree Certificate degree enrolled elsewhere anywhere

Gender

Male 12.9 4.0 8.9 29.8 20.6 36.7

Female 14.4 4.8 9.6 33.9 18.7 33.1

Age first year enrolled

18 years or younger 15.8 2.2 13.7 34.6 25.8 23.7

19 years 14.2 2.5 11.6 31.2 25.7 28.9

20–23 years 9.0 3.9 5.2 32.1 15.6 43.2

24–29 years 11.4 6.8 4.6 31.6 13.2 43.8

30 or older 14.4 10.1 4.3 28.9 7.1 49.6

Race/ethnicity

White 15.7 5.1 10.7 29.4 20.6 34.3

Black 10.0 4.6 5.4 33.6 16.0 40.4

Hispanic 10.3 3.2 7.1 39.4 14.9 35.4

Asian/Pacific Islander 10.2 1.6 8.6 36.3 31.6 22.0

American Indian 7.0 3.0 4.0 50.5 20.9 21.6

Multiple races/other 14.2 2.7 11.5 31.4 19.5 34.9

Dependency status first year

Dependent 14.6 2.5 12.1 33.2 24.4 27.7

Independent 12.1 7.7 4.4 30.2 11.1 46.6

Unmarried, no dependents 12.0 6.7 5.2 29.0 15.4 43.6

Single parent 9.3 5.3 4.1 33.0 8.4 49.3

Married 14.0 9.8 4.3 29.0 10.6 46.5

Highest education of parents

High school or less 14.7 6.2 8.5 31.5 14.4 39.3

Some postsecondary 13.4 4.0 9.4 32.3 20.0 34.2

Bachelor’s degree or higher 13.1 2.3 10.8 32.7 26.5 27.7

Dependent student family income 

Less than $32,000 14.4 2.8 11.6 35.6 18.6 31.4

$32,000–59,999 17.2 3.0 14.2 32.8 23.2 26.9

$60,000–91,999 14.2 2.2 12.0 32.5 26.2 27.0

$92,000 or more 11.8 1.9 9.9 31.3 33.0 23.9

NOTE: “Degree” includes certificates in vocational programs. Students who attained a degree and continued to be enrolled at the first 

institution are only included in the degree columns. Full-time enrollment is enrollment in 12 or more credits per term or 24 credits per 

year. Black includes African American, Hispanic includes Latino, American Indian includes Alaska Native, Pacific Islander includes 

Native Hawaiian, and Other includes respondents having origins in a race not listed. Pacific Islanders have been combined with Asians 

because of small sample sizes. Race categories exclude Hispanic origin unless specified. Dependent students were under age 24, 

unmarried, and had no dependents of their own in 2003. Family income of dependent students is the annual income of the parents in 

2002. Categories represent the income quartile ranges of all dependent student families. This table includes students enrolled at 

postsecondary institutions in Puerto Rico. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003–04 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (BPS:04/06).

through 2006 through 2006

Highest degree

Attained degree at the first institution Retention at the first institution
 Tables

19 

Table 6.—Degree attainment and retention at the first institution attended of 2003–04 beginning 

Table 6.—postsecondary students as of June 2006, by degree plans first year, enrollment patterns, and 

Table 6.—student characteristics: Students beginning at 4-year institutions

No degree, No degree,

No degree, trans- did not

Institutional and Any Associate’s Bachelor’s still ferred enroll

student characteristics degree Certificate degree degree enrolled elsewhere anywhere

 Total 5.7 0.4 3.1 2.2 63.4 18.1 12.8

Type of first institution

Public 4-year 4.1 0.2 1.4 2.5 65.6 19.0 11.3

Private not-for-profit 4-year 6.0 0.6 3.2 2.1 65.6 18.0 10.4

Private for-profit 4-year 16.9 0.9 15.1 1.0 36.8 11.7 34.6

Doctorate-granting status of first 

 institution

Doctorate-granting 4.6 0.3 1.5 2.8 70.8 16.9 7.7

Non-doctorate-granting 4-year 6.8 0.5 4.6 1.7 55.9 19.3 18.0

Degree plans first year

None 4.1 0.6 2.4 1.1 53.7 23.6 18.6

Certificate 11.1 9.1 0.4 1.6 40.1 19.1 29.7

Associate’s degree 21.1 0.9 19.1 1.1 33.0 16.2 29.8

Bachelor’s degree 3.5 0.1 0.9 2.5 68.9 18.0 9.6

Enrollment intensity through 2006

Always full-time 6.0 0.3 3.3 2.4 66.9 15.9 11.2

Mixed 5.2 0.8 2.5 1.9 54.4 28.0 12.5

Always part-time 0.2 0.2 # # 34.7 7.5 57.7

Recent (2003) high school graduates

 enrolled full time in fall 2003

Certificate plans 6.4 3.1 0.8 2.5 53.5 26.7 13.4

Associate’s degree plans 28.4 0.7 26.0 1.6 30.5 20.5 20.6

Bachelor’s degree plans 3.7 # 0.9 2.8 71.8 18.4 6.1

See notes at end of table.

Highest degree

Attained degree at the first institution Retention at the first institution 

through 2006 through 2006
Tables 

20 

Table 6.—Degree attainment and retention at the first institution attended of 2003–04 beginning 

Table 6.—postsecondary students as of June 2006, by degree plans first year, enrollment patterns, and 

Table 6.—student characteristics: Students beginning at 4-year institutions—Continued

No degree, No degree,

No degree, trans- did not

Institutional and Any Associate’s Bachelor’s still ferred enroll

student characteristics degree Certificate degree degree enrolled elsewhere anywhere

Gender

Male 5.5 0.3 3.2 2.0 60.4 19.4 14.8

Female 5.9 0.4 3.0 2.5 65.8 17.1 11.3

Age first year enrolled

18 years or younger 4.9 0.3 2.3 2.4 67.9 18.9 8.3

19 years 6.4 0.2 3.4 2.9 64.6 19.7 9.3

20–23 years 5.9 0.4 4.6 0.9 44.6 17.3 32.2

24–29 years 10.0 2.5 7.4 0.1 41.8 5.7 42.4

30 or older 7.2 1.1 5.8 0.4 42.6 9.3 40.8

Race/ethnicity

White 5.8 0.4 3.0 2.5 64.9 18.2 11.1

Black 4.7 0.7 3.0 1.0 56.1 18.7 20.5

Hispanic 4.7 0.4 2.9 1.4 60.4 19.7 15.1

Asian/Pacific Islander 8.0 0.3 4.1 3.6 69.6 14.7 7.7

American Indian 0.7 # 0.7 # 61.3 11.6 26.3

Multiple races/other 5.1 0.1 3.3 1.7 56.2 17.2 21.5

Dependency status first year

Dependent 5.4 0.2 2.7 2.5 66.1 19.1 9.5

Independent 8.2 1.7 6.0 0.5 42.7 10.7 38.4

Unmarried, no dependents 7.7 0.9 6.3 0.6 44.1 11.0 37.2

Single parent 9.8 2.9 6.4 0.5 37.6 10.9 41.6

Married 6.9 1.2 5.3 0.4 46.9 10.1 36.1

Highest education of parents

High school or less 7.2 0.7 5.0 1.5 52.1 16.5 24.2

Some postsecondary 5.9 0.6 3.6 1.7 60.0 20.7 13.5

Bachelor’s degree or higher 5.0 0.2 2.0 2.8 69.7 18.0 7.3

Dependent student family income 

Less than $32,000 5.6 0.4 3.5 1.8 60.6 18.3 15.5

$32,000–59,999 6.2 0.2 3.7 2.3 62.6 18.1 13.1

$60,000–91,999 4.6 0.3 2.1 2.2 68.8 20.0 6.6

$92,000 or more 5.3 0.1 1.9 3.3 70.7 19.1 4.9

# Rounds to zero.

NOTE: “Degree” includes certificates in vocational programs. Students who attained a degree and continued to be enrolled at the first 

institution are only included in the degree columns. Full-time enrollment is enrollment in 12 or more credits per term or 24 credits per 

year. Black includes African American, Hispanic includes Latino, American Indian includes Alaska Native, Pacific Islander includes 

Native Hawaiian, and Other includes respondents having origins in a race not listed. Pacific Islanders have been combined with Asians 

because of small sample sizes. Race categories exclude Hispanic origin unless specified. Dependent students were under age 24, 

unmarried, and had no dependents of their own in 2003. Family income of dependent students is the annual income of the parents in 

2002. Categories represent the income quartile ranges of all dependent student families. This table includes students enrolled at 

postsecondary institutions in Puerto Rico. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003–04 Beginning Postsecondary Students

Longitudinal Study, First Follow-up (BPS:04/06).

Retention at the first institution 

through 2006 through 2006

Highest degree

Attained degree at the first institution
21 

Appendix A—Glossary 

All variables used in this report are described in this glossary. Variables were taken directly from the 2004/06 

Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06) Data Analysis System (DAS), an NCES 

software application that generates tables from the BPS:04/06 data (see appendix B for a description of the DAS). 

The index below organizes the variables by category. The glossary items are listed in alphabetical order by variable 

name in the DAS (displayed in bold letters along the right-hand column). 

GLOSSARY INDEX

INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Type of first institution ...................................FSECTOR 

Level of first institution .................................... FLEVEL 

Doctorate-granting status of first institution.. FSECDOC 

ENROLLMENT CHARACTERISTICS

Degree plans first year .................................. DGPLNY1 

Type of associate’s degree............................UGDEGAA 

Transfer and degree plans..............................DGTRNY1 

Attendance intensity through June 2006....... ENINPT3Y 

Transfer status through June 2006................ TFNUM3Y 

Recent (2003) high school graduates 

enrolled full time in fall 2003................... FALLHSFT 

STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS

Gender..............................................................GENDER 

Age first year enrolled .............................................AGE 

Race/ethnicity ....................................................... RACE 

Dependency status first year ....................... DEPEND5B 

Highest education of parents......................... PAREDUC 

Dependent student family income.................... DEPINC 

PERSISTENCE AND ATTAINMENT

Highest degree attained anywhere through 

June 2006 .................................................. ATHTY3Y 

Persistence anywhere through June 2006 .........PRAT3Y 

Highest degree attained at the first institution 

through June 2006 ................................... ATHTYF3Y 

Retention at the first institution through 

June 2006 .................................................. PROUTFI3 
Appendix A—Glossary 

Variable Name

22 

Age first year enrolled AGE 

Indicates the student’s age on December 31, 2003. 

18 years or younger 

19 years 

20–23 years 

24–29 years 

30 years or older 

Highest degree attained anywhere through June 2006 ATHTY3Y 

Indicates the highest degree attained by the student at any postsecondary institution by June 2006. 

 

Certificate The student’s highest level of attainment at any institution by 

June 2006 was a vocational certificate. 

 

Associate’s degree The student’s highest level of attainment at any institution by 

June 2006 was an associate’s degree. 

 

Bachelor’s degree The student’s highest level of attainment at any institution by 

June 2006 was a bachelor’s degree. 

 

 

Any degree The student had attained a certificate, an associate’s degree, or a 

bachelor’s degree at some postsecondary institution by June 

2006. 

Highest degree attained at the first institution through June 2006 ATHTYF3Y 

Indicates the highest degree attained by the student at the first institution attended as of June 2006. 

Certificate The student’s highest level of attainment by June 2006 at the 

first institution attended was a vocational certificate. 

 

Associate’s degree The student’s highest level of attainment by June 2006 at the 

first institution attended was an associate’s degree. 

 

Bachelor’s degree The student’s highest level of attainment by June 2006 at the 

first institution attended was a bachelor’s degree. 

Any degree The student had attained a certificate, an associate’s degree, or a 

bachelor’s degree by June 2006 at the first institution attended. 
Appendix A—Glossary 

Variable Name

23 

Dependency status first year DEPEND5B

Dependent 

Independent 

 Unmarried, no dependents 

 Single parent 

 Married 

Indicates whether the student was financially dependent or independent for federal financial aid purposes in 2003–

04, and subcategories of independent students based on marital status and whether they had legal dependents. 

Students were considered to be financially independent for federal financial aid purposes in 2003–04 if they met any 

of the following criteria: 

The student was 24 years old or older as of 12/31/2003. 

The student had legal dependents other than spouse. 

The student was married. 

The student was an orphan or ward of the court. 

The student was a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. 

The student was enrolled in a graduate or professional program (beyond a bachelor’s degree). 

All other students under 24 were considered to be financially dependent on their parents unless they could 

demonstrate that they were receiving no parental support and were classified as independent by a financial aid 

officer using professional judgment. 

For the independent student subcategories, “unmarried” and “single” include students who were separated, divorced, 

or widowed. “Married” students include those with or without dependents. 

Dependent student family income DEPINC

Indicates dependent student parents’ total income for 2002. Based on amounts reported in the financial aid 

application, estimates by students in the student interview, and stochastic imputation. Federal financial aid need 

analysis uses the family income in the calendar year prior to the academic year of enrollment. The low and high 

categories used in this report are approximately the lowest and highest 25 percent of the income range for all 

dependent student families. 

Less than $32,000 

$32,000–59,999 

$60,000–91,999 

$92,000 or more 
Appendix A—Glossary 

Variable Name

24 

Degree plans first year DGPLNY1 

Student’s degree plans during the 2003–04 academic year. Based first on the 2004 interview question “What degree 

were you working on at [the NPSAS sample school]?” If this was not available, the program reported by the NPSAS 

institution was used. If neither was available, the program reported by the student in the financial aid application 

was used. 

None The student was not working on any degree. 

Certificate The student was working on a vocational certificate or diploma 

below an associate’s degree. 

 

Associate’s degree The student was working on an associate’s degree. 

 

Bachelor’s degree The student was working on a bachelor’s degree, including those 

enrolled at less-than-4-year institutions who planned to transfer 

to a 4-year institution to complete a bachelor’s degree. 

Transfer and degree plans DGTRNY1

Indicates whether students at less-than-4-year institutions in 2003–04 planned to transfer to a 4-year institution and 

whether they had plans to complete a certificate or associate’s degree. Based on the 2004 interview questions about 

reasons for enrolling at the NPSAS sample school and plans to transfer in order to pursue a bachelor’s degree. 

 Degree, no transfer The student’s reason for enrolling was to complete a certificate 

or associate’s degree, but not to transfer to a 4-year institution. 

 Degree and transfer The student’s reasons for enrolling were to complete a certificate 

or associate’s degree, and to transfer to a 4-year institution. 

 No degree, transfer The student’s reason for enrolling was to transfer to a 4-year 

institution, but not to complete a certificate or associate’s degree. 

 No degree, no transfer The student’s reasons for enrolling did not include completing a 

certificate or associate's degree or transfer to a 4-year institution. 

Attendance intensity through June 2006 ENINPT3Y 

Indicates the pattern of full time, part time, or mixed full time and part time attendance intensity in the months 

enrolled at any postsecondary institution between July 2003 and June 2006. Full-time generally means enrollment in 

12 or more credit hours per term or 24 credit hours per academic year. Students enrolled full time in an academic 

year except for summer months (which may have been part time) were considered to be always full time. 

Always full time The student attended full time in all months while enrolled. 

Always part time The student attended part time in all months while enrolled. 

Mixed The student attended full time in some months and part time in 

some months while enrolled.
Appendix A—Glossary 

Variable Name

25 

Recent (2003) high school graduates enrolled full time fall 2003 FALLHSFT 

Indicates categories of beginning students who graduated from high school with a regular diploma in 2003, were 

enrolled full time in the fall of 2003, and were working on a degree in the first year (DGPLNY1). 

 

Certificate plans Recent high school graduates who were enrolled full time in fall 

2003 and working on a certificate 

 

Associate’s degree plans Recent high school graduates who were enrolled full time in fall 

2003 and working on an associate’s degree 

 

Bachelor’s degree plans Recent high school graduates who were enrolled full time in fall 

2003 and working on a bachelor’s degree 

Level of first institution FLEVEL 

The highest degree or award offered in any program by the first institution attended. 

4-year Institutions that can award bachelor’s degrees or higher degrees. 

Some of these institutions may also offer associate’s degrees or 

certificates. 

2-year Institutions offering certificate or associate’s degree programs, 

or 2-year programs that fulfill part of the requirements for a 

bachelor’s degree or higher at 4-year institutions. These 

institutions do not award bachelor’s degrees. 

Less-than-2-year At least one of the programs offered at these institutions is 3 

months or longer, and produces a terminal award or certificate. 

No program at these institutions lasts longer than 2 years. 

Doctorate granting status of first institution FSECDOC

Indicates whether the first 4-year institution attended did or did not grant doctorates. Less-than-4-year institutions 

are not included in this variable. 

Doctorate-granting 

Non-doctorate-granting 4-year
Appendix A—Glossary 

Variable Name

26 

Type of first institution FSECTOR

The level and control of the first institution attended by the student in 2003–04, based on the classification in the 

2003 IPEDS Institutional Characteristics file. Control concerns the source of revenue and control of operations 

(public, private not-for-profit, private for-profit) and level concerns the highest degree or award offered by the 

institution in any program. 4-year institutions award at least a bachelor’s degree; 2-year institutions award at least an 

associate’s degree; less-than-2-year institutions award certificates or other credentials in vocational programs lasting 

less than 2 years. In most cases, the first institution attended in 2003–04 is also the institution at which the student 

was sampled for NPSAS:04. However, if the student was enrolled at another institution for more than 3 months in 

2003–04 prior to enrolling at the NPSAS sample institution, the prior institution was classified as the first institution 

attended. Private not-for-profit less-than-2-year institutions are included in the overall totals and totals for less-than2-year institutions, but the sample size was too small to show as a separate category. 

4-year 

 Public 

 Private not-for-profit 

 Private for-profit 

2-year 

 Public 

 Private not-for-profit 

 Private for-profit 

Less-than-2-year 

 Public 

 Private for-profit 

Gender GENDER

Male 

Female 

Highest education of parents PAREDUC 

Indicates the highest level of education completed by the student’s mother or father, whoever had the highest level. 

The variable was aggregated to the following categories in this report: 

High school or less Neither parent earned more than a high school diploma or 

equivalent or they did not complete high school. 

Some postsecondary At least one parent received some postsecondary education, but 

did not earn a bachelor’s degree. 

Bachelor’s degree or higher At least one parent attained a bachelor’s or advanced degree.
Appendix A—Glossary 

Variable Name

27 

Persistence anywhere through June 2006 PRAT3Y

Indicates whether the student had attained any degree and/or was still enrolled at any postsecondary institution as of 

June 2006. Students enrolled in any months after February 2006 were considered to be still enrolled through June 

2006, including those who attained a certificate or associate's degree after February 2006. 

Attained, not enrolled The student had attained a certificate or degree and was no 

longer enrolled in June 2006. 

Attained, still enrolled The student had attained a certificate or degree and was still 

enrolled at some postsecondary institution in June 2006. 

No degree, still enrolled The student had not attained any certificate or degree but was 

still enrolled at some postsecondary institution in June 2006. 

No degree, not enrolled The student had not attained any certificate or degree and was 

not enrolled at any postsecondary institution in June 2006. 

Retention at the first institution through June 2006 PROUTFI3 

Indicates the student’s enrollment status as of June 2006 at the first institution attended. Students enrolled in any 

months after February 2006 were considered to be still enrolled through June 2006. 

Attained any degree The student had attained a certificate, an associate’s degree, or 

a bachelor’s degree by June 2006 at the first institution. 

No degree, still enrolled The student had not attained any degree at the first institution 

attended but was still enrolled there in June 2006. 

No degree, transferred elsewhere The student had left the first institution attended without a 

degree before June 2006 and transferred to a different 

institution. 

No degree, did no enroll anywhere The student had left the first institution attended without a 

degree and had not enrolled anywhere else by June 2006. 

Race/ethnicity RACE 

Student’s race/ethnicity with Hispanic or Latino origin as a separate category. Based on the census race categories. 

All of the race categories exclude Hispanic origin unless specified. 

White A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, 

North Africa, or the Middle East. 

Black A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of 

Africa. 

Hispanic A person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South 

American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. 
Appendix A—Glossary 

Variable Name

28 

Race/ethnicity (continued) RACE 

 

Asian/Pacific Islander A person having origins in any of the peoples of the Far East, 

Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent. This includes people 

from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippine Islands, India, and 

Vietnam. Pacific Islander is a person having origins in the 

Pacific Islands, including Hawaii and Samoa. 

American Indian/Alaska Native A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North 

America and who maintains cultural identification through tribal 

affiliation or community recognition. 

 

More than one race/Other A person having origins in more than one race or in a race not 

listed above. 

Transfer status through June 2006 TFNUM3Y 

Indicates whether the student left one postsecondary institution and then enrolled in another postsecondary 

institution at any time before June 2006. The student may or may not have transferred any credits between the 

institutions. Some students transferred more than once. Students who enrolled in more than one institution at the 

same time are not considered to be transfers. 

Never transferred The student never left one institution and enrolled in another 

before June 2006. 

Transferred The student left one or more institutions and enrolled in another 

before June 2006. 

Type of associate’s degree UGDEGAA

Student’s associate’s degree type during 2003–04 academic year. Based on the 2004 student interview or the type of 

program reported by the institution attended. 

 

Applied fields The student was working on an applied associate’s degree in 

occupational or technical programs that are generally terminal 

degrees. 

General education/transfer The student was working on an academic associate’s degree in 

general education or in preparation for transfer to a 4-year 

institution. 
 29 

Appendix B—BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

Overview 

The 2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06) is 

sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education to respond to the need for a national, 

comprehensive database concerning issues students may face in enrollment, persistence, 

progress, and attainment in postsecondary education and in consequent early rates of return to 

society. The BPS study follows the paths of first-time beginner (FTB) students for a number of 

years as they navigate the system of postsecondary education, and captures transfer patterns, coenrollment, and periods of nonenrollment (stopouts). 

Unlike the typical retention and attainment studies that follow entering freshmen at a single 

institution, BPS:04/06 allows researchers and others to study the persistence and attainment of 

students who enroll in multiple institutions. BPS:04/06 also represents a departure from previous 

longitudinal studies of high school age cohorts: it starts with a cohort of individuals beginning 

their postsecondary studies, regardless of when they completed high school. Consequently, 

BPS:04/06 data include information about nontraditional postsecondary students who have 

delayed continuing their education after high school due to military service, family 

responsibilities, or other reasons.

BPS:04/06 is a follow-up to the 2003–04 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study 

(NPSAS:04), a recurring survey of a nationally representative, cross-sectional sample of 

postsecondary students. The NPSAS surveys have been implemented every 3 or 4 years since 

1986–87, and the data for the most recent survey (for the 2003–04 school year) were released in 

early 2005. BPS:04/06 represents the first follow-up of the NPSAS:04 FTB students. An 

additional follow-up interview will occur in 2009. 

The BPS:04/06 data collection effort involved interviews of both respondents and 

nonrespondents to the NPSAS:04 study. The interview took place in one of three ways: selfadministered through a web-based instrument, interviewer-administered via computer-assisted 

telephone interviewing (CATI), or interviewer-administered in person via computer-assisted 

personal interviewing (CAPI). 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 30 

Data Sources for BPS:04/06 

Because BPS:04/06 is based on NPSAS:04, the sources for NPSAS:04 are relevant to 

BPS:04/06. Information for NPSAS:04 was obtained from several sources, including the 

following: 

• Student Records: Data from institutional financial aid and registrar records at the 

institutions currently attended. These data were entered at the institution by institution 

personnel or field data collectors in 2003–04 using a computer-assisted data entry (webCADE) program or directly downloaded to a data file. 

• NPSAS Student Interview: Data collected directly from sampled students via webbased self-administered or interviewer-administered questionnaires. 

• Central Processing System (CPS): U.S. Department of Education database of federal 

financial aid applications for the 2003–04 academic year. 

• National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS): U.S. Department of Education database 

of federal Title IV loans and Pell grants. 

• Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS): U.S. Department of 

Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) database of descriptive 

information about individual postsecondary institutions. 

Additional data sources for BPS:04/06 include the following: 

• BPS Student Interview: Data collected directly from sampled students via web-based 

self-administered or interviewer-administered questionnaires. 

• Central Processing System (CPS): U.S. Department of Education database of federal 

financial aid applications for the 2004–05 and 2005–06 academic years. 

• National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS): U.S. Department of Education database 

of federal Title IV loans and Pell grants. 

• SAT File: Student SAT data from the College Board. 

• ACT File: Student ACT data from ACT. 

• National Student Clearinghouse (NSC): A central repository and single point of 

contact for the collection of postsecondary enrollment, degree, and certificate records on 

behalf of participating postsecondary institutions. 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 31 

Sample Design 

This section provides an overview of the sample design, including the respondent universe 

and the statistical methodology. 

Respondent Universe 

The respondent universe for the BPS:04/06 full-scale study consisted of all students who 

began their postsecondary education for the first time during the 2003–04 academic year at any 

postsecondary institution in the United States or Puerto Rico that was eligible for NPSAS:04. 

The BPS:04/06 sample students included potential FTBs from NPSAS:04, which included 

confirmed FTBs from the NPSAS:04 student interview, respondents to NPSAS:04 who were 

initially determined to be non-FTBs but were potentially FTBs based on data from other sources, 

and NPSAS:04 nonrespondents. The institution and student universes are defined in greater 

detail in the subsections that follow. 

Institution Universe for NPSAS:04 

The institutions eligible for NPSAS:04 were required during the 2003–04 academic year to 

meet all the requirements for distributing federal Title IV aid, including 

• offering an educational program designed for persons who have completed a high school 

education; 

• offering at least one academic, occupational, or vocational program of study lasting at 

least 3 months or 300 clock hours; 

• offering courses that are open to more than the employees or members of the company or 

group (e.g., union) that administers the institution; and 

• being located in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico. 

Institutions providing only vocational, recreational, or remedial courses or only in-house 

courses for their own employees were excluded. U.S. service academies were excluded because 

of their unique funding/tuition base. 

The institutional sampling frame for NPSAS:04 was constructed from the 2000–01 

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Institutional Characteristics (IC) file 

and header files, and the 2000 Fall Enrollment file. The sample of institutions was freshened 

using the 2002–03 IPEDS, to include a sample of newly formed institutions. Records on the 

IPEDS files that did not represent NPSAS-eligible institutions were deleted. Hence, records that 

represented central offices, U.S. service academies, or institutions located outside the U.S. were 

deleted. 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 32 

The above institutional eligibility conditions are consistent with previous NPSAS studies 

with two exceptions. First, the requirement of being eligible to distribute Title IV aid was 

implemented beginning with NPSAS:2000.1 Second, the previous NPSAS studies excluded 

institutions that only offered correspondence courses. NPSAS:04 included such institutions if 

they were eligible to distribute Title IV student aid. 

Student Universe for NPSAS:04 and BPS:04/06 

Students eligible for the BPS:04/06 full-scale study were eligible both to participate in 

NPSAS:04 and identified as FTB students at NPSAS sample institutions in the 2003–04 

academic year. Consistent with previous NPSAS studies, the students eligible for the NPSAS:04 

full-scale study were those enrolled in eligible institutions and who satisfied all the following 

eligibility requirements: 

• were enrolled in either (1) an academic program; (2) at least one course for credit that 

could be applied toward fulfilling the requirements for an academic degree; or (3) an 

occupational or vocational program that required at least 3 months or 300 clock hours of 

instruction to receive a degree, certificate, or other formal award; and 

• were not concurrently or solely enrolled in high school, a General Educational 

Development (GED), or other high school completion program. 

NPSAS-eligible students who enrolled in a postsecondary institution for the first time 

during the NPSAS year (July 1, 2003–June 30, 2004) after completing high school were 

considered pure FTBs and were eligible for BPS:04/06. Those NPSAS-eligible students who had 

enrolled for at least one course after completing high school but had never completed a 

postsecondary course before the 2003–04 academic year were considered effective FTBs and 

were also eligible for the BPS:04/06 full-scale study. In the BPS:04/06 full-scale data collection, 

we sampled from both (a) NPSAS:04 respondents who were identified as (pure or effective) 

FTBs and (b) NPSAS:04 nonrespondents who were potential (pure or effective) FTBs.2

 

1An indicator of Title IV eligibility has been added to the analysis files from earlier NPSAS studies to facilitate comparable 

analyses. 

2 A potential first-time beginner (FTB) is one who is expected to have been an FTB student during the NPSAS year (July 1, 

2003–June 30, 2004) but was not confirmed as such during the student interview. Students were identified as potential FTBs by 

their sample institution. Other data sources (Central Processing System [CPS], computer-assisted data entry [CADE]) also 

provide an indication of FTB status for the time period of interest. 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 33 

Statistical Methodology 

Institution Sample for NPSAS:04 

The institutional sampling frame for NPSAS:04 was constructed from the 2000–01 and 

2001–02 IPEDS IC file and header files, and the 2000 and 2001 Fall Enrollment files. Records 

on the IPEDS files for NPSAS-ineligible institutions were deleted. NPSAS-ineligible institutions 

included U.S. service academies, institutions located outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and 

institutions offering no programs of study lasting at least 3 months or 300 clock hours. The 

IPEDS files were then cleaned to resolve the following types of problems: 

• missing enrollment data, because these data are needed to compute measures of size for 

sample selection; and 

• unusually large or small enrollment, especially if imputed, because if incorrect, these data 

would result in inappropriate probabilities of selection and sample allocation. 

Table B-1 presents the allocation of the NPSAS:04 institutional sample to the nine 

institutional sampling strata. The number of sample institutions was 1,670, accounting for 

historical rates of participation in Computer Assisted Data Entry (CADE), institution eligibility 

rates, and rates with which sample institutions provide student lists for sample selection. Table 

B-1 also shows the resulting institutional sample sizes, which included 1,360 institutions 

providing student enrollment lists. 

A direct, unclustered sample of institutions was selected for NPSAS:04, like the sample 

selected for NPSAS:2000 and NPSAS:96, rather than a clustered sample used for earlier NPSAS 

studies. In addition, to allow analysis of the effects of state tuition and student aid policies in 

individual states, representative samples of institutions were selected from three strata—public 2-

year institutions; public 4-year institutions; and private not-for-profit 4-year institutions—in each 

of the following 12 states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, 

Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas. 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 34 

Table B-1. Numbers of NPSAS:04 sampled, eligible, and participating institutions and enrollment list 

participation rates, by type of institution: 2004 

Institutions providing lists1

Type of institution2

Sampled 

institutions

Eligible 

institutions3 Number

Unweighted 

percent 

Weighted 

percent 

Total 1,670 1,630 1,360 83.5 80.0 

Public less-than-2-year 70 60 50 76.6 74.3 

Public 2-year 380 380 320 85.4 77.6 

Public 4-year non-doctorate-granting 130 130 110 85.1 70.3 

Public 4-year doctorate-granting 230 230 200 86.3 87.1 

Private not-for-profit 2-year-or-less 70 70 70 89.0 92.6 

Private not-for-profit, 4-year nondoctorate-granting 280 270 220 81.9 78.1 

Private not-for-profit 4-year doctorategranting 220 220 170 77.7 80.8 

Private for-profit less-than-2-year 170 160 140 84.0 82.3 

Private for-profit 2-year-or-more 110 110 90 84.4 88.2 1

 Percents are based on the eligible institutions within the row under consideration. 2

 Type of institution is based on data from the sampling frame which was formed from the 2000–01 and 2001–02 Integrated 

Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). 

3 Among the approximately 30 ineligible institutions: 10 closed after the sampling frame was defined, and 10 failed to meet one 

or more of the criteria for institutional NPSAS eligibility. The remainder were treated as merged institutions because two or more 

campuses were included on one combined student list. 

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. NPSAS = National Postsecondary Student Aid Study. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2004 National Postsecondary Student Aid 

Study (NPSAS:04). 

Student Sample for NPSAS:04 

The NPSAS:04 student sampling design was based on fixed stratum sampling rates, not 

fixed stratum sample sizes. The design used two student sampling strata for undergraduates (FTB 

and other undergraduates), three student sampling strata for graduate students (master’s, 

doctoral, and other graduate students), and one stratum for first-professional students. 

Differential sampling rates were used for the three types of graduate students to get adequate 

representation of students pursuing doctoral degrees and to limit the sample size for “other” 

graduate students, who are of limited inferential interest. 

The NPSAS:04 student interview data collection procedures were expected to produce 

about a 70 percent student response rate based on historical experience. The sample sizes were 

determined using prior NPSAS experience regarding institutional CADE response rates and 

sample student eligibility rates. A total of 109,210 sample students were selected for NPSAS:04, 

including 49,410 potential FTBs; 47,680 other undergraduate students; and 12,120 graduate and 

first-professional students (see table B-2). 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 35 

Postsecondary institutions are sometimes unable to accurately identify their FTB students. 

Therefore, students classified as potential FTBs for sampling for NPSAS:04 included both pure 

FTBs who began their postsecondary education for the first time during the NPSAS year and 

effective FTBs who had enrolled in but not completed a postsecondary class prior to the NPSAS 

year. The NPSAS sampling rates for students identified as FTBs and other undergraduate 

students by the sample institutions were adjusted to yield the desired sample sizes after 

accounting for expected false positive and false negative FTB rates. The false positive and false 

negative FTB rates experienced in NPSAS:96 were used to set appropriate sampling rates for 

NPSAS:04.3

Table B-2. Numbers of NPSAS:04 sampled and eligible students and response rates, by type of institution 

and student type: 2004 

Responding students1,2

Type of institution and student type3

Sampled 

students 

Eligible 

students4 Unweighted 

percent 

Weighted 

percent 

All students 109,210 101,010 89.8 91.0 

Type of institution 

Public less-than-2-year 3,180 2,580 84.2 90.6 

Public 2-year 36,300 32,450 81.3 83.9 

Public 4-year non-doctorate-granting 9,200 8,880 91.9 93.3 

Public 4-year doctorate-granting 22,350 21,620 93.7 94.2 

Private not-for-profit less-than-4-year 3,060 2,770 94.3 94.6 

Private not-for-profit 4-year non-doctorate-granting 9,740 9,300 96.3 96.9 

Private not-for-profit 4-year doctorate-granting 9,930 9,590 94.5 95.4 

Private for-profit less-than-2-year 9,270 8,030 94.9 94.3 

Private for-profit 2-year-or-more 6,190 5,790 95.0 96.7 

Student type 

Total undergraduates 97,090 89,480 89.3 90.3 

Potential FTB 49,410 44,670 91.2 91.4 

Other undergraduates 47,680 44,810 87.3 90.0 

Graduate/first professional 12,120 11,530 94.2 95.1 

1

 A responding student is defined as any eligible student for whom sufficient data were obtained from one or more sources, 

including student interview, institutional records, and the Department of Education’s Central Processing System (CPS). 2

 Percents are based on the eligible students within the row under consideration. 

3

 Type of institution is based on data from the sampling frame which was formed from the 2000–01 and 2001–02 Integrated 

Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Student type is based on data from the sampling frames which were the 

enrollment lists received from participating institutions. 

4

 Ineligible students were identified during the student interview or from institutional records if student eligibility was not 

determined from a student interview. 

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. FTB = first-time beginner. NPSAS = National Postsecondary Student 

Aid Study. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2004 National Postsecondary Student Aid 

Study (NPSAS:04). 

 

3 The NPSAS:96 false positive rate was 28 percent for students identified as potential first-time beginners (FTBs) by the sample

institutions, and the false negative rate was 9 percent for those identified as other undergraduate students. 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 36 

BPS:04/06 Full-Scale Sample 

The BPS:04/06 student sample consisted of four groups according to their base-year 

response status: 

1. students who responded to the NPSAS:04 student interview who were determined to be 

FTBs; 

2. students who responded to the NPSAS:04 student interview who were initially 

determined to be non-FTB other undergraduates, but who were potentially FTBs based 

on data from other sources; 

3. a subsample of potential FTBs who were NPSAS:04 study respondents and student 

interview nonrespondents; and 

4. a subsample of potential FTBs who were NPSAS:04 study nonrespondents. 

Multiple data sources were used to provide information regarding a student’s FTB status 

during the NPSAS year, including the NPSAS:04 student interview, records from the student’s 

base-year institution via CADE, and federal financial aid sources. The data elements that were 

examined to estimate a student’s likelihood of being an FTB and to construct the frame for the 

BPS:04/06 sample included the following: 

• FTB status from the institution enrollment lists used for NPSAS:04 student sampling; 

• FTB status from the CPS;4

 

• FTB status from student-level data obtained from institutional records via CADE; 

• student reports (obtained during the NPSAS:04 interview) indicating that they were FTBs 

during the 2003–04 academic year; 

• year of high school graduation; 

• receipt of Stafford loan (date loan was first received and number of years loan was 

received); 

• receipt of Pell grant (date grant was first received and number of years grant was 

received); and 

• undergraduate class level. 

Using the above indicators, an index was created to estimate the likelihood of being an 

FTB. A positive index value was assigned to cases with more positive indicators than negative 

indicators. For example, a student for whom all of the indicators listed above suggested that the 

student was an FTB were assigned an index value of 8. This index was then used to create a set 

of decision rules to identify which cases would be included or excluded from the follow-up 

sample, and which among those included would require additional eligibility screening. 

 

4 The U.S. Department of Education’s Central Processing System (CPS) contains financial aid application data. 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 37 

The determination of “low,” “medium,” and “high” likelihood of being an FTB differed for 

base-year study respondents and base-year study nonrespondents because more data elements 

were available for the base-year study respondents. Base-year study respondents were considered 

to have a “low” likelihood of being an FTB if (1) they were not identified as a potential FTB 

based on CADE or CPS data, (2) they had a negative index value, or (3) they had any Stafford 

loans or Pell grants that began prior to 2003 (indicating enrollment prior to the NPSAS year). 

Students with a “low” likelihood of being an FTB were excluded from the BPS sample. If the 

index was between 0 and 2, the student was classified as having a “medium” likelihood of being 

an FTB. If the index was 2 or more, then the student was classified as having a “high” likelihood 

of being an FTB. 

Base-year study nonrespondents had very little extant data. Students were considered to 

have a “low” likelihood of being an FTB if they were not identified as a potential FTB by either 

CADE or CPS. These students were excluded from the BPS sample. Students who were 

identified as a potential FTB from CADE (but not CPS) were classified as having a “medium” 

likelihood of being an FTB. Students who had an indicator from CPS that they were an FTB 

were classified as having a “high” likelihood of being an FTB. 

The NPSAS:04 sample yielded the numbers of students below who either indicated that 

they were FTBs during the interview and had other institutional records or federal financial aid 

sources that supported this, or were identified as potential FTBs based on institutional records or 

federal financial aid sources. 

1. Approximately 24,990 students responding to the student interview indicated that they 

were FTBs during the 2003–04 academic year. Based on a review of the FTB status 

indicators above, approximately 21,170 of these were identified for inclusion in the 

follow-up sample. Of the approximately 21,170 included in the follow-up sample, 

approximately 19,800 had other data that strongly supported their FTB status, and 

approximately 1,370 of these students had some indications that they were not FTBs; 

these potential false positives were rescreened during the BPS:04/06 interview to confirm 

their status. The remaining approximately 3,820 of the original 24,990 were identified for 

exclusion from the follow-up when multiple data sources confirmed that they could not 

have been FTBs during the NPSAS year. 

2. Approximately 1,420 students were not originally classified as FTBs, but were potential 

FTBs based on CPS data or because they had a high school graduation date in 2003 or 

2004. These potential false negatives were also expected to be screened during the 

BPS:04/06 interview to verify their status. 

3. Approximately 8,860 students did not respond to the student interview but were classified 

as NPSAS:04 study respondents and were potential FTBs based on CADE or CPS data, 

more positive than negative indicators among the other variables, and any Stafford loans 

or Pell grants that began after 2003. 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 38 

4. Approximately 720 NPSAS:04 sample members were potential FTBs based on 

information from CADE or CPS, but did not respond to the student interview and did not 

have sufficient data to be classified as study respondents. 

The sample distribution for BPS:04/06 is summarized in table B-3. 

Table B-3. Distribution of BPS:04/06 full-scale sample, by base-year response status: 2004 

Base-year response status Number of cases

Group 1 

Base-year study respondent student interview respondents who were classified as FTBs1 24,990 

Total to be included in sample 21,170 

Confirmed FTBs—no additional screening required 19,800 

Confirmed FTBs—additional screening required 1,370 

Group 2 

Base-year study respondent student interview respondents who were classified as Other 

Undergraduate (potential false negatives) 28,610 

Potential FTBs2 1,420 

Group 3 

Base-year study respondent student interview nonrespondents 10,170 

Potential FTBs2 8,860 

Subsample 460 

Group 4 

Base-year study nonrespondents 3,890 

Potential FTBs2 720 

Subsample 40 

Final sample3 23,090 

1

 Because of evidence indicating they were not eligible for inclusion in the cohort of first-time beginners (FTBs), approximately 

3,820 base-year study respondents were removed from the follow-up sample. 

2

 Potential FTBs consist of NPSAS respondents not identified as FTBs in the NPSAS student interview, but CPS data or sample 

institutions indicated that they were likely to be FTBs. Potential FTBs also include NPSAS nonrespondents that were likely to be 

FTBs based on CADE or CPS data. 

3

 The final sample of 23,090 students consists of 21,170 students from sample group 1, 1,420 students from sample group 2, 460 

subsample students from sample group 3, and 40 subsample students from sample group 4. 

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. CADE = computer-assisted data entry. CPS = Central Processing 

System. FTB = first-time beginner. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2004 National Postsecondary Student Aid 

Study (NPSAS:04) and 2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06). 

As noted earlier, approximately 9,580 NPSAS:04 student interview nonrespondents were 

classified as potential FTBs. Of these, approximately 8,860 were NPSAS:04 study respondents 

who did not respond to the student interview and approximately 720 were NPSAS:04 study 

nonrespondents. NPSAS:04 student interview nonrespondents who were potential FTBs were 

subsampled for follow-up to improve upon the nonresponse bias reduction achieved through the 

nonresponse adjustments incorporated into the NPSAS:04 statistical analysis weights. For these 

students, sampling strata were developed from the following characteristics: 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 39 

• likelihood of being an FTB (medium, high); and 

• tracing outcome (located, not located).5

Stratification by tracing outcome and the likelihood of being an FTB was used to 

oversample the students most likely to be located and eligible for the study. The frame was also 

sorted by institutional sector to ensure representativeness of the sample. 

A stratified sample of 500 NPSAS:04 student interview nonrespondents was selected with 

probabilities proportional to their NPSAS:04 sampling weights. Table B-4 summarizes the 

BPS:04/06 counts of students eligible for the sample and the sample sizes, including the 

allocation of the subsample of 500 cases to the two groups of NPSAS:04 student interview 

nonrespondents. Given that the NPSAS:04 sampling weights were available for all student 

interview nonrespondents, they served as the basis for computing the BPS:04/06 analysis 

weights. Therefore, selection of the NPSAS:04 student interview nonrespondents with 

probabilities proportional to these weights was used to reduce the overall unequal weighting 

effects for the sample.

 

5 The results from the advance tracing for BPS:04/06 were used to determine whether a student had been located. The National 

Change of Address file (NCOA) was used to obtain updated addresses for a student, and then Telematch was used to obtain an 

updated telephone number. The student was classified as located if Telematch either returned a new telephone number or 

confirmed the current telephone number. 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 40 

Table B-4. BPS:04/06 sample allocation for NPSAS:04 student interview: 2004 

Type of student 

Students eligible 

for sample Sample size

Total 32,180 23,090 

NPSAS:04 student interview respondents classified as FTB during 

interview 

21,170 21,170 

Confirmed FTBs 19,800 19,800 

Confirmed FTBs—additional screening required 1,370 1,370 

NPSAS:04 student interview respondents who were potential FTBs but 

were not classified as FTBs during interview 

1,420 1,420 

NPSAS:04 student interview nonrespondents 9,580 500 

Study respondents who were student interview nonrespondents 8,860 460 

Located, high likelihood of FTB status 3,590 270 

Located, medium likelihood of FTB status 550 30 

Not located 4,720 160 

Study nonrespondents 720 40 

Located, high likelihood of FTB status 90 10 

Located, medium likelihood of FTB status 250 10 

Not located 380 20 

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. The likelihood of being a first-time beginner (FTB) was determined 

from student financial aid data and institutional record (computer-assisted data entry) data and based on the number and type of 

indicators suggesting a student was an FTB. The location information was based on whether the advance tracing information 

from BPS:04/06 either confirmed the existing telephone number or yielded a new telephone number. Eligibility rates were 

assumed to be lower for NPSAS:04 study nonrespondents because less information was available for these students. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2004 National Postsecondary Student Aid 

Study (NPSAS:04) and 2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06). 

As listed above, several data sources were used to estimate a student’s likelihood of being 

an FTB prior to the start of first follow-up data collection. After data collection ended, logistic 

regression models for predicting eligibility among BPS nonrespondents were developed using 

data from BPS:04/06 respondents and the variables available for the BPS frame construction 

(date of birth, dates the student began receiving Stafford loans or Pell grants, FTB status 

according to the institution, CPS, or CADE, and institutional sector). All BPS:04/06 

nonrespondents who had responded to the NPSAS:04 interview and were classified as FTB were 

initially classified as eligible for BPS. Separate logistic regression models were fitted for each of 

the remaining sampling groups (NPSAS:04 respondents who were not initially classified as FTB 

and NPSAS:04 nonrespondents). At the conclusion of the modeling, 99 percent (4,480) of the 

nonrespondents were predicted to have a high probability of being eligible for BPS. Added 

together with the eligible respondents to the BPS interview, a total of 22,180 sample members 

were initially classified as eligible for BPS. 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 41 

One additional source of data on the BPS:04/06 sample, the NSC Tracker

(www.studentclearinghouse.org), was obtained following completion of full-scale data collection 

and the modeling described above to facilitate imputation of key variables. However, as an 

additional check on the eligibility of the BPS:04 sample, the Tracker data were also used in 

combination with interview and other extant data to verify the eligibility status of all sample 

members retained for inclusion in the cohort. 

An analysis of enrollment and financial aid data within and across data sources identified a 

subset of the sample who, based on the results, were determined to be ineligible for membership 

in the BPS:04 cohort. Table B-5 presents the distribution of these cases by type of student and 

BPS:04/06 interview response status. The large majority of cases come from the group of 

NPSAS:04 respondents determined during that base-year interview to be FTBs based on a series 

of questions in the eligibility section. The distribution of final eligible FTBs is shown in the top 

half of table B-5. 

Table B-5. Allocation of ineligible and final eligible BPS:04/06 sample members by interview status: 2006 

BPS:04/06 

Type of student Total Respondent 

Nonrespondent 

(modeled eligible) 

Total 23,090 17,710 5,390 

Exclusions1 900 † 900 

Eligible 18,640 14,900 3,740 

NPSAS:04 student interview respondents classified as FTB 

during interview 

17,170 13,950 3,220 

NPSAS:04 student interview respondents who were potential 

FTBs but were not classified as FTBs during interview 

1,090 800 290 

NPSAS:04 student interview nonrespondents 360 140 220 

Study nonrespondents 30 10 20 

Ineligible 3,550 2,810 740 

NPSAS:04 student interview respondents classified as FTB 

during interview 

3,250 2,590 660 

NPSAS:04 student interview respondents who were potential 

FTBs but were not classified as FTBs during interview 

260 210 60 

NPSAS:04 student interview nonrespondents 30 10 20 

Study nonrespondents 10 # 10 

† Not applicable. 

# Rounds to zero. 

1

 Students were classified as exclusions if they were deceased, incarcerated, unavailable, etc. Students who were predicted to be 

ineligible in the modeling were also classified as exclusions. 

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. FTB = first-time beginner. NPSAS = National Postsecondary Student 

Aid Study. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2004 National Postsecondary Student Aid 

Study (NPSAS:04) and 2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06). 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 42 

Perturbation 

To protect the confidentiality of NCES data that contain information about specific 

individuals, BPS:04/06 data were subject to perturbation procedures to minimize disclosure risk. 

Perturbation procedures, which have been approved by the NCES Disclosure Review Board, 

preserve the central tendency estimates, but may result in slight increases in nonsampling errors. 

Imputation 

All variables with missing data used in this report as well as those included in the related 

Data Analysis System (DAS) have been imputed. Item response rates were high for most of the 

items in the BPS:04/06 interview. However, BPS:04/06 nonrespondents who were determined to 

be eligible for BPS:04/06 required imputation of their BPS:04/06 data. BPS:04/06 sample 

members who were NPSAS:04 study nonrespondents also required imputation for NPSAS data. 

The following groups of students and types of items were imputed: 

• NPSAS:04 derived variables were imputed for the NPSAS:04 nonrespondents who were 

in the BPS:04/06 sample. 

• Students who were not FTBs based on NPSAS:04 interview data but were determined to 

be FTBs in BPS:04/06 received imputed data for NPSAS:04 interview items that were 

only administered to FTBs (e.g., attitudes, experiences, plans, etc.). 

• Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)/ACT test scores, high school math courses, and other 

high school courses and grades were obtained from a merge with the ACT and SAT files. 

Information on math courses was also obtained in the BPS interview. Values were 

imputed for any without this information. 

• BPS:04/06 first follow-up interview data were imputed for cases with completed 

interviews with some missing items, abbreviated interviews with some missing sections, 

and cases who did not have a BPS interview. 

The imputation procedures employed a two-step process. First, the matching criteria and 

imputation classes that were used to stratify the dataset were identified such that all imputation 

was processed independently within each class. Second, the weighted sequential hot-deck 

process was implemented,6 whereby missing data were replaced with valid data from donor 

records that match the recipients with respect to the matching criteria. 

 

6 The term “hot deck” refers to the fact that the set of potential donors changes for each recipient. In contrast, cold deck 

imputation defines one static set of donors for all recipients. In all such imputation schemes the selection of the donor from the 

entire deck is a random process. 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 43 

Variables requiring imputation were not imputed simultaneously. Basic demographic 

variables with full information were imputed first. Then, variables with increasing levels of 

missing data were imputed using previously imputed variables in the determination of optimal 

matching criteria. The order in which variables were imputed was also determined to some 

extent by the substantive nature of the variables. For example, basic demographics (such as age) 

were imputed first, and these were used to process education variables (such as student level and 

enrollment intensity) that, in turn, were used to impute the financial aid variables (such as aid 

receipt and loan amounts). 

For variables with less than 5 percent missing data, the variables used for matching criteria 

were selected based on prior knowledge about the dataset and the known relationships between 

variables. For example, in almost all cases, the student’s age and enrollment intensity (fulltime/part-time status) were used as matching variables in the imputation process. 

For variables with more than 5 percent missing data, a statistical process called 

Classification and Regression Tree (CART) was used to identify the matching criteria that were 

most closely related to the variable being imputed. CART (Breiman et al. 1984) is similar to ChiSquare Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) (Kass 1980) that was used for the imputation 

procedures in NPSAS:04. CART, however, is a nonparametric approach to forming imputation 

classes. This step produced a number of imputation classes that contain sets of donors used to 

impute recipients belonging to that class. 

Next, the imputation classes were used as input to a SAS macro that implemented the 

weighted sequential hot-deck procedure. Additionally, data were sorted within each imputation 

class to increase the chance of obtaining a close match between donor and recipient. The hotdeck process was sequential in that the search for donors occurred sequentially, starting with the 

recipient and progressing up and down the sorted file to find the set of eligible donors from 

which a random selection of one was made. The process was weighted because it incorporated 

the sample weight of each record in the search and selection routine.7

In some cases, further intervention was needed to ensure accuracy and consistency of 

imputation, as determined by preexisting edit rules. For example, to impute the level of parents’ 

education when it was known that the parents had some college but the specific education level 

was unknown, the potential pool of donors was limited to those with at least some college 

education to prevent imputing parents’ education level as less-than-college. 

 

7 For further details, see Cox (1980) and Iannacchione (1982). 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 44 

Weighting 

All estimates in this report are weighted to represent the target population described in the 

sample design section. The weights compensate for the unequal probability of selection of 

institutions and students in the NPSAS:04 sample. The weights also adjust for multiplicity at the 

institution and student levels8 and unknown student eligibility for NPSAS. Because the students 

in the BPS:04/06 sample are a subset of the NPSAS:04 sample, the BPS weights were derived 

from the NPSAS weights. The BPS:04/06 base weight is the product of the first eight NPSAS 

weight components given in table B-6. The weight for the subsample of NPSAS CATI 

nonrespondents who were included in the BPS:04/06 data collection was adjusted by the inverse 

of the subsampling fraction. The BPS:04/06 weights were then trimmed and smoothed within the 

original NPSAS:04 institution and student strata to reduce the unequal weighting. Finally, 

poststratification was used to adjust the BPS:04/06 weights so that they matched NPSAS:04 

weight sums and known population enrollment and aid totals. All of the weight components, 

including the probabilities of selection and adjustments, are summarized in table B-6. The weight 

variable for the student analysis weight is BPS06WT. 

The weights were not adjusted for BPS:04/06 nonresponse because the BPS:04/06 data file 

contains BPS:04/06 nonrespondents with imputed data as well as BPS:04/06 respondents. 

Logistic regression models for predicting BPS:04/06 eligibility were developed using the 

BPS:04/06 respondents and the variables available for the BPS:04/06 frame construction; these 

models were then used to predict eligibility for the BPS:04/06 nonrespondents. The BPS:04/06 

nonrespondents predicted to be eligible were included on the data file with imputed data. 

 

8 After the 2004 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:04) institution sample selection, it was determined that in 

some cases either (1) an institution had merged with another institution, or (2) student enrollment lists for two or more campuses 

were submitted as one combined student list. In these instances, the institution weights were adjusted for the joint probability of 

selection. Likewise, students who attended more than one institution during the NPSAS year also had multiple chances of 

selection. If it was determined from any source (the student interview, or the student loan files [Pell or Stafford]) that a student 

had attended more than one institution, then the student’s weight was adjusted to account for multiple chances of selection.
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 45 

Table B-6. Summary of BPS:04/06 weight components: 2006 

Weight component Purpose 

Institution sampling weight Account for the institution’s probability of selection. 

Institution multiplicity adjustment Adjust the weights for institutions that had multiple chances of selection. 

Institution poststratification adjustment Adjust the institution weights to match population enrollment totals to 

ensure population coverage. 

Institution nonresponse adjustment Adjust the weights to compensate for nonresponding institutions. 

Student sampling weight Account for the student’s probability of selection. 

Student subsampling weight Account for the subsampling of students on paper lists. 

Student multiplicity adjustment Adjust the weights for students who attended more than one institution. 

Student unknown eligibility adjustment Adjust the weights of nonresponding NPSAS students with unknown 

eligibility. 

Student subsampling adjustment Adjust the weights of the subset of NPSAS CATI nonrespondents who 

were included in the BPS:04/06 sample 

Student trimming and smoothing 

adjustment 

Adjust the weights for outliers, to reduce the design effect due to unequal 

weighting 

Student poststratification adjustment Adjust the student weights to match known population enrollment and 

aid totals to ensure population coverage. 

NOTE: CATI = computer-assisted telephone interview. NPSAS = National Postsecondary Student Aid Study. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2004 National Postsecondary Student Aid 

Study (NPSAS:04) and 2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06). 

Quality of Estimates 

Unit Response Rates and Bias Analysis 

The bias in an estimated mean based on respondents, R y , is the difference between this 

mean and the target parameter, π, i.e., the mean that would be estimated if a complete census of 

the target population was conducted and everyone responded. This bias can be expressed as 

follows: 

B( ) y

–

R = y

–

R – π

The estimated mean based on nonrespondents, NR y , can be computed if data for the 

particular variable are available for most of the nonrespondents. The true target parameter, π, can 

be estimated for these variables as follows: 

ˆ ( ) 1 R NR π ηη =− + y y

where η is the weighted unit (or item) nonresponse rate. For the variables that are from the 

frame, rather than from the sample, π can be estimated without sampling error. The bias can then 

be estimated as follows: 

( ) ˆ ˆ By y R R = −π
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 46 

or equivalently: 

( ) ( ) ˆ

By y y R R NR = − η . 

This formula shows that the estimate of the nonresponse bias is the difference between the 

mean for respondents and nonrespondents multiplied by the weighted nonresponse rate. 

Nonresponse bias could come from a variety of sources, including failure of the institution to 

provide lists for NPSAS:04, student nonresponse to BPS:04/06, and item nonresponse to the 

BPS:04/06 interview. 

Institution-Level Bias Analysis 

An institution respondent is defined as any sample institution for which 

• a student list was received that was sufficient for selecting a sample; or 

• a sample of students was selected from an NSLDS file of Stafford loan and Pell grant 

recipients in cases where such a student file was believed to include at least 85 

percent of the student population. 

Of the 1,630 eligible NPSAS:04 sample institutions, 1,360 were respondents (84 

unweighted percent and 80 weighted percent). The institution weighted response rate is also 

below 85 percent for six of the nine types of institutions. The weighted response rates by type of 

institution range from 70 percent for public 4-year non-doctorate-granting institutions to 93 

percent for private not-for-profit less-than-4-year institutions. 

A nonresponse bias analysis was conducted for all institutions and for the six types of 

institutions with a weighted response rate below 85 percent. The nonresponse bias was estimated 

for variables known (i.e., non-missing) for most respondents and nonrespondents. Extensive data 

from IPEDS are available for all institutions . The following variables were used:9

• type of institution;10

• Carnegie classification; 

• degree of urbanization; 

• Bureau of Economic Analysis Code OBE region; 

• historically Black college or university indicator; 

• percentage of students receiving federal grant aid; 

• percentage of students receiving state/local grant aid; 

 

9 For the continuous variables, categories were formed based on quartiles or logical breaks. 

10 Type of institution was used only in the nonresponse bias analysis for all institutions. 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 47 

• percentage of students receiving institutional grant aid; 

• percentage of students receiving student loan aid; 

• percentage of students enrolled: Hispanic; 

• percentage of students enrolled: Asian or Pacific Islander; 

• percentage of students enrolled: Black, non-Hispanic; 

• total undergraduate enrollment; 

• male undergraduate enrollment; 

• female undergraduate enrollment; 

• total graduate/first-professional enrollment; 

• male graduate/first-professional enrollment; and 

• female graduate/first-professional enrollment. 

First, for the institution-level variables listed above, the nonresponse bias was estimated 

and tested to determine if the bias was significant at the 5 percent level. Second, nonresponse 

adjustments were computed, and the variables listed above were included in the nonresponse 

models. The nonresponse adjustments (see the weighting section of this appendix) were designed 

to significantly reduce or eliminate nonresponse bias for variables included in the models. Third, 

after the weights were computed, any remaining bias was estimated for the variables listed 

above, and statistical tests were performed to check the remaining significant nonresponse bias. 

As shown in table B-7, the institution weighting adjustments eliminated some, but not all, 

bias. For all types of institutions combined, about 6 percent of the variables showed statistically 

significant bias due to institution nonresponse prior to the nonresponse adjustment; the variables 

with significant bias were type of institution, degree of urbanization, OBE region, and 

graduate/first-professional enrollment. After the nonresponse weight adjustment, none of these 

variables had statistically significant bias. 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 48 

Table B-7. Summary of institution nonresponse bias analysis for all institutions, by type of institution: 2006 

Before weight adjustments After weight adjustments 

Type of institution1

Mean 

estimated 

relative bias 

Median 

estimated 

relative bias 

Percent 

significant 

bias 

Mean 

estimated 

relative bias 

Median 

estimated 

relative bias 

Percent 

significant 

bias 

All institutions 0.10 0.05 5.61 0.13 0.05 # 

Public less-than-2-year 0.24 0.17 6.35 0.32 0.29 # 

Public 2-year 0.14 0.08 6.85 0.24 0.12 # 

Public 4-year non-doctorategranting 0.20 0.14 10.84 0.25 0.23 2.41 

Private not-for-profit 4-year nondoctorate-granting 0.10 0.06 2.22 0.18 0.09 1.11 

Private not-for-profit 4-year 

doctorate-granting 0.19 0.06 # 0.22 0.10 # 

Private for-profit less-than-2-year 0.12 0.07 4.48 0.22 0.19 1.49 

# Rounds to zero. 

1

 Type of institution based on data from the sampling frame which was formed from the 2000–01 and 2001–02 Integrated Postsecondary 

Education Data System (IPEDS). 

NOTE: Nonresponse bias analysis was conducted for all institutions and the six types of institutions with a weighted response rate less 

than 85 percent. 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003–04 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study 

(NPSAS:04). 

The results varied by type of institution. Before weighting for public less-than-2-year 

institutions, and public 2-year institutions, 6 percent and 7 percent, respectively, of the variable 

categories were significantly biased. Variables11 with statistically significant bias before weight 

adjustment for these types of institutions were percentage of students enrolled who are Black 

non-Hispanic, OBE region, and percentage receiving institutional grant aid. After the weighting 

adjustment, no significant bias remained for the variables analyzed for these types of institutions. 

None of the variables showed statistically significant bias either before or after the nonresponse 

adjustment for the private not-for-profit 4-year non-doctorate granting institutions. 

For the other types of institutions, the percentage of variable categories with significant 

bias decreased after weight adjustments, but was not completely eliminated. For public 4-year 

non-doctorate-granting institutions, variables with statistically significant bias prior to the 

nonresponse adjustment were whether the institution is a historically Black college or institution, 

total undergraduate enrollment, total graduate/first-professional enrollment, male graduate/firstprofessional enrollment, and female graduate/first-professional enrollment; after the nonresponse 

adjustment, the bias was reduced for all of the variables but was still statistically significant for 

total graduate/first-professional enrollment and female graduate/first-professional enrollment. 

For private not-for-profit 4-year non-doctorate-granting institutions, OBE region had 

statistically significant bias prior to nonresponse adjustment, but this bias was reduced and was 

 

11 The variables listed all have 30 or more respondents. 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 49 

no longer statistically significant after nonresponse adjustment; one level of variable for this type 

of institution, the percentage receiving student loan aid, had statistically significant bias after the 

nonresponse adjustment, but was not statistically significant before the adjustment. 

For private for-profit less-than-2-year institutions, the percentage receiving student loan 

and total undergraduate enrollment showed statistically significant biases prior to the 

nonresponse weight adjustment; after the adjustment, bias for the total undergraduate enrollment 

was reduced and no longer significant, but the bias for the percentage receiving student loans 

was still statistically significant. 

In summary, significant bias was reduced for the variables known for most respondents and 

nonrespondents, which are considered to be some of the more analytically important variables 

and are correlated with many of the other variables. Further details of the institution-level bias 

analysis can be found in the 2004 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:04) FullScale Methodology Report (Cominole et al. 2006). 

Student-Level Bias Analysis 

As mentioned in the sample design section above, a student respondent was defined as any 

sample member who was determined to be eligible for the study and had valid data for a selected 

set of key analytical variables. The BPS:04/06 analysis file contains all eligible sample members. 

Nonrespondents to the BPS:04/06 interview appear on the analysis file with imputed data. 

Of the 18,640 eligible sample students, 14,900 responded, resulting in an unweighted 

response rate of 80 percent and a weighted response rate of 77 percent. Since these rates are less 

than 85 percent, a nonresponse bias analysis was conducted. The nonresponse bias was estimated 

for variables known for most respondents and nonrespondents. Some of these variables were 

known for all sample members, and the remaining were only known for federally aided students. 

These variables are included on the DAS and are listed below. 

For all sample members: 

• type of institution; 

• region; 

• institution total enrollment; 

• CPS match (yes/no); 

• Pell grant recipient (yes/no); and 

• Stafford loan recipient (yes/no). 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 50 

For federally aided students: 

• Pell grant amount; and 

• Stafford loan amount. 

The nonresponse bias was estimated for the above variables, and tested (adjusting for 

multiple comparisons) to determine if the bias was significant at the 5 percent level. This bias 

analysis was conducted for the entire sample and for each of the institutional strata. As shown in 

table B-8 for the entire sample, the bias was significant for many of these variables; almost half 

of the categories had significant bias. However, the relative bias was generally very small; for 7 

of the 18 significant variables the relative bias was less than 5 percent, and for another 5 the 

relative bias was less than 10 percent. This analysis looks at the difference between respondents 

and nonrespondents. However, a separate weight adjustment for unit nonresponse was not made 

because the data file contains both respondents and nonrespondents (with imputed data). As a 

result, the bias after nonresponse adjustment was not compared or evaluated. Because all of the 

nonrespondents were included in the data file, there was no nonresponse bias for the variables 

listed in table B-8. As noted earlier, the variables used in this analysis were known for almost all 

of the sample members (nonrespondents as well as nonrespondents). Only the Pell amount and 

Stafford amount variables had any missing values. Of the 18,640 eligible students in BPS:04/06, 

the Pell amount variable was missing for 27 students and was imputed during NPSAS:04 for 40 

students. The Stafford amount variable was missing for 27 students and was imputed during 

NPSAS:04 for 87 students. 

Table B-9 summarizes the bias analysis for each institution type. For the total BPS:04 

cohort, approximately 45 percent of the variables examined in table B-8 had statistically 

significant bias, but the mean and median relative bias was low: less than 3 percent. The 

percentage of variables with statistically significant bias varied from 0 to 22 percent, by type of 

institution. The public, less-than-2-year institutions and public, 4-year, doctorate-granting 

institutions had the largest percentage of variables with significant bias due to student 

nonresponse; however, the mean relative bias was less than 5 percent for these categories. As 

noted earlier, all respondents and nonrespondents are included on the BPS:04/06 data file, which 

eliminates bias due to student nonresponse. 

Item-Level Bias Analysis 

Another analysis examined the items with response rates less than 85 percent. Item 

response rates (RRI) are calculated as the ratio of the number of respondents for whom an inscope response was obtained (I

x

 for item x) to the number of respondents who are asked to 

answer that item. The number asked to answer an item is the number of unit-level respondents (I) 
Appendix B— BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 51 

minus the number of respondents with a valid skip item for item x (Vx). When an abbreviated 

questionnaire is used to convert refusals, the eliminated questions are treated as item 

nonresponse (U.S. Department of Education 2003). 

RRIx

 = Ix / (I – Vx) 

A student is defined to be an item respondent for an analytic variable if that student has 

data for that variable from any source, including logical edits. 

Item-level bias analysis was conducted, and none of the items used in the First Look were 

found to have weighted item response rates less than 85 percent. A more detailed bias analysis of 

items in the BPS:04/06 interview will be conducted for the 2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary 

Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06) Methodology Report (Cominole et al. 2007)

(hereinafter referred to as BPS:04/06 Methodology Report). For additional information on item 

nonresponse and bias analysis refer to the BPS:04/06 Methodology Report. 

A byproduct of the imputation (described in the imputation section of this appendix) is the 

reduction or elimination of item-level nonresponse bias. Imputation reduces or eliminates 

nonresponse bias by replacing missing data with statistically reasonable values. Missing data and 

the associated nonresponse bias for variables such as other grants, dependent student income, 

and independent student income are usually non-ignorable (i.e., the respondents’ distribution 

patterns differ from those in the full population). Therefore, replacing missing data with 

reasonable values produces imputed sample distributions that resemble full population 

distributions, thus reducing, if not eliminating, nonresponse bias. The use of carefully 

constructed imputation classes, donor-imputee matching criteria, and random hot-deck searches 

within imputation cells are all designed to ensure that imputed data are reasonable and that the 

nonresponse bias is ignorable within the imputation classes. The effectiveness of imputation 

implemented to reduce item nonresponse bias will be presented in the forthcoming BPS:04/06 

Methodology Report.
52 

Table B-8. Comparison of BPS:04/06 respondents and nonrespondents, by characteristics: 2006 Characteristic 

Unweighted 

respondents

Unweighted 

nonrespondents

Respondent 

weighted 

percentage 

Nonrespondent 

weighted 

percentage

Estimated 

bia

Type of institution1

Public, less-than-2-year 420 120 1.27 1.26 0.0035 Public, 2-year 4,830 1,510 41.04 48.98 -1.8090 Public, 4-year, non-doctorate-granting 1,350 280 9.93 7.50 0.5545 Public, 4-year, doctorate-granting 2,720 430 18.29 11.68 1.5057 Private not-for-profit, less-than-4 year 400 130 1.06 1.03 0.0065 Private not-for-profit, 4-year, non-doctorategranting 1,870 260 9.44 5.28 0.9455 Private not-for-profit, 4-year, doctorate-granting 1,480 210 5.83 3.14 0.6119 Private for-profit, less-than-2-year 1,000 460 6.10 9.95 -0.8768 Private for-profit, 2-year-or-more 820 340 7.04 11.18 -0.9418 

Bureau of Economic Analysis Code (OBE) Region 

New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) 980 230 5.16 4.93 0.0524 Mid East (DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA) 2,370 580 14.29 14.24 0.0120 Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) 2,320 540 16.65 15.22 0.3268 Plains (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) 1,600 300 7.60 5.90 0.3866 Southwest (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, 

SC, TN, VA, WV) 3,550 890 23.83 22.41 0.3214 

Southwest (AZ, NM, OK, TX) 1,480 540 11.62 16.64 -1.1433 Rocky Mountains (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY) 530 110 3.90 3.21 0.1568 Far West (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA) 1,830 530 15.51 17.02 -0.3440 Outlying areas (PR) 250 20 1.44 0.43 0.2312 

CPS record available 

Yes 11090 2670 68.57 65.06 0.7991 No 3810 1070 31.43 34.94 -0.7991 

Applied for federal aid 

Yes 11,800 2,890 73.56 71.15 0.5479 No 3,100 850 26.44 28.64 -0.5010 Unknown # # # 0.21 -0.0468 

See notes at end of table. 
53 

Table B-8. Comparison of BPS:04/06 respondents and nonrespondents, by characteristics: 2006—Continued Characteristic 

Unweighted 

respondents

Unweighted 

nonrespondents

Respondent 

weighted 

percentage 

Nonrespondent 

weighted 

percentage

Estimated 

bia

Pell grant status 

Received 5,490 1,630 33.76 38.99 -1.1903 Did not receive 9,410 2,110 66.19 60.96 1.1899 Unknown 10 # 0.05 0.04 0.0004 

Total Pell amount received in dollars 

$0–1,550 10,770 2,570 75.18 72.85 0.5296 $1,551–2,700 1,480 470 8.80 10.21 -0.3213 $2,701 or more 2,650 710 16.03 16.94 -0.2083 

Stafford Loan status 

Received 6,040 1,510 35.51 35.06 0.1043 Did not receive 8,860 2,230 64.45 64.92 -0.1074 Unknown 10 10 0.04 0.03 0.0031 

Total Stafford amount received in dollars 

$0–2,625 13,120 3,070 88.68 83.26 1.2348 $2,626–4,125 410 170 3.32 5.52 -0.5018 $4,126 or more 1,380 500 8.00 11.22 -0.7330 

Institution undergraduate enrollment 

0–1,827 3,540 1,090 19.75 23.48 -0.8473 1,828–6,694 3,800 840 23.18 20.67 0.5712 6,695–16,556 3,710 920 27.10 27.59 -0.1113 16,557 or more 3,770 850 29.61 27.54 0.4727 Unknown 90 40 0.35 0.73 -0.0852 

# Rounds to zero. 1 Type of institution is based on data from the sampling frame which was formed from the 2000–01 and 2001–02 Integrated Postsecondary Education 

NOTE: Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2004/2006 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study 
Appendix B—BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 54 

Table B-9. Summary of student nonresponse bias for all students, by type of institution: 2006 

Type of institution1

Mean estimated 

percent relative bias

Median estimated 

percent relative bias 

Percent 

significant bias

Total -2.65 0.46 45.00 

Public, less-than-2-year -3.59 0.00 21.43 

Public, 2-year -3.02 0.00 0.00 

Public, 4-year, non-doctorate-granting -8.78 -0.02 6.67 

Public, 4-year, doctorate-granting -4.52 -0.30 20.69 

Private not-for-profit, less-than-4 year -8.27 -1.41 0.00 

Private not-for-profit, 4-year, non-doctorategranting -12.51 0.16 6.25 

Private not-for-profit, 4-year, doctorategranting -0.78 0.00 3.33 

Private for-profit, less-than-2-year -0.50 0.15 3.45 

Private for-profit, 2-year-or-more -6.96 0.20 0.00 

1

 Type of institution is based on data from the sampling frame which was formed from the 2000–01 and 2001–02 Integrated 

Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). 

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2004/2006 Beginning Postsecondary Students 

Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06) 

Standard Errors 

To facilitate computation of standard errors for both linear and nonlinear statistics, a vector 

of bootstrap sample weights was added to the analysis file. These weights are zero for units not 

selected in a particular bootstrap sample; weights for other units are inflated for the bootstrap 

subsampling. The initial analytic weights for the complete sample are also included for the 

purposes of computing the desired estimates. The vector of replicate weights allows for 

computing additional estimates for the sole purpose of estimating a variance. Assuming B sets of 

replicate weights, the variance of any estimate, θ

ˆ, can be estimated by replicating the estimation 

procedure for each replicate and computing a simple variance of the replicate estimates; i.e., 

B

Var

B

b

b

2

1

) ˆ ˆ (

)ˆ (

θ θ

θ

−

=

∑−

•

where • θ b

ˆ is the estimate based on the b-th replicate weight (where b=1 to the number of 

replicates) and B is the total number of sets of replicate weights. A total of B = 200 replicates is 

used for BPS:04/06. Once the replicate weights are provided, this estimate can be produced by 

most survey software packages (e.g., SUDAAN). 

The replicate weights were produced using a methodology and computer software 

developed by Kaufman (2004). This methodology allows for finite population correction factors 
Appendix B—BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

55 

at two stages of sampling. The NPSAS and BPS:04/06 application of the method incorporated 

the finite population correction factor at the first stage only where sampling fractions were 

generally high. At the second stage, where the sampling fraction was generally low, the finite 

population correction factor was set to 1.00. 

Cautions for Analysts 

Sources of Error 

The estimates in this report are subject to sampling and nonsampling errors. Nonsampling 

errors are due to a number of sources, including but not limited to nonresponse, coding and data 

entry errors, misspecification of composite variables, and inaccurate imputations. In a study like 

BPS:04/06, there are multiple sources of data for some variables (CPS, CADE, Student 

Interview, etc.) and reporting differences can occur in each. Data swapping and other forms of 

perturbation, implemented to protect respondent confidentiality, can also lead to inconsistencies. 

Sampling errors exist in all sample-based datasets, including BPS:04/06. Estimates 

calculated from a sample will differ from estimates calculated from other samples even if all the 

samples used the same sample design and methods. 

The standard error is a measure of the precision of the estimate. In this tabulation, each 

estimate’s standard error was calculated using bootstrap replication procedures and can be 

produced using the BPS DAS software. 

Comparing BPS:04/06 Estimates to Prior BPS Estimates 

Comparison of results with prior rounds of BPS requires compensation for three changes in 

the design of the base-year NPSAS survey over time and also for a change in how 

nonrespondents are handled in the BPS:04/06 data file. 

First, prior to NPSAS:04, institutions that only offered correspondence courses were not 

eligible for the NPSAS. NPSAS:04 included such institutions if they were eligible to distribute 

Title IV student aid. 

Second, for NPSAS:2000, the survey was restricted for the first time to institutions 

participating in Title IV student aid programs. According to the DAS for NPSAS:96, only about 

1 percent of the sampled undergraduates were attending an institution not eligible to participate 

in Title IV aid programs. When students attending non-Title IV-eligible institutions were 

excluded from the NPSAS:96 sample, the percentage of undergraduates who received financial 
Appendix B—BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 56 

aid increased by less than 1 percent. This small change primarily affects comparisons of students 

enrolled in less-than-2-year and private for-profit institutions. When using the DAS from prior 

BPS studies for comparison to the BPS:04 cohort, analysts may want to filter cases in the prior 

studies (BPS:90 cohort, BPS:96 cohort) based on the variable that identifies whether the student 

was sampled from an institution that was eligible to participate in Title IV aid programs 

(T4ELIG). 

Finally, a design change in the NPSAS was made, beginning with NPSAS:90, to improve 

full-year estimates. NPSAS:90 sampled students who were enrolled at four discrete points in 

time: summer (August), fall (October), winter (February), and spring (June). Since 

implementation of NPSAS in 1993, institutions have been asked to provide one list that 

represented students enrolled at any time during the respective financial aid award year. In 

NPSAS:90, those students who were initially sampled in the fall could have been enrolled for the 

full academic year. 

The BPS:04/06 also differs from prior rounds of BPS in that the BPS:04/06 dataset 

contains data items and a positive analysis weight for all sample members who were determined 

to be eligible; this includes nonrespondents as well as respondents to the BPS:04/06 data 

collection. Nonrespondents to the interview appear on the data file with imputed data for all 

variables. In previous rounds of BPS, the nonrespondents appeared on the file but did not have 

data items and had a value of zero for the analysis weight. 

Additional Notes on the Accuracy of Estimates 

RTI conducted a bias analysis to determine if any variables were significantly biased due to 

institutional and student-level nonresponse. Several variables were found to have significant bias 

before weighting. The weighting procedures appear to have reduced the amount of significant 

bias for these variables. Additional information on the nonresponse bias analysis and weighting 

procedures can be found in the quality of estimates and weighting sections of this appendix. 

Data Analysis System 

The estimates presented in the report were produced using the BPS:04/06 Data Analysis 

System (DAS), a web-based software application that enables users to generate tables for most of 

the postsecondary surveys conducted by NCES. The DAS produces the design-adjusted standard 

errors necessary for testing the statistical significance of differences in the estimates. The DAS 

also contains a detailed description of how each variable was created, and includes question 

wording for items coming directly from an interview. 
Appendix B—BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

57 

With the DAS, users can replicate or expand upon the tables presented in this report. The 

output from the DAS includes the table estimates (e.g., percentages or means) the proper 

standard errors12 and weighted sample sizes for the estimates. If the number of valid cases is too 

small to produce a reliable estimate (fewer than 30 cases), the DAS prints the message “low-N” 

instead of the estimate. 

In addition to tables, DAS users may conduct covariance analyses, either with Weighted 

Least Squares or Logistic regressions. Many options are available for output with the regression 

results. For example, a Winsor filter can be used to eliminate cases with extreme values by 

deleting a certain percentage of cases from the top and bottom of the range. For a description of 

all the options available, users should access the DAS website http://nces.ed.gov/dasolv2. If 

users are new to the DAS, the DAS Help Center provides on-line tutorials offering step-by-step 

instructions in how to use all the functions of the DAS: http://nces.ed.gov/dasol/help. 

The DAS can be accessed electronically at http://nces.ed.gov/DAS. For more information, 

contact: 

Aurora D’Amico 

Postsecondary Studies Division 

National Center for Education Statistics 

1990 K Street NW 

Washington, DC 20006-5652 

(202) 502–7334 

Aurora.D'Amico@ed.gov

Statistical Procedures 

Differences Between Means 

The descriptive comparisons were tested in this First Look using Student’s t statistic. 

Differences between estimates are tested against the probability of a Type I error,13 or 

significance level. The significance levels were determined by calculating the Student’s t values 

for the differences between each pair of means or proportions and comparing these with 

published tables of significance levels for two-tailed hypothesis testing (p < .05). 

 

12 The BPS samples are not simple random samples; therefore, simple random sample techniques for estimating sampling error 

cannot be applied to these data. The DAS takes into account the complexity of the sampling procedures and calculates standard 

errors appropriate for such samples. The method for computing sampling errors used by the DAS involves approximating the 

estimator by replication of the sampled population. The procedure used is a bootstrap technique. 

13 A Type I error occurs when one concludes that a difference observed in a sample reflects a true difference in the population 

from which the sample was drawn, when no such difference is present. 
Appendix B—BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

 58 

Student’s t values may be computed to test the difference between estimates with the 

following formula: 

2

2

2

1

1 2

se se

E E

t

+

− = (1)

where E1 and E2 are the estimates to be compared and se1 and se2 are their corresponding 

standard errors. This formula is valid only for independent estimates. When estimates are not 

independent, a covariance term must be added to the formula: 

E -E

se + se - 2(r)se se

1 2

1

2

2

2

1 2 (2)

where r is the correlation between the two variables.14 The denominator in this formula will be at 

its maximum when the two estimates are perfectly negatively correlated, that is, when r = –1. 

This means that a conservative dependent test may be conducted by using –1 for the correlation 

in this formula as follows: 

1 2

2

2

2

1 2

(se1 ) (se ) 2se se

E E

t

+ +

− = . (3)

The estimates and standard errors are obtained from the DAS. If the comparison is between 

the mean of a subgroup and the mean of the total group, the following formula is used: 

2

sub

2

tot

2

sub

sub tot

se se 2p se

E E

+ −

− (4)

where p is the proportion of the total group contained in the subgroup.15 The estimates, standard 

errors, and correlations can all be obtained from the DAS. 

There are hazards in reporting statistical tests for each comparison. First, comparisons 

based on large t statistics may appear to merit special attention. This can be misleading since the 

magnitude of the t statistic is related not only to the observed differences in means or percentages 

but also to the number of respondents in the specific categories used for comparison. Hence, a 

small difference compared across a large number of respondents would produce a large t

statistic. 

 

14 U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, A Note from the Chief Statistician, no. 2, 1993. 

15 Ibid. 
Appendix B—BPS:04/06 Technical Notes and Methodology 

59 

A second hazard in reporting statistical tests is the possibility that one can report a “false 

positive” or Type I error. In the case of a t statistic, this false positive would result when a 

difference measured with a particular sample showed a statistically significant difference when 

there is no difference in the underlying population. Statistical tests are designed to control this 

type of error, denoted by alpha. The alpha level of .05 selected for findings in this First Look 

indicates that a difference of a certain magnitude or larger would be produced no more than one 

time out of twenty when there was no actual difference in the quantities in the underlying 

population. When we test hypotheses that show t values at the .05 level or smaller, we treat this 

finding as rejecting the null hypothesis that there is no difference between the two quantities.