Higher Education Trends

IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) is a comprehensive survey system conducted annually by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). It collects data from colleges, universities, and technical institutions participating in federal student financial aid programs. Researchers, policymakers, and education stakeholders rely on IPEDS data to understand the landscape of higher education and identify patterns and changes over time.

The 2023 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Data Feedback Report is available on the Institutional Research & Planning (IRP) website. IPEDS is a set of surveys that collects data from all postsecondary institutions which are eligible to receive Title IV funding across the United States and other U.S. jurisdictions. These data are used by states and the federal government for policy analysis and development and by institutions for benchmarking and peer analysis.

For six years New America has been collecting data on Americans’ views about higher education for its Varying Degrees survey. Surprisingly, despite significant social, cultural, political, and economic changes, there was remarkably little change in views on the value and opportunities provided by higher education. One area that did change was the perception of online education.

The Washington Post recently reported that enrollment at colleges nationwide "has shrunk more than five percent since 2019." However, the impact has been greater on regional colleges and universities that serve disadvantaged students. For example, institutions in the western region of Pennsylvania have been affected by stagnant population growth, the pandemic, and increasing wages that make working a more appealing option than studying.

In response to the results of a review of student mental health, Cornell University decided to reduce the maximum number of credits engineering students can take per semester from 23 to 20.

On February 24, 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau released a table package, Educational Attainment in the United States: 2021, containing statistics on educational attainment by adults 25 years of age and older for the period 2011 to 2021. These statistics cover a range of demographic and social characteristics, including age, sex, and race.