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State Profile Methodology

SectionMetricSourceVariables & CohortsCalculationNotes
Access, Page 1Total enrollmentIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 12-month Enrollment survey (E12), 2022-2023: 12-month unduplicated headcountEFFY2023, grand total all undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking studentsSum the grand total of all undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking students2-year and 4-year institutions are combined in this calculation
Access, Page 1Enrollment by intensity, full-time studentsIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 12-month Enrollment survey (E12), 2022-2023: 12-month unduplicated headcountEFFY2023, grand total all undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking students; EFFY2023, grand total full-time undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking studentsSum the grand total of all undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking students and sum the grand total of full-time undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking students. Divide the sum of all undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking students by the sum of full-time undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking students2-year and 4-year institutions are combined in this calculation
Access, Page 1Enrollment by intensity, part-time studentsIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 12-month Enrollment survey (E12), 2022-2023: 12-month unduplicated headcountEFFY2023, grand total all undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking students; EFFY2023, grand total part-time undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking studentsSum the grand total of all undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking students and sum the grand total of part-time undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking students. Divide the sum of all undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking students by the sum of part-time undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking students2-year and 4-year institutions are combined in this calculation
Access, Page 1Dual enrollmentIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 12-month Enrollment survey (E12), 2022-2023: 12-month unduplicated headcount of dual enrolled studentsEFFY2023, grand total all undergraduate students; EFFY2023_HS, grand total dual enrolled studentsSum the grand total of all undergraduate students and sum the grand total of dual enrolled students. Divide the sum of all undergraduate students by the sum of dual enrolled studentsDual enrolled students are reported as non-degree/non-certificate-seeking; the all undergraduate students variable (which includes non-degree/non-certificate-seeking students) was used for the denominator to ensure the proper cohorts were captured for calculation. 2-year and 4-year institutions are combined in this calculation
Access, Page 1Total enrollment by race/ethnicityIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), 12-month Enrollment survey (E12), 2022-2023: 12-month unduplicated headcount by race/ethnicityEFFY2023, grand total all undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking students; EFFY2023, grand total undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking students by race/ethnicity: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and whiteSum the grand total of all undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking students and sum the grand total of each racial/ethnic category. Divide the sum of all undergraduate, degree/certificate-seeking students by the sum of each racial/ethnic categoryData are suppressed for some categories due to population size. Those categories/percentages will have an asterisk next to them. 2-year and 4-year institutions are combined in this calculation
Access, Page 1Some college, no degreeNational Student Clearinghouse Research Center, “Some College, No Credential: Student Outcomes 2024 Report for the Nation and the States”

https://nscresearchcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/SCNC2024DataAppendix.xlsx		SCNC by State tab, 2025 Report, SCNC Under 65, Potential Completers as a Share of SCNC Under 65Calculation completed by the National Student Clearinghouse Research CenterMethodology included in the report:
https://nscresearchcenter.org/some-college-no-credential-appendix/
Retention, Page 1Retention rate, full-time studentsIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall Enrollment survey (EF): Retention rates, entering class and student to faculty ratio, Fall 2023EF2023D, full-time adjusted fall 2022 cohort (cohort from prior year); EF2023D, students from the full-time adjusted fall 2022 cohort enrolled in fall 2023 (number of students from the full-time cohort in the prior year who are still enrolled in the current year; include students that re-enrolled and students with continuous enrollment). The full-time cohort includes full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking studentsSum the full-time adjusted fall 2022 cohort and sum the students from the full-time adjusted fall 2022 cohort enrolled in fall 2023. Divide the sum of the full-time adjusted fall 2022 cohort by the sum of the full-time adjusted fall 2022 cohort enrolled in fall 2023If a student were full-time the prior year, and enrolled as full-time or part-time in the current year, they would be calculated in the full-time retention cohort. 2-year and 4-year institutions are combined in this calculation
Retention, Page 1Retention rate, part-time studentsIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall Enrollment survey (EF): Retention rates, entering class and student to faculty ratio, Fall 2023EF2023D, part-time adjusted fall 2022 cohort (cohort from prior year); EF2023D, students from the part-time adjusted fall 2022 cohort enrolled in fall 2023 (number of students from the part-time cohort in the prior year who are still enrolled in the current year; include students that re-enrolled and students with continuous enrollment). The part-time cohort includes part-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking studentsSum the part-time adjusted fall 2022 cohort and sum the students from the part-time adjusted fall 2022 cohort enrolled in fall 2023. Divide the sum of the part-time adjusted fall 2022 cohort by the sum of the part-time adjusted fall 2022 cohort enrolled in fall 2023If a student were part-time the prior year, and enrolled as full-time or part-time in the current year, they would be calculated in the part-time retention cohort. 2-year and 4-year institutions are combined in this calculation
Completion, Page 1On time (100%) graduation rates, two-yearIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Graduation Rates 200% survey (GR200), Aug 31, 2023: Graduation rate data within 200 percent of normal timeGR200_23, adjusted degree/certificate-seeking cohort within 150% of normal time; GR200_23, number completed a degree/certificate within 100% of normal time (normal time is 2 years for an associate’s degree in a standard term-based institution). The adjusted cohort includes full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduate studentsFilter institutions by sector (public, 2-year). Sum the adjusted 150% cohort and sum the number completed within 100% of normal time. Divide the sum of the adjusted 150% cohort by the sum of the number completed within 100% of normal timeThe sample is according to IPEDS sector (public 4-year or above, or public, 2-year). Some states will not have a 2-year 100% graduation rate because they do not have any 2-year classified institutions. In those cases, their 2-year institutions are classified as 4-year or above institutions due to their offering of bachelor’s degrees, even though they still primarily award associate’s degrees. Those institutions are included in the 4-year or above graduation rate calculation
Completion, Page 1On track (150%) graduation rates, two-yearIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Graduation Rates survey (GR), Aug 31, 2023: Graduation rate data within 150 percent of normal timeStates/consortia with 2-year sector institutions: GR2023, grand total degree/certificate-seeking students (2-yr institution) adjusted cohort; GR2023, grand total degree/certificate-seeking students (2-yr institution) completers within 150% of normal time (normal time is 3 years for an associate’s degree in a standard term-based institution). The adjusted cohort includes full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduate students

States/consortia with no 2-year sector institutions: GR2023, grand total other degree/certificate-seeking subcohort (4-yr institution) adjusted cohort; GR2023, grand total other degree/certificate-seeking subcohort (4-yr institution) completers of programs of 2 but < 4 yrs 150% of normal time (normal time is 3 years for an associate's degree in a standard term-based institution). The adjusted cohort includes full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduate students)		States/consortia with 2-year sector institutions: Filter institutions by sector (public, 2-year). Sum the 2-year adjusted cohort and sum the number of completers within 150% of normal time. Divide the sum of the 2-year adjusted cohort by the sum of the number of completers within 150% of normal time

States/consortia with no 2-year sector institutions: Filter institutions by sector (public, 4-year or above) and institutional category (degree-granting, not primarily baccalaureate or above. Sum the other subcohort adjusted cohort and sum the number of completers of programs of 2 but < 4 years within 150% of normal time. Divide the sum of the other subcohort adjusted cohort by the sum of the number of completers of programs of 2 but < 4 yrs within 150% of normal time		States with no 2-year sector institutions listed are further filtered according to institutional category to determine if any 4-year institutions are categorized as not primarily baccalaureate or above. Those institutions’ data are excluded from the 4-year cohort and reclassified as a two-year cohort. This component is only available for the 150% graduation rate
Completion, Page 1On time (100%) graduation rates, four-yearIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Graduation Rates 200% survey (GR200), Aug 31, 2023: Graduation rate data within 200 percent of normal timeGR200_23, adjusted bachelor’s degree-seeking cohort within 150% of normal time; GR200_23, number completed a bachelor’s degree within 100% of normal time (normal time is 4 years for a bachelor’s degree in a standard term-based institution). The adjusted cohort includes full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduate studentsFilter institutions by sector (public, 4-year or above). Sum the adjusted 150% bachelor’s degree cohort and sum the number completed within 100% of normal time. Divide the sum of the adjusted 150% bachelor’s degree cohort by the sum of the number completed within 100% of normal timeThe sample is according to IPEDS sector (public 4-year or above, or public, 2-year). Some states will not have a 2-year 100% graduation rate because they do not have any 2-year classified institutions. In those cases, their 2-year institutions are classified as 4-year or above institutions due to their offering of bachelor’s degrees, even though they still primarily award associate’s degrees. Those institutions are included in the 4-year or above graduation rate calculation
Completion, Page 1On track (150%) graduation rates, four-yearIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Graduation Rates survey (GR), Aug 31, 2023: Graduation rate data within 150 percent of normal timeGR2023, grand total 4-year institutions adjusted cohort; GR2023, grand total 4-year institutions completers within 150% of normal time (normal time is 6 years for a bachelor’s degree in a standard term-based institution). The adjusted cohort includes full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduate studentsFilter institutions by sector (public, 4-year or above). Sum the 4-year adjusted cohort and sum the number of completers within 150% of normal time. Divide the sum of the 4-year adjusted cohort by the sum of the number of completers within 150% of normal time.

For those states whose 2-years are categorized as 4-years: Additionally filter by institutional category. Exclude those whose category is degree-granting, not primarily baccalaureate or above from the calculation.
States with no 2-year sector institutions listed are further filtered according to institutional category to determine if any 4-year institutions are categorized as not primarily baccalaureate or above. Those institutions’ data are excluded from the 4-year cohort and reclassified as a two-year cohort. This component is only available for the 150% graduation rate
Completion, Page 14, 6, and 8 year completion rates, part-time studentsIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Outcome Measures survey (OM), Aug 31, 2023: Award and enrollment data of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate cohorts at degree-granting institutions by enrollment intensityOM2023, adjusted 2015-2016 cohort first-time part-time entering total; OM2023, adjusted 2015-2016 cohort non-first-time part-time entering total; OM2023 number of adjusted cohort receiving an award at 4 years, first-time and non-first-time part-time entering total; OM 2023, number of adjusted cohort receiving an award at 6 years, first-time and non-first-time part-time entering total; OM 2023, number of adjusted cohort receiving an award at 8 years, first-time and non-first-time part-time entering total. The adjusted cohort includes all degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate studentsSum the first-time part-time entering total, sum the non-first-time part-time entering total; add those two totals together; sum the first-time and non-first-time part-time totals receiving an award at 4 years; add those two totals together; sum the first-time and non-first-time part-time totals receiving an award at 6 years; add those two totals together; sum the first-time and non-first-time part-time totals receiving an award at 8 years; add those two totals together. Divide the sum of the first-time and non-first-time part-time cohort by each of the sum of the first-time and non-first-time part-time cohort receiving an award at 4, 6, and 8 years2-year and 4-year institutions are combined in this calculation
Completion, Page 14, 6, and 8 year completion rates, full-time studentsIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Outcome Measures survey (OM), Aug 31, 2023: Award and enrollment data of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate cohorts at degree-granting institutions by enrollment intensityOM2023, adjusted 2015-2016 cohort first-time full-time entering total; OM2023, adjusted 2015-2016 cohort non-first-time full-time entering total; OM2023 number of adjusted cohort receiving an award at 4 years, first-time and non-first-time full-time entering total; OM 2023, number of adjusted cohort receiving an award at 6 years, first-time and non-first-time full-time entering total; OM 2023, number of adjusted cohort receiving an award at 8 years, first-time and non-first-time full-time entering total. The adjusted cohort includes all degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate studentsSum the first-time full-time entering total, sum the non-first-time full-time entering total; add those two totals together; sum the first-time and non-first-time full-time totals receiving an award at 4 years; add those two totals together; sum the first-time and non-first-time full-time totals receiving an award at 6 years; add those two totals together; sum the first-time and non-first-time full-time totals receiving an award at 8 years; add those two totals together. Divide the sum of the first-time and non-first-time full-time cohort by each of the sum of the first-time and non-first-time full-time cohort receiving an award at 4, 6, and 8 years2-year and 4-year institutions are combined in this calculation
Workforce Readiness & Career Outcomes, Page 2Median earningsU.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS), Dataset: ACSDT5Y2023, Table ID: B20004, Median earnings in the past 12 months (in 2023 inflation-adjusted dollars) by sex and educational attainment for the population 25 years and over, 5-year estimates detailed tables, 2023

https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT5Y2023.B20004?q=american+community+survey&t=Earnings+(Individuals):Educational+Attainment:Income+and+Earnings&g=010XX00US,$0400000&y=2023		United States, all states within the Unites States, Puerto Rico and Island Areas; Earnings (Individuals); Educational Attainment; Income and EarningsCalculation completed by the U.S. Census BureauInformation about the American Community Survey (ACS) can be found on the ACS website. Supporting documentation including code lists, subject definitions, data accuracy, and statistical testing, and a full list of ACS tables and table shells (without estimates) can be found on the Technical Documentation section of the ACS website.

Sample size and data quality measures (including coverage rates, allocation rates, and response rates) can be found on the American Community Survey website in the Methodology section.
Workforce Readiness & Career Outcomes, Page 2Living wage“Living Wage calculator”, Living Wage Institute and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

https://livingwage.mit.edu/
Typical expenses for 1 adult, 0 children, required annual income before taxes by stateCalculation completed by the Living Wage InstituteMethodology:

https://livingwage.mit.edu/pages/methodology
Workforce Readiness & Career Outcomes, Page 2Workforce demand“After Everything: Projections of Jobs, Education, and Training Requirements through 2031”, Georgetown University, McCourt School of Public Policy, Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW)

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED650281.pdf		State profiles, jobs forecast for 2031 by education level, percentage of share of jobs by education level (some college, no degree, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, and graduate degree)Calculation completed by Georgetown University Center on Education and the WorkforceTechnical Appendix:

https://cew.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/Projections_2031-Technical_Appendix.pdf
Workforce Readiness & Career Outcomes, Page 2Top 3 industries with the most growth“After Everything: Projections of Jobs, Education, and Training Requirements through 2031”, Georgetown University, McCourt School of Public Policy, Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW)

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED650281.pdf		State profiles, occupations, growth (%) by occupation, order from largest to smallest, use the top 3 occupationsCalculation completed by Georgetown University Center on Education and the WorkforceTechnical Appendix:

https://cew.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/Projections_2031-Technical_Appendix.pdf
Workforce Readiness & Career Outcomes, Page 2Top 3 awarded bachelor’s degreesIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Completions survey (C), 2022-2023: Awards/degrees conferred by program (2020 CIP classification), and award levelC2023_A, grand total, first major, bachelor’s degree award level code. All 2-digit CIP codes selected. Cohort includes an unduplicated count of all students who earned a recognized postsecondary credentialSum the grand total of bachelor’s degrees from each 2-digit CIP code. Order from largest to smallest, use the top 3 degrees awarded2-year and 4-year institutions are combined in this calculation, however only bachelor’s degrees are utilized
Affordability & Financial Impact, Page 2Public education revenue from tuition and feesState Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) Annual State Higher Education Finance (SHEF) report, 2023. Table 4.3 “Net Tuition as a Percentage of Total Education Revenue by State, FY 1980-2023

https://shef.sheeo.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/SHEEO_SHEF_FY23_Report.pdf		Table 4.3, by state, 2023 percentage, change since 2022 (percentage point increase or decrease)Calculation completed by SHEEOTechnical Documentation:

https://shef.sheeo.org/past-shef-reports/
Affordability & Financial Impact, Page 2Average net priceIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Cost survey (CST), 2022-2023: student charges, cost of attendance for full-time, first-time undergraduate students (academic year programs)

Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Student Financial Aid survey (SFA), 2022-2023: student financial aid and net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate by living arrangement in public institutions		CST survey: IC2022_AY, published in-district tuition and fees 2022-23; IC2022_AY, published in-state tuition and fees 2022-23; IC2022_AY books and supplies 2022-23; IC2022_AY, on campus room and board 2022-23; IC2022_AY on campus other expenses 2022-23; IC2022_AY, off campus (not with family) room and board 2022-23; IC2022_AY, off campus (not with family) other expenses 2022-23; IC2022_AY, off campus (with family) other expenses 2022-23. Cohort includes full-time, first-time undergraduate students

SFA survey: SFA2223, total number 2022-23; SFA2223, total amount of grant and scholarship aid awarded 2022-23; SFA2223, number living on-campus 2022-23; SFA2223, number living off-campus with family 2022-23; SFA2223, number living off-campus not with family 2022-23. Cohort includes full-time, first-time degree/certificate seeking undergraduate students

Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grant and scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies and the weighted average room and board and other expenses.

Average amount of aid: Sum the total amount of grant and scholarship aid awarded and divide by the sum of total number of students to get the average amount of aid awarded.

Sum the published in-district tuition and fees and then sum the published in-state tuition and fees; use the lower of the two numbers for the rest of the calculation. Then take the sum of books and supplies.

To calculate the weighted average room and board and other expenses: Take the sum of on campus room and board, the sum of on campus other expenses, the sum of off campus (not with family) room and board, the sum of off campus (not with family) other expenses, the sum of off campus (with family) other expenses, sum the number living on-campus, sum the number living off-campus with family, and sum the number living off-campus not with family. Use the following formula: (the sum for on-campus room, board, and other expenses * the sum of the number of students living on-campus) + (the sum for off-campus (with family) other expenses * the sum of the number of students living off-campus with family) + (the sum for off-campus (not with family) room, board, and other expenses * the sum of the number of students living off-campus not with family) / the sum of total number of students.

To calculate the total COA: Sum the tuition and fees, books and supplies, and average room and board; divide by the number of institutions as determined for each state to get an average total COA.

To calculate average net price: Subtract the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grant and scholarship aid from the average total cost of attendance (COA)		2-year and 4-year institutions are combined in this calculation
Affordability & Financial Impact, Page 2Average Pell grantIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Student Financial Aid survey (SFA), 2022-2023: student financial aid and net price for degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate studentsSFA2223, total number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students awarded Federal Pell Grant; SFA2223, total amount of Federal Pell Grant aid awarded to degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate studentsSum the total number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students awarded Pell and sum the total amount of Federal Pell Grant aid awarded. Divide the sum of the total amount of Pell Grant awarded by the sum of the total number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate Pell students2-year and 4-year institutions are combined in this calculation
Affordability & Financial Impact, Page 2Students awarded PellIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Student Financial Aid survey (SFA), 2022-2023: student financial aid and net price for degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate studentsSFA2223, total number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students; SFA2223, number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students awarded Federal Pell GrantsSum the total number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students and sum the number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students awarded Federal Pell Grants. Divide the sum of the total number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students by the sum of the total number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students awarded Federal Pell Grants2-year and 4-year institutions are combined in this calculation
Affordability & Financial Impact, Page 2Average Federal loansIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Student Financial Aid survey (SFA), 2022-2023: student financial aid and net price for degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate studentsSFA2223, total number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students awarded federal student loans; SFA2223, total amount of federal student loans awarded to degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate studentsSum the total number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students awarded loans and sum the total amount of federal student loans awarded. Divide the sum of the total amount of federal student loans awarded by the sum of the total number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students with loans2-year and 4-year institutions are combined in this calculation
Affordability & Financial Impact, Page 2Students awarded Federal loansIntegrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Student Financial Aid survey (SFA), 2022-2023: student financial aid and net price for degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate studentsSFA2223, total number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students; SFA2223, number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students awarded federal student loansSum the total number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students and sum the number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students awarded federal student loans. Divide the sum of the total number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students by the sum of the total number of degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students awarded federal student loans2-year and 4-year institutions are combined in this calculation