About the Data

Institutions in the College Results Sample

Race/Ethnicity Categories

Peer Institutions

Graduation Rates

Retention

Costs

Financial Aid

Financial Outcomes

Funding and Faculty

College Characteristics

Student Characteristics

Admissions

Institutions in the College Results Sample

CR includes degree-granting, four-year, Title-IV eligible higher education institutions in the United States and associated territories (N=2,846). CR's final sample includes only institutions that meet the following criteria:  

1) Schools that are in the four-year public, private not-for-profit, or private for-profit sectors;  

2) Schools that were not closed and met the aforementioned requirements in the 2019-20 school year;  

3) Schools that award bachelor's degrees, which may include institutions that also award associate’s degrees;  

After applying these rules, 2,846 schools remain in the sample for the academic year 2019-20. However, some schools will be missing graduation rate data or other data in the current year. 

Peer Institutions:

The College Results site “Peer Institutions” feature shows similar institutions based on the weighted similarity of a set of variables. Below you can find the table of these variables and the relative weights for each. 

The “Similarity Score” of a given pair of universities is created by using a formula to compare each of the listed variables and weighting the difference. The universities’ sectors are compared and the similarity score receives the full weight if they are the same and 0 if they are not. 

The formula is: weightstat * (1 - max(1, (abs(univ 1stat- univ 2stat) / std. dev.stat)))

In plain English, for each pair of universities, we take the absolute difference between each variable and divide that by the standard deviation of that variable across our full dataset. If the difference between the two universities is larger than the standard deviation for that variable, the university pair gets 0 added to their similarity score for that variable. If it’s lower, how similar they are determines how much of the potential weight their similarity score receives. For example, for two universities with “Percent Pell” values of 10 and 16, the difference of 6 means they would get (1 - (6 / ~24.11)) = ~0.25 of the full potential weight of 173, or around 130. The weighted similarities for each of the 11 variables are summed to create the “Similarity Score”, and the universities that have the highest similarity score with whichever university you’re looking at are listed in descending order.

Variable Weight Std. dev.
Percent Pell 173 24.11317467
Percent Admitted 161 21.30742438
FTE Enrollment 158 5357.453012
Sector 121  
Percent submitting ACT 44 29.40000537
Percent submitting SAT 44 30.42768285
Percent part time 76 0.2612651882
Student-to-faculty ratio 68 7.306045647
% degrees in STEM 56 0.138122399
Spend per FTE 52 15041.39464
% 25 and older 47 0.07172158444

Race/Ethnicity Categories

College Results displays race and ethnicity categories for the student enrollment and graduation rate variables. The displayed race and ethnicity categories come directly from IPEDS. IPEDS adopted the categories from the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) revised 1997 standards for the classification of federal data on race and ethnicity.

Current IPEDS Reporting Categories 

  1. Nonresident Alien  

  1. Unknown Race and Ethnicity  

  1. Hispanic (Of Any Race) 

Race Categories (For non-Hispanics only) 

  1. American Indian or Alaska Native 

  1. Asian 

  1. Black or African American 

  1. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 

  1. White 

  1. Two or More Races 

Graduation Rates

The institutional graduation-rate data presented in College Results is owned by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and collected through a centralized higher education data collection process called the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). IPEDS consists of a series of surveys through which institutions provide data about themselves on a variety of topics. The graduation rates on College Results are from the Graduation Rates survey (GR). 

Federal Graduation Rate Definition (IPEDS) 

The graduation rates on College Results are 6-year and 4-year graduation rates from the IPEDS Graduation Rates survey. They are based on the percentage of first-time, full-time, bachelor's or equivalent degree-seeking first-year students who earned a bachelor's or equivalent degree from the institution where they originally enrolled. Undergraduates who began as part-time or were not seeking a bachelor's degree, or who transferred into the institution, are not included in the GR first-year cohort. Their success or failure to earn a degree does not influence the GR graduation rates in CR in any way. 

In addition to limiting the GR first-year cohort to those students described above, institutions are also allowed to exclude from their calculations any students who fail to earn a degree for the following reasons: 

  • Left school to serve in the armed forces. 

  • Left school to serve with a foreign aid service of the federal government. 

  • Left school to serve on an official church mission. 

  • Died or became permanently disabled. 

College Results’ Collection of Graduation Rate Data 

College Results contains the entering first-year classes of 2014. Students who began in Fall 2014 are considered to have successfully completed their degree within six years if they earned the degree on or before August 31, 2020. 

The tool includes graduation-rate data broken down by both race/ethnicity and gender, including four- and six-year graduation rates. College Results also contains overall six-year graduation rates (but not disaggregated rates), which can be seen by selecting “Compare with similar instructions” when exploring a specific college profile. 

Transfer Students and Students Who Have Not Graduated, but are Still Enrolled 

If an institution has a transfer mission, then the GR survey also collects the percentage of students from the first-year cohort who have transferred to another institution. The GR survey now collects the percentage of students from the first-year cohort who have not graduated but are still enrolled. Previously, the GR survey only collected data on students still enrolled in programs of study that take longer than four years to complete. 

Graduation Rates

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate Within 4 Years – Total: The percentage of first-time full-time bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking undergraduates who began in Fall 2014 and successfully completed their degree within four years (on or before August 31, 2020).

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate Within 6 Years – Total: The percentage of first-time full-time bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking undergraduates who began in Fall 2014 and successfully completed their degree within six years (on or before August 31, 2020).

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate Within 6 Years - Asian: The percentage of first-time full-time bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking Asian undergraduates who began in Fall 2014 and successfully completed their degree within six years (on or before August 31, 2020). 

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate Within 6 Years – American Indian or Alaska Native: The percentage of first-time full-time bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking American Indian or Alaska Native undergraduates who began in Fall 2014 and successfully completed their degree within six years (on or before August 31, 2020).

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate Within 6 Years – Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: The percentage of first-time full-time bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander undergraduates who began in Fall 2014 and successfully completed their degree within six years (on or before August 31, 2020).

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate Within 6 Years – Black Non-Hispanic: The percentage of first-time full-time bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking Black Non-Hispanic undergraduates who began in Fall 2014 and successfully completed their degree within six years (on or before August 31, 2020). 

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate Within 6 Years – Hispanic: The percentage of first-time full-time bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking Hispanic undergraduates who began in Fall 2014 and successfully completed their degree within six years (on or before August 31, 2020).

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate Within 6 Years – Men: The percentage of first-time full-time bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking male undergraduates who began in Fall 2014 and successfully completed their degree within six years (on or before August 31, 2020) 

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate Within 6 Years – Total: The percentage of first-time full-time bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking undergraduates who began in Fall 2014 and successfully completed their degree within six years (on or before August 31, 2020). 

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate Within 6 Years – Women: The percentage of first-time full-time bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking female undergraduates who began in Fall 2014 and successfully completed their degree within six years (on or before August 31, 2020). 

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate Within 6 Years – White Non-Hispanic: The percentage of first-time full-time bachelor’s or equivalent degree-seeking White Non-Hispanic undergraduates who began in Fall 2014 and successfully completed their degree within six years (on or before August 31, 2020). 

Graduation rate Pell (6yr): This refers to the 6-year graduation rate of low-income students (Pell Grant recipients) and students who are not low-income (did not receive a Pell Grant).  

Graduation Rates by Race and Gender*

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – Men: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to male students. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – Women: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to female students. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – American Indian or Alaska Native Total: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to American Indian students. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – American Indian or Alaska Native Men: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to American Indian male students. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – American Indian or Alaska Native Women: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to American Indian female students. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – Asian Total: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to Asian students. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – Asian Men: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to Asian male students. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – Asian Women: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to Asian female students. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – Black or African American Total: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to Black or African American students. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – Black or African American Men: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to Black or African American male students. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – Black or African American women: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to Black or African American female students. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – Hispanic or Latino Total: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino students. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – Hispanic or Latino Men: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino male students. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – Hispanic or Latina Women: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino female students. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Total: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander students. (IPEDS)

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Men: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander male students. (IPEDS)

Percent of Bachelor Degrees – Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Women: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded to Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander female students. (IPEDS)

*While we use the terms men and women to be consistent with reported data from the Department of Education, we acknowledge the terms for biological sex do not encompass the gender identities of everyone in the higher education community.

Degrees Awarded by Field of Study   

Percent of Bachelor Degrees Awarded in Arts and Humanities: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded in liberal arts areas like foreign languages, English, philosophy, religion, and performing arts (CIP Codes 16, 23, 24, 38, 39, and 50). (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees Awarded in Business: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded in business, management, and marketing (CIP Code 52). (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees Awarded in Education: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded in education (CIP Code 13). (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees Awarded in Health Sciences: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded in health professions (CIP Code 51). (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees Awarded in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded in areas like computer science, engineering, biology, math, statistics, physics, and chemistry (CIP Codes 11, 14, 15, 26, 27, 40, and 41). (IPEDS) 

Percent of Bachelor Degrees Awarded in Social Sciences: The percent of baccalaureate degrees awarded in areas like ethnic studies, economics, politics, psychology, sociology, and history (CIP Codes 5, 42, 45, and 54). (IPEDS)

Retention

First-Time, Full-Time Retention Rate: The percentage of first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduates from Fall 2018 who are again enrolled either full-time or part-time in the 2019-2020 academic year. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Full-time, First-time Degree-Seeking Undergraduates: The percentage of full-time, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates as a percentage of total enrolled undergraduate students.  

Transfer Out Rate: The percentage of students who began in the 2014 cohort of first-time, full-time, bachelor's or equivalent degree-seeking freshmen at the institution and transferred to another school without earning a degree at the initial institution. Reporting of transfer data is optional for colleges and universities that do not consider preparing students for transfer as part of their mission. (IPEDS) 

Percent Full-time, First-time, Pell Grant Recipients Still Enrolled at Same Institution - 8 Years: The percentage of first-time, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates from the 2011-2012 academic year who are still enrolled at the same institution through August 31, 2019. 

Costs

Average Cost of Attendance In-District: The average dollar cost of attendance for a first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate who lives within the district of the institution. 

Average Cost of Attendance In-State: The average dollar cost of attendance for a first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate who has residency in the state of the institution. 

Average Cost of Attendance Out-of-State: The average dollar cost of attendance for a first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate who does not have residency in the state of the institution. 

Average Net Price After Grants, 2017-18: Average net price in the 2017-18 academic year paid by first-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant aid from federal, state, or local governments, or the institution. Net price is calculated as the total cost of attendance (for in-state students at public colleges and for in-state and out-of-state students at private colleges) minus the average amount of grant aid (from federal, state/local, and institutional sources). (IPEDS) 

Average Net Price After Grants, 2018-19: Average net price in the 2018-19 academic year paid by first-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant aid from federal, state, or local governments, or the institution. Net price is calculated as the total cost of attendance (for in-state students at public colleges and for in-state and out-of-state students at private colleges) minus the average amount of grant aid (from federal, state/local, and institutional sources). (IPEDS) 

Average Net Price After Grants, 2019-20: Average net price in the 2019-20 academic year paid by first-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant aid from federal, state, or local governments, or the institution. Net price is calculated as the total cost of attendance (for in-state students at public colleges and for in-state and out-of-state students at private colleges) minus the average amount of grant aid (from federal, state/local, and institutional sources). (IPEDS) 

Average Net Price After Grants- Students Awarded a Grant or Scholarship, 2019-20: Average net price in the 2019-20 academic year paid by first-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid from federal, state, or local governments, or the institution. Net price is calculated as the total cost of attendance (for in-state students at public colleges and for in-state and out-of-state students at private colleges) minus the average amount of grant aid (from federal, state/local, and institutional sources). (IPEDS) 

Average Net Price for Low-Income Students, 2017-18: Average net price in the 2017-18 academic year paid by first-time, full-time undergraduates who received Title IV aid. Net price is calculated as the total cost of attendance (for in-state students at public colleges and for in-state and out-of-state students at private colleges) minus the average amount of grant aid (from federal, state/local, and institutional sources) for students in the $0-30,000 income range. (IPEDS) 

Average Net Price for Low-Income Students, 2018-19: Average net price in the 2018-19 academic year paid by first-time, full-time undergraduates who received Title IV aid. Net price is calculated as the total cost of attendance (for in-state students at public colleges and for in-state and out-of-state students at private colleges) minus the average amount of grant aid (from federal, state/local, and institutional sources) for students in the $0-30,000 income range. (IPEDS) 

Average Net Price for Low-Income Students, 2019-20: Average net price in the 2019-20 academic year paid by first-time, full-time undergraduates who received Title IV aid. Net price is calculated as the total cost of attendance (for in-state students at public colleges and for in-state and out-of-state students at private colleges) minus the average amount of grant aid (from federal, state/local, and institutional sources) for students in the $0-30,000 income range. (IPEDS) 

Average Net Price After Grants – Low-Income Students Awarded Financial Aid, 2019-20: Average net price in the 2019-20 academic year paid by low-income, first-time, full-time undergraduates who received Title IV aid. Net price is calculated as the total cost of attendance (for in-state students at public colleges and for in-state and out-of-state students at private colleges) minus the average amount of grant aid (from federal, state/local, and institutional sources) for students in the $0-30,000 income range. (IPEDS) 

Out-of-State Average Tuition for First-Time, Full-Time Undergraduates: The average dollar amount of out-of-state tuition and fees charged by public institutions to those students who do not meet the state's or institution's residency requirements.  

Cost of Attendance for In-State Students Living on Campus: The sum of published tuition and required fees, books and supplies, and the weighted average for room and board for students living on campus (residence hall, etc.) and other expenses. 

Financial Aid

Average Amount of Federal, State, Local, or Institutional Grant Aid Awarded: Average level of grants provided to first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students from federal agencies, state or local aid, or institutional sources. (IPEDS) 

Average Amount of Federal Grant Aid Awarded to First-Time, Full-Time Undergraduates: Average level of grants provided to full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students awarded by federal agencies. Examples of grants include those from the U.S. Department of Education, such as Pell Grants and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), and need- and merit-based educational assistance funds and training vouchers from the Veterans' Administration, Department of Labor, and other federal agencies. (IPEDS) 

Average Amount of Institutional Grant Aid Awarded to First-Time, Full-Time Undergraduates: Average amount of institutional grants (scholarships/fellowships) received by full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduate students. (IPEDS) 

Average Amount of Loans Awarded to First-Time, Full-Time Undergraduates: Average amount of student loan aid received from all sources by first-time, full-time undergraduates. (IPEDS) 

Total Amount of Federal, State, Local or Institutional Grant Aid Awarded to First-Time, Full-Time Undergraduates: The total dollar amount of aid provided to first-time, full-time degree-seeking undergraduate students from federal agencies, state, local, or institutional sources. (IPEDS) 

Financial Outcomes

Note: These variables represent students’ financial outcomes after enrolling in a given institution. These variables that are sourced from the College Scorecard represent only students who received federal financial aid. 

The Median Debt of Dependent Student Completers: The median federal loan debt accumulated by dependent status students who completed an undergraduate degree at the institution. Non-federal loans and federal loans not made to students (e.g., Parent PLUS loans) are not included in this value. The data represents the 2018 and 2019 pooled fiscal year graduating cohorts. (College Scorecard) 

The Median Debt of Independent Student Completers: The median federal loan debt accumulated by independent status students who completed an undergraduate degree at the institution. Non-federal loans and federal loans not made to students (e.g., Parent PLUS loans) are not included in this value. The data represents the 2018 and 2019 pooled fiscal year graduating cohorts. (College Scorecard) 

Median Debt of Completers: The median federal loan debt accumulated by all students who completed an undergraduate degree at the institution. Non-federal loans and federal loans not made to students (e.g., Parent PLUS loans) are not included in this value. The data represents the 2018 and 2019 pooled fiscal year graduating cohorts. (College Scorecard) 

Median Earnings of Students Working and Not Enrolled 10 Years After Entry: The 10-year post-enrollment earnings of all federally aided students in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 pooled award year cohort measured in calendar year 2018 and 2019, inflation-adjusted to 2020 dollars. (College Scorecard) 

Median Earnings of Dependent Students Working and Not Enrolled 10 Years After Entry: The 10-year post-enrollment earnings of federally aided dependent status students in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 pooled award year cohort measured in calendar year 2018 and 2019, inflation-adjusted to 2020 dollars. (College Scorecard) 

Median Earnings of Independent Students Working and Not Enrolled 10 Years After Entry: The 10-year post-enrollment earnings of federally aided independent status students in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 pooled award year cohort measured in calendar year 2018 and 2019, inflation-adjusted to 2020 dollars. (College Scorecard) 

Three-Year Cohort Default Rate: The official three-year cohort default rates reported by the Department of Education.  A cohort default rate is the percentage of borrowers who entered into repayment during the cohort fiscal year and default on their federal loans within three years.  (U.S Department of Education)

Funding and Faculty

The financial data shown on College Results is for the 2019-2020 academic year. The IPEDS reporting system requires universities to report expenditures broken down into a number of categories and sub-categories. The archived sample survey forms used to report this information, which contain these categories, can be found here. 

Endowment Assets: This variable represents an institution’s total amount of endowment assets as of the end of fiscal year 2020. Endowment assets include gross investments of endowment funds, term endowment funds, and funds functioning as endowment for the institution and any of its foundations or other affiliated organizations. This variable was collected for both public institutions using GASB reporting standards, and private institutions using FASB reporting standards. (IPEDS) 

Endowment Assets per FTE: This variable represents an institution’s endowment assets per full-time equivalent student as of the end of fiscal year 2020. Endowment assets include gross investments of endowment funds, term endowment funds, and funds functioning as endowment for the institution and any of its foundations or other affiliated organizations. This variable was collected for both public institutions using GASB reporting standards, and private institutions using FASB reporting standards. (IPEDS) 

Instructional Expenses Per FTE: This variable represents an institution’s instructional expenses per full-time equivalent student as of the end of fiscal year 2020. “Instructional expenses” is a discrete reporting category. It includes expenditures for the colleges, schools, departments, and other instructional divisions of the institution and expenses for departmental research and public service that are not separately budgeted.  It also includes general academic instruction, occupational and vocational instruction, community education, preparatory and adult basic education, and regular, special, and extension sessions. It includes expenses for both credit and non-credit activities.  It excludes expenses for academic administration where the primary function is administration (e.g., academic deans).  Information technology expenses related to instructional activities if the institution separately budgets and expenses information technology resources are included (otherwise these expenses are included in “academic support”). Due to changes in IPEDS reporting requirements, instructional expenditures in years prior to 2015-16 as reported on the website for public and private not-for-profit institutions are not directly comparable to expenditures in 2015-16 or later. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Full-Time Faculty: The number of full-time faculty members as a percent of all faculty members. Beginning in 2013, odd year’s data were substituted for institutions that did not provide updated data during the even year. Because collection of the faculty variable is only mandatory in the fall of every odd year, odd year’s data were substituted for every even year’s data in prior College Results updates. (IPEDS) 

Student-to-Faculty Ratio: The number of full-time undergraduates divided by the number of full-time faculty. (IPEDS)

College Characteristics

State of Institution: State in which the institution is located. (IPEDS)

City of Institution: City in which the institution is located. (IPEDS)

Sector of Institution: There are nine different sectors of higher education, based on both length of academic programs (four-year, two-year, less than two-year), and control status (public, private non-profit, private for-profit). For example, public, 4-year is one of the institution sectors. College Results contains data for four-year, two-year institutions that grant bachelor’s degrees and are public, private non-profit, or private for-profit. Beginning with the 2002 cohort, this may include some institutions that award primarily associate’s degrees, but also offer bachelor’s degrees. (IPEDS)  

Institutional Category: This indicator is derived using the level of offerings an institution has and the number and level of degrees awarded. (IPEDS) 

Institution Type: This variable identifies institutions as public four-year, public two-year, private not-for-profit four-year, private for-profit four-year, or private for-profit.  

Institution Size Category: This indicator is based on the institution's total number of students enrolled for credit. Institutions are assigned one of seven categories: 1) Under 1,000; 2) 1,000 - 4,999; 3) 5,000 - 9,999; 4) 10,000 - 19,999; 5) 20,000 and above; 6) Not reported; and 7) Not applicable. (IPEDS) 

Degree Level: Indicates all degree-designated award levels offered at an institution (associate's degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, doctor's degrees, and postbaccalaureate and post-master's certificates). Degree levels are only those for which the institution is authorized to offer recognized postsecondary credentials. (IPEDS)

Degree of Urbanization: There are 12 possible locale designations, using a classification system from the U.S. Census Bureau: (IPEDS) 

  • City: Large: Territory inside an urbanized area and inside a principal city with a population of 250,000 or more. 

  • City: Midsize: Territory inside an urbanized area and inside a principal city with a population less than 250,000 and greater than or equal to 100,000. 

  • City: Small: Territory inside an urbanized area and inside a principal city with a population of less than 100,000. 

  • Suburb: Large: Territory outside a principal city and inside an urbanized area with a population of 250,000 or more. 

  • Suburb: Midsize: Territory outside a principal city and inside an urbanized area with a population less than 250,000 and greater than or equal to 100,000. 

  • Suburb: Small: Territory outside a principal city and inside an urbanized area with a population of less than 100,000. 

  • Town: Fringe: Territory inside an urban cluster that is less than or equal to 10 miles from an urbanized area. 

  • Town: Distant: Territory inside an urban cluster that is more than 10 miles and less than or equal to 35 miles from an urbanized area. 

  • Town: Remote: Territory inside an urban cluster that is more than 35 miles from an urbanized area. 

  • Rural: Fringe: Census-defined rural territory that is less than or equal to 5 miles from an urbanized area, as well as rural territory that is less than or equal to 2.5 miles from an urban cluster. 

  • Rural: Distant: Census-defined rural territory that is more than 5 miles but less than or equal to 25 miles from an urbanized area, as well as rural territory that is more than 2.5 miles but less than or equal to 10 miles from an urban cluster. 

  • Rural: Remote: Census-defined rural territory that is more than 25 miles from an urbanized area and is also more than 10 miles from an urban cluster. 

Carnegie Classification

Originally published in 1973, the non-profit Carnegie Foundation’s classification system is widely used to distinguish higher education institutions in terms of their degree programs and institutional mission. The categories have been substantially revised and updated a number of times over the years. College Results uses the most recent version in IPEDS, which is the 2018 Classification. The 2018 Classification has some differences in classification methodology as compared to past versions. Explanations for the meanings of the classifications are below. More information about the Carnegie Classification system can be found here. (IPEDS) 

Doctoral Universities: These institutions awarded at least 20 research/scholarship doctoral degrees in 2016-17, not including professional practice doctoral-level degrees such as the JD, MD, PharmD, DPT, etc. This category excludes Special Focus Institutions and Tribal Colleges. 

  • R1: Doctoral Universities – Highest research activity 

  • R2: Doctoral Universities – Higher research activity 

  • R3: Doctoral Universities – Moderate research activity 

Master’s Colleges and Universities: These institutions awarded at least 50 master's degrees and fewer than 20 doctoral degrees in 2013-14. This category excludes Special Focus Institutions and Tribal Colleges. 

  • M1: Master's Colleges and Universities – Larger programs 

  • M2: Master's Colleges and Universities – Medium programs 

  • M3: Master's Colleges and Universities – Smaller programs 

Baccalaureate Colleges: These are institutions where baccalaureate or higher degrees represent at least 50 percent of all degrees, but where fewer than 50 master's degrees or 20 doctoral degrees were awarded during the update year. This category excludes Special Focus Institutions and Tribal Colleges. 

  • Baccalaureate Colleges: Arts & Sciences Focus 

  • Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields 

Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges: These institutions are four-year colleges (they have at least one baccalaureate degree program) that conferred more than 50 percent of degrees at the associate's level. This category excludes Special Focus Institutions, Tribal Colleges, and institutions that have sufficient master’s or doctoral degrees to fall into those categories. 

  • Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges: Mixed Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges 

  • Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges: Associate's Dominant 

Associate's Colleges: These are institutions at which the highest level degree awarded is an associate's degree. They are sorted into nine categories based on the intersection of two factors: disciplinary focus (transfer, career & technical or mixed) and dominant student type (traditional, nontraditional or mixed). This category excludes Special Focus Institutions and Tribal Colleges. 

  • Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional 

  • Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional 

  • Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Nontraditional 

  • Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-High Traditional 

  • Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional 

  • Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-High Nontraditional 

  • Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-High Traditional 

  • Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional 

  • Associate's Colleges: High Career & Technical-High Nontraditional 

Special Focus Institutions: These are institutions where a high concentration of degrees is in a single field or set of related fields. This category excludes Tribal Colleges. 

Two-Year 

  • Special Focus Two-Year: Health Professions 

  • Special Focus Two-Year: Technical Professions 

  • Special Focus Two-Year: Arts & Design 

  • Special Focus Two-Year: Other Fields 

Four-Year 

  • Special Focus Four-Year: Faith-Related Institutions 

  • Special Focus Four-Year: Medical Schools & Centers 

  • Special Focus Four-Year: Other Health Professions Schools 

  • Special Focus Four-Year: Engineering Schools 

  • Special Focus Four-Year: Other Technology-Related Schools 

  • Special Focus Four-Year: Business & Management Schools 

  • Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools 

  • Special Focus Four-Year: Law Schools 

  • Special Focus Four-Year: Other Special Focus Institutions 

Alaska-Native, Native Hawaiian-Serving Institution (ANNHSI): ANNHSIs are designated as such by the U.S Department of Education if at least 10 percent of their full-time equivalent undergraduates are Native Hawaiian students. There are 22 ANNHSIs in the CR20 database. (U.S. Department of Education). 

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI): HSIs are designated as such by the U.S Department of Education if at least 25 percent of their full-time equivalent undergraduates are Latino students. There are 285 HSIs in the CR20 database. (U.S. Department of Education). 

Asian American or Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI): AANAPISIs are designated as such by the U.S Department of Education if at least 10 percent of their full-time equivalent undergraduates are Asian American or Native American Pacific Islander students. There are 106 AANAPISIs in the CR20 database. (U.S. Department of Education) 

Historically Black College or University (HBCU): HBCUs are designated as such by the U.S. Department of Education as institutions accredited and established before 1964, and whose principal mission is the education of African Americans. There are 90 HBCUs in the CR20 database. (U.S. Department of Education) 

Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institution (NASNTI): NASNTIs are designated as such by the U.S Department of Education if at least 10 percent of their full-time equivalent undergraduates are Native American students. There are 15 NASNTIs in the CR20 database. (U.S. Department of Education). 

Predominantly Black Institution (PBI): PBIs are designated as such by the U.S Department of Education if at least 40 percent of their full-time equivalent undergraduates are Black students. There are 21 PBIs in the CR20 database. (U.S. Department of Education) 

Tribal College or University (TCU): Colleges and universities that are members of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. There are 18 TCUs in the CR20 database. (U.S. Department of Education). 

Student Charactersitics

Percent of Nonresident Undergraduates: The percent of FTE undergraduates who are Nonresidents. Nonresidents are defined as people who are not citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and who are in the country on a visa or temporary basis. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Undergraduates Race-Ethnicity Unknown: The percent of FTE undergraduates whose Race-Ethnicity is not known. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Full-time, First-time Degree-Seeking Undergraduates: The percent of FTE undergraduate students. (IPEDS) 

Percent of American Indian or Alaska Native Undergraduates: The percent of FTE undergraduate students who are American Indian or Alaska Native. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Undergraduates: The percent of FTE undergraduate students who are Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander Undergraduates. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Asian Undergraduates: The percent of FTE undergraduate students who are Asian. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Black or African American Undergraduates: The percent of FTE undergraduate students who are Black or African American. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Latino Undergraduates: The percent of FTE undergraduate students who are Latino. (IPEDS) 

Percent Undergraduates who are Two or More Races: Percent of FTE undergraduate students who are Two or More Races (IPEDS) 

Percent of White Undergraduates: The percent of FTE undergraduate students who are White (IPEDS) 

Percent of Women Undergraduates: The percent of FTE undergraduate students who are Women (IPEDS) 

Percent of Undergraduates Enrolled Exclusively in Distance Education Courses: The percent of FTE undergraduate students who are enrolled exclusively in distance education (I.e., online) courses at the institution. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Part-Time Undergraduates: The percent of part-time undergraduate students divided by the total number of FTE Undergraduate students. Part-time undergraduates are defined as students enrolled for less than 13 semester or quarter credits or less than 24 contact hours per week each term. (IPEDS) 

Reported First-Time, Full-Time Undergraduate Enrollment: The reported number of FTE undergraduate students enrolled. 

Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 and Older: The number of FTE undergraduate students age 25 or older divided by the total number of FTE undergraduates. Beginning in 2013, odd year’s data was substituted for even year’s data for institutions that do not provide annual updates to enrollment by age. Because collection of the age variable is only mandatory in the fall of every odd year, odds year’s data was substituted for every even year’s data in prior years. (IPEDS) 

Percent of First-Time, Full-Time Undergraduates Awarded Pell Grants: Number of undergraduate students who received Pell Grants divided by the financial aid cohort (see definition for Financial Aid Cohort below). This variable is available starting with the 2007-08 Financial Aid cohort. (IPEDS) 

Percent of Men Undergraduates: The percent of FTE undergraduate students who are Men. (IPEDS) 

Admissions

Total Percent of Applicants Admitted: The percent of first-time, first-year, degree-seeking applicants who were admitted. Institutions may report data from either Fall 2018 or Fall 2019. (IPEDS) 

Total Percent of Men Admitted: The percent of first-time, first-year, degree-seeking applicants who were admitted who are men. Institutions may report data from either Fall 2018 or Fall 2019. (IPEDS) 

Total Percent of Women Admitted: The percent of first-time, first-year, degree-seeking applicants who were admitted who are women. Institutions may report data from either Fall 2015 or Fall 2016. (IPEDS) 

Open Admissions Policy: Admissions policy whereby the school will accept any student who applies. (IPEDS) 

Percent of First-Time, Full-Time Degree Certificate Seeking Students Submitting ACT Scores: The percent of first-time, first-year, degree-seeking students who submitted ACT scores.  (IPEDS) 

Percent of First-Time, Full-Time Degree Certificate Seeking Students Submitting SAT: The percent of first-time, first-year, degree seeking students who submitted SAT scores. (IPEDS)  

ACT English - 25th Percentile Score: The percent of first-time, first-year, degree seeking students who submitted ACT English scores at or below which 25 percent of students submitting ACT English scores to an institution scored. (IPEDS) 

ACT English - 75th Percentile Score: The percent of first-time, first-year, degree seeking students who submitted ACT English scores at or above which 25 percent of students submitting ACT English scores to an institution scored. (IPEDS) 

ACT Math - 25th Percentile Score: The percent of first-time, first-year, degree seeking students who submitted ACT Math scores at or below which 25 percent of students submitting ACT Math scores to an institution scored. (IPEDS) 

ACT Math - 75th Percentile Score: The percent of first-time, first-year, degree seeking students who submitted ACT Math scores at or above which 25 percent of students submitting ACT Math scores to an institution scored. (IPEDS) 

SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing - 25th Percentile Score: The percent of first-time, first-year, degree seeking students who submitted SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing scores at or below which 25 percent of students submitting SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing scores to an institution scored. (IPEDS) 

SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing - 75th Percentile Score: The percent of first-time, first-year, degree seeking students who submitted SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing scores at or above which 25 percent of students submitting SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing scores to an institution scored. (IPEDS) 

SAT Math - 25th Percentile Score: The percent of first-time, first-year, degree seeking students who submitted SAT Math scores at or below 25 percent of students submitting SAT Math scores to an institution scored. (IPEDS) 

SAT Math - 75th Percentile Score: The percent of first-time, first-year, degree seeking students who submitted SAT Math scores at or above which 25 percent of students submitting SAT Math scores to an institution scored. (IPEDS) 

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