You know it. I know it. Now let’s do something about it.
The way your college collects data for college cost comparisons, your most important statistic for recruitment, is ready for a redesign. And I’ve spent most of this year researching how we can improve it.
I’ve just published Improving the IPEDS Student Average Net Price to be More Relevant for Consumers, commissioned by National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and its National Postsecondary Education Cooperative.
My paper shows:
- How a single ANP calculation uses IPEDS components collected over several years.
- How minority students, part-time students, and those living at home are treated differently.
- How to make changes to ensure accountability, while not adding to the institution burden of data collection and submission.
Paying for a college education is one of the most expensive decisions a person will make. Having reliable, understandable data to compare costs and financial aid is essential for prospective students and their families.
Do college cost calculators make the grade?
Simply put, we need greater accuracy and transparency for the IPEDS Student Average Net Price process to take it from outdated and confusing, to transparent and timely.
In my report, I examined how colleges collect data through IPEDS to determine each school’s Student ANP as published on College Navigator. These are used to develop financial aid estimates on College Board and U.S. News Best Colleges, which all aim to help students determine which colleges they can afford and should consider attending.
For families, checking the ANP is often the first step in deciding if a school’s tuition and costs are within range, moving the school in or out of consideration. But if the ANP is outdated, missing key elements, or simply too complex to be understood, its value plummets. My analysis has unveiled ways we can make this data simpler, more valuable, relevant, reliable, and comparable for consumers.
Voices for change
We wrote this paper to create a thoughtful and viable framework to support discussions about IPEDS improvements. All of us can help consumers make critical college-related financial decisions. We welcome feedback and contributions.
In 2024, NPEC will host a public comment session to gather opinions from the higher education community. Institutional researchers, college admissions and financial aid officers, high school guidance counselors, and anyone who works with students in the college search process is welcome to respond.
The data collection process is complicated, and sometimes contradictory. We are all faced with tight deadlines and multiple surveys. I applaud NPEC for holding this system up to the light and seeking opportunities to make improvements.
