Socioeconomic disparities

The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) collects data from over 6,000 higher education institutions.

The universities that enroll more poor students have less financial aid to give

Pell Grants

IPEDS includes data on Pell Grants, grants that are based on family income. Receiving a Pell Grant can be used as a proxy for low income. Where are Pell Grants recipients attending college and how many of them are graduating? Pell Grant recipients tends not to go to expensive, highly-selective schools. IPEDS can give 1) the number of recipients at a college and 2) the percentage of the recipients to the total school population.Typically, a higher percentage of recipients graduate later than non-recipients.

Net price

Net price is our best assessment of the “true” cost of a college. It is broken down into 5 income brackets. The net price is the sticker price aside from grants, scholarships and loans.

Tuition Tracker

Common data set

Breaks down need-based and non-need based aid. It also provides information on how many students have financial need and how much of it was met. Individual universities or colleges will provide these data sets on their own accord — it is optional. The University of Michigan does provide a common data set:

Common Data Set

Racial disparities

Use IPEDS, the census and ACS, and the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center

IPEDS provides enrollment and graduation data by race and a variety of other characteristics. IPEDS changed reporting for racial categories in 2011-2012.

Compare graduation rates across different races, segregation patterns within states: are certain groups of students concentrated in colleges with low graduation rates?

Are some groups over-represented in 2 or 4 year colleges?

Why aren’t flagship universities enrolling more of their own states’ Black students?

Why aren't more Latino students enrolled in their states' flagship universities?

What is the gap between a race’s graduation numbers from high school and enrollment in a college?