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NPSAS:24 is happening now!
Were you contacted about participating in the 2023-24 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:24)? Please contact npsas@rti.org or 877-677-2766 for more information.
Do you have questions about the survey? Click here for more information.
The National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) examines the characteristics of students in postsecondary education, with a special focus on how they finance their education.
National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) Features
- Nationally representative cross-sectional study of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in postsecondary education.
- Conducted every 3 to 4 years since 1987.
- Examines the characteristics of students in postsecondary education, with a special focus on how they finance their education.
- Connects multiple data sources including student surveys, institution records, government databases, and other administrative sources.
- Data are now available from NPSAS:20.
- Data collection has begun for NPSAS:24.
Create tables and graphs quickly and efficiently.
Create complex tables and run linear and logistic regressions.
Create trend tables.
Information for Study Participants
- Institutions – NPSAS full-scale institution data collection activities started in Fall 2023.
- Students – NPSAS full-scale student data collection activities started in early 2024. Click here for more information.
- RTI International is the data collection contractor for NPSAS:24.
Highlights
- November 2023: 2019—20 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:20) Restricted-Use Data File is now available. This restricted-use data file contains data on nationally representative samples of undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in postsecondary institutions in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. NPSAS:20 also includes data on state-representative samples of undergraduate students in some states, as well as in public 2-year and in public 4-year institution sectors within some states. For more information, go to: https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2024483.
- July 2023: First Look report presents findings from the 2019—20 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:20). This report describes the percentages of students receiving various types of financial aid and average amounts received, by type of institution attended, gender, race/ethnicity, attendance pattern, and income level. For more information, go to: https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2023466.
Historical Background
The National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) is a study of financial aid that NCES has conducted since 1987. The study collects comprehensive data about how students and their families pay for postsecondary education and also serves as the foundation and base year cohort for the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS) and Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B).
The Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS) tracks first-time students' pathways through postsecondary education over the course of six years, focusing on persistence and degree attainment, transition to employment, and school and work experiences. National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) administrations in 1990, 1996, 2004, 2012, and 2020 (forthcoming) identified the BPS cohorts.
The Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B) follows bachelor's degree recipients over the course of 10 years, collecting data on workforce participation, income and debt repayment, and graduate school patterns. National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) administrations in 1993, 2000, 2008, and 2016 identified the B&B cohorts.
NCES collects transcript data from postsecondary institutions for various longitudinal studies, including the Beginning Postsecondary Students (BPS) and Baccalaureate and Beyond (B&B) longitudinal studies. Postsecondary Education Transcript Study (PETS) collections allow further examination of course-taking patterns, credit transfer, student momentum and attrition, and the connections among students' education choices, occupations, and wages. Transcripts were most recently collected for the BPS:12 cohort. Postsecondary education transcript collections include:
- 1984 – NLS-72
- 1993 – HS&B
- 1994 – B&B:93
- 2000 – NELS:88
- 2010 – BPS:04
- 2010 – B&B:08
- 2014 – ELS:2002
- 2017 – HSLS:09
- 2018 – BPS:12
NPSAS:AC – National Postsecondary Student Aid Study: Administrative Collection
BPS – Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study
B&B – Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study
PETS – Postsecondary Education Transcript Studies
