American Community Survey (ACS) (1996+)
Producer:United States Department of Commerce. Bureau of the Census.
Scope: Nationwide survey designed to provide communities with a fresh look at how they are changing. 2005 is the first full year. Prior years were small test runs. Replaces the decennial long form. Tells us what the population looks like and how it lives. Includes demographics, socioeconomic status, education, occupation, income, occupancy status, home ownership data, and housing cost data. IPUMS also contains the data in an easier to use format. More recent data may be found directly on the Census website. For summary statistics, use Social Explorer.
Recordings: ACS Methodology; ACS through Social Explorer; ACS through IPUMS
Current Population Survey (CPS) (1962+) (IPUMS CPS interface)
Recording on how to use the methodology and how to use the CPS
Monthly survey of about 60,000 households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A detailed demographic supplement is conducted annually in March, and supplements on other topics, including computer use and school enrollment, are also conducted regularly. Listings documenting the occurrence of current population survey supplements by topic and month are available. Questionnaires and codebooks are available at the Census Bureau site. See the Current Population Reports series for summary reports and methodological papers. While geography is at the state, county, or metropolitan statistical area level, one should use with caution for detailed geography due to the sample size. One should not use for anything other than national, state, or the 12 largest metropolitan statistical areas.
National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS)
Early Childhood Longitudinal Study (ECLS)
Includes longitudinal studies that examine child development, school readiness, and early school experiences. The birth cohort of the ECLS-B is a sample of children born in 2001 followed from birth through kindergarten entry. The kindergarten class of 1998-99 cohort is a sample of children followed from kindergarten through the eighth grade. The kindergarten class of 2010-11 cohort was a sample of children followed from kindergarten through the fifth grade; the kindergarten class of 2022-23 cohort study will also span these grades. For an overview, see the Resource Guide. See the bibliography. (set data source to ECLS)
Recording on content and use of ECLS
Common Core of Data
Department of Education's primary database on public elementary and secondary education in the United States. Comparable across all states, the CCD consists of 4 surveys completed annually by state education departments to report data about all United States public elementary and secondary schools, local education agencies, and state education agencies. 3 categories of information are included: a general description of schools and school districts, including name, address, and phone number; data on students and staff, including demographics; and fiscal data, including revenues and current expenditures. Preceded by the Elementary & Secondary Education General Information Survey (ELSEGIS) (1967-1980). The NCES site has SAS and SPSS files. Princeton has converted to Stata.[The STATA files require authentication via either Global Protect or SRA Aventail.]
Recording on content and use of Common Core of Data
College Scorecard
Data behind the College Scorecard, as well as other data on federal financial aid and earnings information. These data provide insights into the performance of schools eligible to receive federal financial aid, and offer a look at the outcomes of students at those schools. 1996-2016 is archived at ICPSR.
Recording on content and use of College Scorecard
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) (1986+)
System of surveys designed to collect data from all primary providers of postsecondary education. Study components include earned degrees/completions, Fall enrollment, Fall staff, finance statistics, institutional characteristics, and salaries, tenure, and fringe benefits of full-time instructional faculty. See the video for instructions on how to use. Preceded by HEGIS which covered 1965-1986. The Delta Cost Project contains longitudinal database derived from IPEDS finance, enrollment, staffing, completions and student aid data for academic years 1986-87 through 2014-15. This is partially contained in an easy to use format in Trends in College Spending (TCS) Online. For later data see the NCES site. See official publications for IPEDS.
Recording on IPEDS content, where to find, and how to use
Data-Planet Datasets
Wide variety of economic, labor, social, environmental, and political indicators from many US government agencies as well as international bodies.
Recording on content and using Data-Planet
