General Connection Information

CEDS elements are shown in bold/italicized font. 

This metric is part of the Education-to-Workforce (E-W) Indicator Framework, specifically "Outcomes and milestones" which pertain to key outcomes and milestones along the E-W continuum that are strongly associated with individuals achieving economic mobility and security.  

This metric is a measurement for a key indicator, "First-year program of study concentration," and measures whether students who are first-year college students have attempted or completed a sufficient amount of credits toward on-time completion in their first year. 

Meta-majors are those included in IHEP's Postsecondary Metrics framework: education; arts and humanities; social and behavioral sciences and human services; science, technology, engineering, and math; business and communications; health; trades. (NOTE: states may have different definitions for meta-major. Use whatever definition is applicable to your state and adjust the criteria for calculating a response as needed.) 

Calculating a Response

Use the following CEDS elements to determine the school years: 

• Academic Year Designator = 2023 and Academic Term Designator = Summer, and/or
• Academic Year Designator = 2024 and Academic Term Designator = Fall, Spring, Summer 

Use the following CEDS elements to determine the universe of students:  

• Pull all unique students which is determined by using a unique Student Identifier where Student Identification System = State, and  

• Where the student is associated with a postsecondary institution through the Office of Postsecondary Education Identifier, and  

• Entry Date into Postsecondary is within the Academic Year being reported

From the universe of students, narrow the list to first-year college students using the following CEDS elements:

• First Time Postsecondary Student = Yes, and
• Enrollment Entry Date is > July 1 of the school being reported, and
• Enrollment Exit Date is < June 30 of the school year being reported

Identify which students are full-time or part-time: 

• Filter records where Postsecondary Enrollment Status = Full-time, or Less than full-time but at least half-time. 

Identify which students have completed at least 9 credits within a meta-major: 

• Number of Credits Earned = 9 
• Credits Earned Cumulative = 9
• Course Level Type = College Level
• Course Credit Basis Type = Credit associated with the student's major 

Divide the number of students who are completing at least 9 credits by the total number of first-year students. Multiply by 100. 

Disaggregate by Home Language

Use the following CEDS elements to disaggregate the final set of students by Home Language:

• Language Type = Home Language; and
• ISO 639-3 Language Code ≠ Eng; and/or
• English Learner Status = Yes

Disaggregate by Race and Ethnicity

Use the following CEDS elements to disaggregate the final set of students by Race: 

• Filter records where Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity = No

Count, by race, where any of the following are true:

• Race = American Indian or Alaska Native
• Race = Asian
• Race = Black or African American
• Race = Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• Race = White
• Race = Demographics Race Two or More Races
• Race = Race and Ethnicity Unknown

Use the following CEDS elements to disaggregate the final set of students by Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity: 

Filter records where Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity = Yes

Disaggregate by Disability Status

Use the following CEDS element(s) to disaggregate the final set of students by disability status: 

Students with a Disability 

• Disability Status = Yes, No; and
• Status Start Date ≤ Enrollment Entry Date
• Status End Date is null or ≥ Enrollment Exit Date
• Section 504 Status = Yes, No
• Status Start Date ≤ Enrollment Entry Date
• Status End Date is null or ≥ Enrollment Exit Date

Disaggregate by Urbanicity

Use the following CEDS element(s) to disaggregate the final set of students by Urbanicity:  

*NOTE: Urbanicity is meant to identify the school’s location, not the student’s residence. However, If the student is remote, then this would be the student’s location.  

• Locale =

City – Large

City – Midsize 

City – Small  

Suburban – Large 

Suburban – Midsize  

Suburban – Small  

Town – Fringe  

Town – Distant 

Town – Remote 

Rural – Fringe  

Rural – Distant 

Rural - Remote  

Disaggregate by Parental Education Level

Use the following CEDS element to disaggregate the final set of students by Parental Education Level:

• Highest Level of Education Completed = Determine what the highest level of education completed is for the parents/guardians of the student

Disaggregate by English Learner

Use the following CEDS elements to disaggregate the final set of students by English Learner:

• English Learner Status = Yes, No
• Program Participation Start Date <the school year being reported
• Program Participation Exit Date >the school year being reported

Disaggregate by Attendance Intensity

Use the following CEDS element to disaggregate the final set of students by attendance intensity: 

• Postsecondary Enrollment Status = Full time, Less than full-time but at least half-time 

Disaggregate by Age Group

Use the following CEDS element(s) to disaggregate the final set of students by age group: 

• Birthdate = Age as of the enrollment date of the school year being reported  

Disaggregate by Income Level

Use the following CEDS element(s) to disaggregate the final set of students by income level: 

• Low-income status = Yes or No 

Disaggregate by Individuals or Family Military Status

Use the following CEDS elements to disaggregate the final set of students by Individuals or Family Military Status:

• Military Connected Student Indicator = Not Military, Active Duty, National Guard or Reserve, or Unknown

Disaggregate by Individual with Current or Past Child Welfare Involvement

Use the following CEDS elements to disaggregate the final set of students by Individual with Current or Past Child Welfare Involvement:

• Program Type = 75000 (Foster Care)
• Student Support Service Type = 00295 (Children’s protective services)
• Program Participation Start Date < the school year being reported
• Program Participation Exit Date ≥ the school year being reported

Disaggregate by Justice Involvement

Use the following CEDS elements to disaggregate the final set of students by Justice Involvement:

• Disciplinary Action Taken = 03088 (Juvenile Justice Referral), 03089 (Law enforcement referral), or 75000 (Placed in juvenile detention center)
• Disciplinary Action Start Date < the school year being reported
• Disciplinary Action End Date > the school year being reported

Disaggregate by Postsecondary Institution Classification

Use the following CEDS elements to disaggregate by postsecondary institution classification: 

• Control of Institution = Public; Private, not for profit; or Private, for profit
• Level of Institution = Four Year, Two to Four, or Less than Two

Disaggregate by Transfer Enrollment Status

Use the following CEDS element to disaggregate the final set of students by transfer enrollment status: 

• Postsecondary Enrollment Type = Transfer In 

Disaggregate by Postsecondary Major

Use the following CEDS elements to disaggregate the final set of students by postsecondary major: 

• Postsecondary Program Level = Major
• Classification of Instructional Program Code = the CIP code assigned to the program or course

Disaggregate by Homelessness

Use the following CEDS elements to disaggregate the final set of students by Homelessness:

• Homelessness Status = Yes
• Homeless Serviced Indicator = Yes
• Status Start Date ≤ the school year being reported
• Status End Date≥ the school year being reported

Disaggregate by Sex

*Note: CEDS does not have a Gender element. While Sex is not a proxy for Gender it is the closest approximation currently available.

*Note: Male + Female will not always equal 100% for states that have more choices beyond male and female.

Use the following CEDS elements to disaggregate the final set of students by Sex: 

• Sex = Male, Female, or Not Selected

Disaggregate by Credential-seeking Status

Use the following CEDS element to disaggregate the final set of students by credential-seeking status:

• Degree or Certificate Seeking Student = Yes, No

Disaggregate by First Generation College Student

Use the following CEDS element to disaggregate the final set of students by First Generation College Student: 

• First Generation College Student = Yes or No