College Navigator is the National Center for Education Statistics public website that presents IPEDS data for individual institutions in a searchable, consumer-oriented format.
How it works
A user enters an institution name or applies filters. Navigator returns a profile drawn from the most recent IPEDS submissions. Tabs organize general information, prices, financial aid, enrollment, retention and graduation, and programs. Distance-education participation is noted where institutions have reported it.
Example: a prospective student looks up an online university on College Navigator, checks the net-price figure for aided students, the 150 percent graduation rate for full-time first-time students, and the note that the institution offers distance-education programs. The student then compares those figures with two other institutions using the side-by-side tool.
How it differs
College Scorecard adds earnings, debt, and repayment data derived from NSLDS and tax records and presents a more condensed consumer view. IPEDS Data Center allows custom downloads of the full survey files. Institutional websites may highlight selected statistics; Navigator shows the federally reported versions.
Common errors
Assuming Navigator includes program-level earnings (those appear on Scorecard). Treating the displayed graduation rate as applying to all students rather than to the full-time, first-time cohort. Using an outdated cached page after new IPEDS data have been released.
References
- 1. NCES College NavigatorPublic IPEDS data interface
- 2. IPEDS use-the-data toolsSource of Navigator figures
College Navigator is the National Center for Education Statistics public website that presents IPEDS data for individual institutions in a searchable, consumer-oriented format.