IPEDS Training Contract Terminated

The Trump Administration has terminated a long-standing contract with the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) to provide training to colleges and universities to help with reporting to and using data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). IPEDS data are used by institutional staff, policymakers, and researchers to track trends in enrollment, financial aid, completions, staffing, and other higher education topics.

Prior to the termination of its contract, which will take effect for the 2025-26 collection cycle, AIR had been offering free courses, tutorials, and workshops to help colleges submit federally required data and use IPEDS data for benchmarking and strategic planning. AIR is exploring options to offer similar training independently, but likely at a cost to institutions.

IPEDS data collection and website maintenance remain under contract with RTI International. However, recent staff cuts at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), which oversees IPEDS survey maintenance and data quality and distribution, have data users concerned about the quality and timing of information to be released.

The administration has also proposed funding cuts for the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the statistics and evaluation arm of the Department of Education that includes NCES, in its FY 2026 budget request. Sixty-seven percent ($532 million) of institute funds would be eliminated, primarily among research, program administration, and data systems activities. Although Congress has final say in the annual appropriations process, the request highlights the administration’s priorities for the next budget cycle.

For more information, please contact:
Jason Ramirez