Data & Methodology

The PNPI Explorer integrates data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the College Scorecard, the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and the Federal Student Aid Data Center (FSA).

Aside from federal student loan repayment data, which reflect pre-COVID-19 estimates (2019 data), the PNPI Explorer represents data from 2023. Trend data is presented over a 10-year span (2013–2023).

Methodology Report
Codebook
All Data & Code

Release Notes:

  • 01.12.2026 – Workforce data added to PNPI Explorer
  • 12.04.2025 – Explorer updated to include 2023 data
  • 10.30.2025 – Explorer interface updated; MSI tags added
  • 10.22.2024 – Explorer updated to include 2022 data
  • 04.25.2024 – State averages added to Comparison Tool when Congressional District is selected
  • 04.25.2024 – U.S. Territories added to PNPI Explorer
  • 12.04.2023 – PNPI Explorer 1.0 was launched