Postsecondary Data Partnership (PDP) Knowledge Base
How the PDP Helps You
Learn more about the Postsecondary Data Partnership (PDP), how it works, and how it can help your institution.
Creating & Formatting Data Files
Data files are how you submit your institution's data to the PDP. Learn how to create, format, and populate data files so they can be processed by the PDP.
- Creating a Data File
- Formatting a Data File
- Formatting the Header Record
- Formatting the Trailer Record
- Formatting the Column Header Record
- Formatting the Detail Records
- Formatting the Cohort File Detail Records
- Formatting the Course File Detail Records
- Formatting the Financial Aid File Detail Records
- Sample Data Files
- Data File Templates
Submitting Data
Learn how and when to submit your data files to the PDP.
- When to Submit Data Files
- Submitting Data Files through FTP
- Submitting Data Files through API
- Reviewing Submissions
- Reviewing Validation Errors
- Certifying Submissions
- Rejecting Submissions
- Reviewing Data Quality Errors
- Overriding Data Quality Errors
- Recertifying Submissions
- Data Submission Checklist
Updating Data
If you have already submitted your data files, but you need to make a change, you can submit update files. Learn how to create and submit update files.
- Updating Previously Submitted Data
- Formatting an Update File
- Formatting the Cohort Update File Detail Records
- Formatting the Course Term Update File Detail Records
- Formatting the Course Update File Detail Records
- Reviewing Update Results
Working with Dashboards
When you submit data to the PDP, we use it to populate dashboards. Learn about the different dashboards that are available and how to use them.
- Using the Dashboards
- Filters and Dimensions
- First Year Accumulation Rate Dashboard
- First Year Credit Completion Ratio Dashboard
- First Year Enrollment Dashboard
- First Year Gateway Course Completion Dashboard
- Outcomes Dashboard
- Retention and Persistence Dashboard
- Retention/Persistence Term-to-Term Dashboard
- Time to Credential and Credentials Conferred
- Transfer Dashboard
- Key Performance Indicator Reports and Critical Data Elements
Using the Analysis-Ready Files
When you submit data to the PDP, we use it to populate analysis-ready files. Learn about what data is included in the analysis-ready files and how they're formatted.
- Course-Level Analysis-Ready File Data Dictionary
- Cohort-Level Analysis-Ready File Data Dictionary
- Financial Aid Analysis-Ready File Data Dictionary
- Analysis-Ready File Templates
Tutorials
These online courses can help you learn more about the PDP, the data submission process, and the dashboards.
- Introduction to the PDP
- File Submission
- Getting to Know the Dashboards
- Using the Dashboards to Answer Research Questions
Resources
Links to PDP resources and information.
- Printable Data Submission Guide
- PDP FAQs
- PDP Partners
- Valid State Codes
- Valid Country Codes
- CIP Codes Site
- PDP Tutorials
- Get Help
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