Research Guides: Education Data and Statistics: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) (2024)

FAQs

Is the National Center for Education Statistics credible? ›

NCES is the trusted entity naturally positioned to place such diverse sources of data in context to produce actionable information—giving policymakers and the public insights into the condition and progress of education in their communities.

An estimated 14 percent of the nation's schools had enrollments exceeding intended capacity by up to 25 percent, including 8 percent of schools that were severely overcrowded, exceeding capacity by more than 25 percent.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education. The Condition of Education is an annual report to Congress summarizing important developments and trends in the U.S. education system.

The Administrative Data Division at NCES collects data from all state and local K-12 education agencies and from all postsecondary schools or institutions of higher education.

As the name implies, NCES is a part of the federal government. It lies within the United States Department of Education, which is headed by Secretary of Education, a member of the President's Cabinet.

According to NCES, the average cost of tuition for an in-state student at a public two-year college in California was $1,270 in 2019-2020. At four-year colleges, the cost of tuition averaged $8,192. Private four-year schools charged an average of $37,009 the same year.

University of Central Florida, located in Orlando, Florida, has the highest undergraduate enrollment of any university in the US. With over 69,000 students, UCF offers a wide range of programs with a strong emphasis on research and innovation.

Massachusetts is the most educated state in the US, according to a new study. In its 2024 Most & Least Educated States in America, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 18 key indicators of a well-educated population: educational attainment, school quality and achievement gaps between genders and races.

A new federal survey shows roughly a third of students were already behind their grade level at the end of last school year. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) found only a 1% improvement between June 2022 and June of this year, with 32% of students behind grade level.

Futuresource Consulting research shows that the percentage of schools undertaking 1:1 device programs in America has increased from 61% in 2020 to 63% in 2021, and schools expect their programs to continue growing.

What is the average education level in America? ›

Recent results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) showed historic declines in American students' knowledge and skills and widening gaps between the highest- and lowest-scoring students. But even these sobering results do not tell us the whole story.

In academic year 2021–22, there were 3,542 degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the United States¹ with first-year undergraduates.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) is the part of the United States Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences (IES) that collects, analyzes, and publishes statistics on education and public school district finance information in the United States.

The Center has been called the "leading anti-creationist organization" in the United States. The Center is affiliated with the American Association for the Advancement of Science. NCSE is currently a member of the National Coalition Against Censorship.

We are the largest independent producer of official statistics in the UK and our statistics are impartial and free of political control. We are a part of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial government department that is accountable directly to the UK Parliament.

NCES reports that include data or the analysis of data undergo both internal peer review.