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.

• About the PDP
• Watch Our Video on PDP’s New Improvements
• PDP Data-Driven Insights
• SHEEO PDP Toolkit
• CCA's Guidebook & Tools for Data Management & the PDP 
• Case Studies

Managing Your Account

You can use the Secure Portal to manage users, configure the Student Insights Dashboard, and view or change data access for third parties.

• About the Secure Portal
• Sharing Data with Third Parties
• Opting in or Out of the Student Insights Dashboard
• Managing PDP User Access (Tutorial)

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 data files, how to track your submissions, and how to review and resolve errors.

• 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
• Using the Submission Tracker

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.

General Information

• Using the Dashboards
• Filters & Dimensions
• Key Performance Indicators & Critical Data Elements
• Using the Dashboards to Check Data Quality

Dashboard Details

• Financial Aid Dashboard
• First Year Credit Accumulation Rate Dashboard
• First Year Credit Accumulation Rate Benchmarking Dashboard
• First Year Credit Completion Ratio Dashboard
• First Year Credit Completion Ratio Benchmarking Dashboard
• First Year Enrollment Dashboard
• First Year Gateway Course Completion Dashboard
• Outcomes Dashboard
• Outcomes Benchmarking Dashboard
• Retention & Persistence Dashboard
• Retention & Persistence Benchmarking Dashboard
• Retention & Persistence Term-to-Term Dashboard
• Time to Credential & Credentials Conferred Dashboard
• Transfer Dashboard
• Transfer Benchmarking Dashboard

Working with 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.

• Using the Analysis-Ready Files
• 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.

• Guide to Finding the Right Tutorials
• 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.

• Newest PDP Improvements: Watch Video
• Newest PDP Improvements: Read Flyer
• Printable Data Submission Guide
• PDP Partners
• Valid State Codes
• Valid Country Codes
• CIP Codes Site 
• PDP Tutorials
• PDP Service Updates
• School Secure Site Knowledge Base
• Get Help