ACTS Data Templates Updated to Version 1.1

On January 26, 2026, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) updated ACTS data templates, moving from version 1.0 to version 1.1. The revised templates are now available at https://acts.rti.org/templates, along with a summary of updates at https://acts.rti.org/updates. These changes have also been incorporated into the AIR ACTS Resource Center.

Many of the updates in version 1.1 provide helpful clarification of definitions—such as distinctions between undergraduate and graduate completers and the use of unweighted secondary school GPA—as well as additional guidance on reporting scenarios, including how to report GPA for students earning multiple awards.

Institutions should pay particular attention to the following changes, which may affect data reporting:

• Family Income (Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions):
  These variables have changed from numeric to categorical values using the following codes:
  1: $0–$30,000
  2: $30,001–$58,000
  3: $58,001–$94,000
  4: $94,001–$153,000
  5: $153,001+
  -1: Unknown

• Degree/Certificate Program (Graduate Admissions) and Field of Study CIP (Graduate Admissions):
  The options for “Unknown” (–1) and “Not applicable” (–3) have been removed. Each graduate applicant must now be reported with both a degree or certificate program and a 4-digit CIP code for field of study.