Background

The U.S. Department of Education has proposed a new IPEDS survey component—the Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement (ACTS)—in response to the August 7 Executive Action on higher-education admissions transparency. The Secretary of Education subsequently issued a directive detailing required data elements related to race, sex, academic credentials, and financial aid.

ACTS represents the most significant expansion of IPEDS reporting in recent years, and this page will be updated as new information and resources become available

The information on this page is offered as a resource for the higher education community. It is not intended to be official guidance or a substitute for information from the U.S. Department of Education.

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Latest Resources from the U.S. Department of Education

On November 14, the Department released additional information on the proposed IPEDS ACTS survey component as part of a Federal Register notice (Docket: ED-2025-SCC-0382). The release includes several parts posted on the Regulations.gov page for this docket. Key sections related to the ACTS data collection are linked below.

  • Authorization Request to OMB (Docket: ED-2025-SCC-0382)
  • ACTS Package (Instructions, File Specifications, Codebook)
    • Available on the Regulations.gov Forms and Instruments tab
    • Look for: ACTS_package_102925 (Downloads as: ED-2025-SCC-0382-3466_attachment_13)
  • Draft Communications to Institutions
    • Available on the Regulations.gov Forms and Instruments tab
    • Look for: Appendix_B_Communications_ACTS_change_package_102925 (Downloads as: ED-2025-SCC-0382-3466_attachment_15)
  • Department Responses to 60-Day Comments
    • Available on the Regulations.gov Forms and Instruments tab
    • Look for: Appendix_E_FRN_60-day_Comment_Responses_102925 (Downloads as: ED-2025-SCC-0382-3466_attachment_18)

AIR Responses and Resources

Summary

Education

  • Navigating in Uncertainty: How to Prepare for ACTS Recorded Wednesday, November 20, 2025
    This free session focuses on what institutions can do today to prepare for ACTS: identifying available data, documenting gaps, and developing a feasible plan for compliant reporting as requirements are finalized.

Resources Extracted from ED Materials

  • Copy of ACTS code book (extracted from ED-2025-SCC-0382-3466_attachment_13)
  • ACTS FAQ (extracted from ED-2025-SCC-0382-3466_attachment_13)

Voices from the Field

Following the August 15 Federal Register notice on proposed ACTS data elements, AIR partnered with AACRAO, ACE, APLU, and NAICU to survey higher education professionals and capture campus perspectives. More than 580 colleagues provided candid feedback on feasibility, challenges, and potential value, highlighting where the proposal needs refinement and what support institutions will require.

AIR and its partners used these insights to shape the comments submitted in October, and AIR continues to draw on the findings to equip members with the tools and training needed to respond effectively.

Community Survey Results: Feedback on the August 15 ACTS proposal

Official Comments

AIR’s comments (PDF) submitted to the Federal Register on 10/14/2025

Inside Higher Education Op-Ed

Proposals Risk Making Admissions Data Unreliable (opinion) Bryan Cook & Christine Keller

Articles from AIR

  • 08.13.25

Proposed New IPEDS Data Component Would Have Significant Impacts on Institutions

  • by AIR

The U.S. Department of Education has proposed adding the Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement (ACTS) to this year’s IPEDS data collection. https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-15536.pdf  

The proposal would apply to four-year institutions with selective admissions processes and would require a highly detailed set of undergraduate and graduate student data—disaggregated by multiple student characteristics—along with five years of historical data.

If implemented as written, ACTS would represent one of the most complex IPEDS collections to date and could create a significant reporting burden for affected institutions.

AIR will be gathering community feedback on feasibility and workload. Stay tuned for opportunities to share your perspective or email me directly.

Christine M. Keller
AIR Executive Director & CEO 
executivedirector@airweb.org

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