Finding Social Science Data for Research

NCES provides access to both administrative and survey data focusing broadly on education. This includes education at all levels (pre-school to post-graduate), as well as focusing on school administration and financing. In addition, NCES also participates in some international data sharing. When considering using data from NCES please keep in mind that much of the data that you might find most useful (ex. grades, test scores) will not be publicly available. However, you can locate specific administrative and survey data. NCES' Distance Learning Dataset Training (DLDT) resource is an online, interactive tool that allows users to learn about NCES data across the education spectrum and evaluate it for suitability for specific research purposes.

This data archive was created by the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) to promote secondary data analysis and use of research studies funded by the National Science Founation (NSF).