Navigating Open-Source Information: Democratizing Higher Ed Data

About the Episode: 

In this episode of the Edu Data Podcast, hosts Timothy and Jamie dive into the latest release from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) - the new Digest State Dashboard. They discuss the immense potential this user-friendly tool offers for higher education professionals, including marketers, admissions officers, and data analysts. Timothy and Jamie explore how this dashboard democratizes access to data, making it easier than ever to understand key statistics like enrollment trends, demographic breakdowns, and educational outcomes across states. They also touch on practical applications for market share analysis, competitor benchmarking, and strategic planning in higher education. Tune in to discover how to leverage this powerful resource to drive informed decisions and elevate your institution’s data strategy. 

Link To Tool

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Key Takeaways

• Market Share as a Metric
  • Institutions can use this dashboard to analyze their market share relative to regional postsecondary enrollment.
  • A shrinking market doesn’t necessarily indicate failure if your market share is increasing.
• Insights for Enrollment and Marketing Professionals
  • Use demographic data (e.g., English learners, income levels) to tailor strategies to meet student needs.
  • Address regional differences by identifying gaps in communication with specific school systems or districts.
• Practical Use of the Dashboard
  • The dashboard democratizes data access by making complex datasets easily downloadable and actionable.
  • Visualization options allow users to pull insights quickly, or dive deeper into raw data for custom analysis.

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Episode Summary

The NCES Digest State Dashboard: What It Offers

The NCES Digest State Dashboard presents a wealth of data about public and private schools, categorized by state. Users can explore enrollment trends, demographics, teacher wages, test scores, graduation rates, public school expenditures, and postsecondary enrollment. The dashboard is designed to make national and regional data more accessible to higher education professionals, allowing them to make data-informed decisions.

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How Marketers Can Leverage This Data

Higher ed marketers can use the dashboard to:

1. Evaluate Regional Market Share
   Analyze how your institution performs relative to competitors in your state or region.
2. Anticipate Demographic Shifts
   Identify trends in K-12 enrollment and diversity to tailor recruitment efforts.
3. Assess Marketing Reach
   Compare your outreach to the total number of schools and students in your area.

The hosts encourage marketers to use this data to address all “three P’s” of marketing: Promotion, Product, and Price.

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Actionable Insights for Enrollment Professionals

Enrollment managers can use the dashboard’s demographic breakdowns to:

• Develop targeted initiatives for underrepresented groups, such as English learners or students from low-income backgrounds.
• Evaluate potential markets for outreach and partnerships, especially with K-12 schools and community colleges.
• Understand regional differences in postsecondary enrollment and graduation rates.

The ability to download state-specific data and cross-reference it with other institutional datasets provides valuable context for strategy development.

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The Role of AI and Generative Tools

The hosts highlight the potential for generative AI tools like ChatGPT to help analyze and interpret large datasets. These tools can:

• Quickly generate insights from downloaded datasets.
• Perform complex joins and analysis for customized needs.
• Provide actionable recommendations, saving institutions time and resources.

By integrating AI with the dashboard, institutions can enhance their ability to make data-driven decisions across marketing, admissions, and institutional research.

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Connect With Our Co-Hosts:

Jamie Boggs
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiewboggs/

Timothy Davis
https://www.linkedin.com/in/davis-timothy/

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About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The EduData Podcast is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!  

Some of our favorites include Generation AI and The Higher Ed Geek.

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.