Updated List of Key Higher Education Resources

by the Global Nexus Education Team

Essential Higher Education Resources and Data Sites

Global Nexus Education prides itself on being a data-driven and evidence-informed organization. The landscape of higher education is supported by a rich ecosystem of organizations that provide crucial data, research, policy analysis, and professional resources. These sites serve diverse stakeholders—from institutional leaders and policymakers to researchers and students—offering everything from comprehensive enrollment statistics to cutting-edge research on teaching and learning. Whether you’re seeking federal data on student outcomes, insights into emerging trends, or guidance on best practices, these authoritative sources have become indispensable tools for understanding and improving postsecondary education.

US Federal Government Resources

  • National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) – https://nces.ed.gov – The primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing education data, including the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
  • U.S. Department of Education – https://www.ed.gov – Official source for federal education policy, programs, and funding information
  • College Scorecard – https://collegescorecard.ed.gov – Federal tool providing data on college costs, graduation rates, and post-graduation earnings

International Organizations and Global Data

  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – https://www.oecd.org/education – Publishes Education at a Glance and conducts international education assessments including PISA
  • World University News – https://www.universityworldnews.com – Global higher education news covering trends, policy, and developments across continents
  • UNESCO Institute for Statistics – https://uis.unesco.org – Global source for comparable education statistics and indicators
  • World Bank – Education – https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/education – International development data and research on global education systems
  • Institute of International Education (IIE) – https://www.iie.org – Leading organization focused on international student exchange and global education, publishes the Open Doors Report
  • Times Higher Education – https://www.timeshighereducation.com – International rankings, news, and analysis of global higher education
  • QS World University Rankings – https://www.topuniversities.com – Global university rankings and higher education intelligence

Canadian Resources

  • Statistics Canada – Education – https://www.statcan.gc.ca – Official source for Canadian education statistics, including postsecondary enrollment and outcomes data
  • Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) – https://cbie.ca – National organization promoting international education in Canada and supporting international students
  • Universities Canada – https://www.univcan.ca – Voice of Canadian universities, providing research and advocacy on higher education issues
  • Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan) – https://www.collegesinstitutes.ca – National association representing Canada’s publicly-funded colleges and institutes

Research and Policy Organizations

  • Pew Research Center – Education – https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/education – Independent research on trends affecting higher education and student experiences
  • American Council on Education (ACE) – https://www.acenet.edu – Leading coordinating body representing all types of higher education institutions
  • EDUCAUSE – https://www.educause.edu – Nonprofit association focused on information technology in higher education
  • Inside Higher Ed – https://www.insidehighered.com – Daily news and analysis covering higher education trends and issues
  • The Chronicle of Higher Education – https://www.chronicle.com – Leading publication for news, advice, and jobs in academia
  • Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) – https://www.aacu.org – Focuses on liberal education and educational quality
  • American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) – https://www.aacc.nche.edu – Represents community colleges and advocates for accessible higher education
  • Lumina Foundation – https://www.luminafoundation.org – Independent foundation focused on increasing Americans’ success in higher education
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – Postsecondary Success – https://www.gatesfoundation.org – Major funder of higher education research and innovation initiatives
  • National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) – https://www.nasfaa.org – Professional association for financial aid administrators with extensive policy research

Data and Analytics Platforms

  • National Student Clearinghouse Research Center – https://nscresearchcenter.org – Comprehensive data on student enrollment, completion, and mobility patterns
  • Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) – https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds – The core postsecondary education data collection program
  • Common Data Set Initiative – https://commondataset.org – Standardized data collection framework used by colleges and universities
  • College Board Research – https://research.collegeboard.org – Data and analysis on college access, affordability, and success