Who we are

The PSEO Coalition began at the University of Texas System in 2016 and have grown to include 800-plus higher education institutions in our member states — with more joining each year.

Our shared goal is to use data to demonstrate the impact of higher education for students, employers, and the economy. By doing so, we empower those with a stake in the success of our students to make informed decisions. By continually sharing best practices and information with one another, we can reimagine how to educate students most effectively and expand opportunities.

We work closely with the U.S. Census Bureau’s Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) program, which collects labor market statistics on employment, earnings, and job creation, covering more than 96% of the U.S. workforce.

Higher education leaders and state officials can set successful strategic policies only when they have access to detailed, reliable, and actionable data.

Why our Work Matters

For generations, a compact has existed between higher education and American families. It promised that a college degree or professional credential would increase opportunities, upward mobility, and long-term prosperity.

Sadly, this compact is now in jeopardy because of the rising costs of education, a higher cost of living for students, and declining perceptions of the value of higher education. Anyone connected to higher education has heard the questions: Do I need a degree? Will it actually increase my salary? How much does it really cost to go to college? When will I finally pay off my debt?

These questions are understandable. At the same time, however, postsecondary education has become even more essential for the workforce, including entry-level positions in many fields.

In this environment, it’s more vital than ever for students and parents, elected officials, employers, policymakers, and the media to understand the true costs and benefits of postsecondary credentials.

What’s Next

In the coming years, we aim to:

  • Expand membership to more than 40 states and 1,100 institutions.
  • Begin to separate earnings data by race, ethnicity, and gender.
  • Link graduation data with anonymized IRS 1040 and 1099 tax returns to include even more
    graduates who may not be found in the unemployment insurance wage record.
  • Continually develop new priorities to expand the dataset and make it even more useful.
  • Meet quarterly with U.S. Census Bureau partners to discuss updates, potential
    research projects, and other areas of collaboration.
  • Help states improve their postsecondary education-to-employment data systems.