PSEO Data Visualization and Communication
Under the direction of Christopher Peña, two student interns are assisting the PSEO Coalition in developing visualizations of PSEO data and determining ways to communicate the resulting information to stakeholders, including students, parents, and career counselors. Funding for the work of the student interns is generously provided by Strada Education Foundation.
Christopher Peña
Assistant Professor of the Practice, University of Denver and Intern Supervisor, PSEO Coalition
DiviyaBharrathi Barathwaaj
Master of Science in Management Information Systems Candidate, Northern Illinois University
Sai Teja Tadikonda
Master of Science in Management Information Systems Candidate, Northern Illinois University
PSEO Coalition Grants: 2025-26 Request for Proposals
The PSEO Coalition invites proposals for projects that use the U.S. Census Bureau’s PSEO data to advance evidence-based decision-making in higher education. PSEO provides earnings outcomes (25th/50th/75th percentiles at one, five, and 10 years after graduation) and employment flows (graduates’ main employer by industry and geography), disaggregated by institution, degree field, degree level, and graduation cohort. Data are aggregated, governed for transparency, and refreshed annually (current cohorts: 2019-2021). Inclusion criteria follow full-time equivalent minimum-wage earnings with at least three quarters worked in a calendar year.
What We’re Funding
- Up to five (5) grants of $15,000 (U.S.-based researchers)
- Applied projects; quantitative or qualitative (anchored to PSEO)
- Efforts that demonstrate practical utility for institutions, systems, states, and policy/NGO partners (e.g., decision-ready reporting templates, geographic/industry flow analyses, accreditation and program-review evidence, and myth-busting analyses of majors and outcomes).
Priority Audiences
Institutional Research/IE, career services, advancement/alumni, accreditation liaisons, data managers, faculty, system/state analysts, students and employers, and other consumers of postsecondary data.
Timeline
- Proposals due: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, by 5 PM PST
- Award notifications: Monday, February 9, 2026
- First draft due (triggers first-half payment): Monday, April 27, 2026
- Comments returned: Friday, May 22, 2026
- Final draft due (triggers final payment): Friday, June 12, 2026
Proposal Components
- Project overview: Purpose, audience, questions/topics, alignment to evidence-based practice
- Data description: PSEO elements used; any non-PSEO data with validity/reliability steps
- Project outline: Final deliverable structure
- Applicant bio(s): Relevant experience
How to Apply
Application: Submit via the application form found here.
Review the RFP: Download the full request for proposals here.
For questions, email: research@pseocoalition.org
Publication: Selected projects will be co-branded and featured in the PSEO Coalition’s Resource Library.
PSEO Coalition Engagement
The PSEO Coalition’s theme for the year is “Strengthening and Expanding the PSEO Coalition.” Under the direction of the PSEO Director, Gina Johnson, and led by Annika Many of EDU-PM, the PSEO Coalition is expanding its membership and strengthening its member engagement through networking and events, including:
- PSEO Coalition Showcase | Theme: Strengthening States’ Education-to-Workforce Data Ecosystem. Learn More About This Event
- PSEO Coalition Summit (invitation only) | Theme: Expanding the Education-to-Workforce Data Network
Funding for engagement activities and events is generously provided by Strada Education Foundation and the Gates Foundation.
Measuring and Reporting the Value of Educational Credentials
Under the direction of the PSEO Director, Gina Johnson, a group of PSEO Coalition members is engaging in technical assistance, workshops, and peer engagement to adopt and operationalize the Postsecondary Value Commission’s Value Framework, improving their capacity to measure and report on the value of educational credentials at the institutional level. Funding for this work is generously provided by the Gates Foundation.
