Through Credential Engine’s OPEN data work, with support from the GitLab Foundation, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) data about institutions is now available as CTDL-linked open data in the Credential Registry.
Credential and skill transparency is key for all past, current, and future learners and workers to better understand their pathways to success. When organizations work together to make sure data is open and accessible, ecosystems thrive. OPEN, a groundbreaking initiative designed to convert publicly available institution, credential, skill, and job data into structured Credential Transparency Description Language (CTDL) linked open data, provides extensive, comprehensive datasets, significantly expanding the Credential Registry scope and accelerating its growth.
The first data set to be published in CTDL linked open data through OPEN is the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), which is based on a collection of surveys conducted annually by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) of the U.S. Department of Education to gather data from postsecondary institutions. Having the IPEDS data in the Credential Registry as linked open data in the Credential Registry makes it easy to find and understand credentials offered by accredited institutions across the country, because each listing is backed by clear, structured data that includes IPEDS identifiers. By linking credentials to the official IPEDS ID of the issuing institution, users can explore offerings with confidence, knowing exactly which school stands behind each credential, no matter how similar the names might be.
This connection unlocks powerful possibilities. With IPEDS data in CTDL, Credential Engine enables richer filtering, cross-system matching, and deeper insights into credential providers. Whether you’re building tools for learners, researchers, or workforce planners, the data behind Credential Engine OPEN ensures that every credential is tied to trustworthy, verified institutional data
Make sure you check our OPEN webpage to keep up to date on what data is available in the Credential Registry through OPEN.
If you want to learn more about OPEN, check out our blog here.