Office of Policy Analysis & Research

Special Research Resources from OPAR

Resource Overview

The Office of Policy Analysis and Research (OPAR) maintains an extensive database containing over three million student records dating back to 1974. The Central Data Request (CDR) database includes information on every student who enrolled in any of the 26 UW System campuses. Each student record carries over 80 variables. Extending our service to UW institutions, data prepared by OPAR analysts are available to consumers, marketing groups, demographers, social scientists, educators, economists, and institutional researchers. A charge may be applied on a cost recovery basis. The priority of any request will be at the discretion of the Director of OPAR. Data are available in aggregate form only. No student is identified by name or social security number.

Type of Information

Variables encompass demographic characteristics (i.e., race, age, gender), geographic origins, (i.e., zip codes, home address, counties, states, countries), student age, gross family income (for financial aid recipients only), majors, degree recipients, grade point average, Wisconsin high school graduated from, high school rank, average ACT scores, and curricular or course enrollment.

Reliability

Data are submitted several times per year by each UW institution to OPAR. During each submission, the data undergoes a rigorous electronic and manual validation process.

UW System Institutions

UW Four-Year Institutions

UW-Eau Claire
UW-Green Bay
UW-La Crosse
UW-Madison
UW-Milwaukee
UW-Oshkosh
UW-Parkside
UW-Platteville
UW-River Falls
UW-Stevens Point
UW-Stout
UW-Superior
UW-Whitewater

UW Two-Year Colleges

UW-Baraboo/Sauk County
UW-Barron County
UW-Fond du Lac
UW-Fox Valley
UW-Manitowoc
UW-Marathon County
UW-Marinette
UW-Marshfield/Wood County
UW-Richland
UW-Rock County
UW-Sheboygan
UW-Washington County
UW-Waukesha

Examples of Available Variables

Demographic

  • Address, City, County, State, and Zip Code (at time of application)
  • Birthdate (month and year)
  • High School Graduated From (Wisconsin high schools only)
  • Race/Ethnicity
  • Resident Status
  • Gender
  • UW Institution Enrolled

Academic

  • ACT Composite Score
  • Degree
  • Entrance Status (new, transfer, continuing, re-entry)
  • High School Class Rank Percentile
  • Student Classification

Curricular

  • Curricular Area (primary discipline area)
  • Instructor's Percent of Effort
  • Weekly Instructor Contact Hours
  • Course/Section Number
  • Type of Instruction

Financial Aid and Income

  • Financial Aid Amount
  • Financial Aid Type
  • Gross Family Income
  • Student Budget, Individual