Overview, Methodology, and Data Limitations
Updated 12/11/25

Overview

Use of this interactive tool allows users to explore trends and compare student outcomes for systemwide student success metrics. The data views are designed to help community college faculty, administrators, and partners explore how student populations are performing across different programs and colleges in the Los Angeles region.  Comparative benchmarks for the college, LA region, and statewide are provided to aid interpretation and place the data in a broader context.

The dashboards display metrics for colleges in the LA region from DataVista, California Community College Chancellor's Office (CCCCO) metrics platform which is populated by LA colleges' MIS data submission and other CCCCO data sources. Metrics are available for all 19 LA colleges by sector or program (TOP4, TOP6) and by student demographics with benchmarks provided for the LA region and statewide. Data is from the DataVista 2.2 Release for the Snapshot view of General Admit Students with the data sets delivered to the Centers of Excellence in August 2025.

Metrics are organized into three groupings: Progress, Success, Employment & Earnings or Workforce. For the first release in winter 2026, four metrics are available for Employment & Earnings with plans for additional metrics to be added later.  Drilldowns on the data are available for Age, Economically Disadvantaged, Ethnicity, and Gender.

Three views of the metrics are provided to accommodate different uses of the data: 

Methodology

In accordance with the CCCCO Guidelines for Suppression on DataVista for Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the data  provided by the CCCCO for inclusion in the LA dashboards are already suppressed, and no further FERPA suppression is needed. In order to provide actionable student population data, generated or manufactured categories for gender and ethnicity have been removed including: All Masked Values, Multiple Values Reported, Unknown/Non-Respondent, and Unknown. 

Weighted averages are used for the calculation of 3-year averages displayed on the Compare Programs at a LA College and Compare a Program across LA Colleges. For the latest three years available for Attained the Living Wage (802) and Job in Field of Study (701), the sum values is divided by the sum denominators to display a weighted 3-year average. For Median Annual Earnings (800) and Median Change in Earnings (801), the denominator for each year is multiplied by the value and then divided by the sum of the denominators to display a weighted 3-year average. Based on selections made, if any of the latest three years are missing for a metric, then a 3-year average is not calculated or displayed.

Data Limitations

As with any display of program information at the TOP4 or TOP6 level, further exploration is often needed to understand what degrees,  certificates, and courses are offered on that TOP code at each college especially when making program comparisons across colleges. The Chancellor's Office Curriculum Inventory System (COCI) provides information on programs and courses at the TOP code level at all California community colleges which can be exported to Excel. Because colleges regularly update this information, it’s recommended to check COCI frequently and talk with faculty, program chairs, or deans at other colleges to fully understand how programs on the same TOP code compare across colleges.