ERIC

C tier on Academic Research DatabasesScore 6.4 · #10 of 33

Android app: Not listed
Free plan: No
Runs on: api, Web

eric.ed.gov

Summary

ERIC is a free searchable online library of education research, sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences. Its bibliographic records cover journal and non-journal literature from 1966 to the present. Researchers can use advanced search and filters for peer-reviewed material and records with full text available on ERIC; some records include a download option. The collection includes both peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed material, with peer-review status marked when a source has an acceptable review process. ERIC assigns subject terms from its Thesaurus, which lists 4,578 descriptors, 7,219 synonyms, and 132 dead terms. Its API accepts HTTPS requests and returns XML, JSON, or CSV. Requests default to 20 records, and the rows setting can range from 20 to 200. ERIC accepts submissions that meet its selection policy, but not textbooks, lesson plans, blogs, or HTML-only text. Submitters need the relevant rights, and online submissions require a PDF up to 100 MB. Full text from IES grantee submissions appears after a 12-month embargo.

Who it is for

ERIC suits educators, parents, policymakers, researchers, and members of the public looking for education research. It also serves users who need an API for retrieving bibliographic records.

What is good

Free searchable education research library.
Search filters include peer review and ERIC full text.
API returns XML, JSON, or CSV.
Advanced search is available.
Includes journal and non-journal materials.

What to know first

Online submissions require a PDF under 100 MB.
IES grantee full text has a 12-month embargo.
Submissions must meet ERIC’s selection criteria.

Verdict

ERIC offers searchable education research records, filters, and an API without a listed cost. Full-text availability varies by record, and submissions are subject to eligibility and rights requirements.

Compared on academic research databases

Free plan: Yeseric.ed.gov
Full-text access: Yeseric.ed.gov
Advanced search: Yeseric.ed.gov
Subject coverage: multidisciplinaryeric.ed.gov
Content types: journal articles; books; research syntheses; conference papers; technical reports; policy paperseric.ed.gov
Theses and dissertations: Yeseric.ed.gov
Conference proceedings: Yeseric.ed.gov

Facts

What it is: ERIC is a free, searchable online library of education research sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences.eric.ed.gov · 2 Oct 2026
Coverage: ERIC provides bibliographic records of journal and non-journal literature from 1966 to the present.ies.ed.gov · 2 Oct 2026
Search filters: The collection search offers filters for peer-reviewed material and full text available on ERIC.eric.ed.gov · 2 Oct 2026
Thesaurus: ERIC descriptors from its Thesaurus are assigned to documents in the digital library to describe their subject content.eric.ed.gov · 2 Oct 2026
Thesaurus size: The Thesaurus page states that it contains 4,578 descriptors, 7,219 synonyms, and 132 dead terms, and was last updated in 2025.eric.ed.gov · 2 Oct 2026
API: The ERIC API supports HTTPS requests and can return results in XML, JSON, or CSV format.eric.ed.gov · 2 Oct 2026
API pagination: The API example says results default to 20 records per request and the rows parameter can be set from 20 to 200.eric.ed.gov · 2 Oct 2026
Submission eligibility: ERIC accepts education research that meets its Selection Policy criteria and does not index textbooks, lesson plans, blogs, or HTML-only text.eric.ed.gov · 2 Oct 2026
Submission rights: Submitters must be authors, copyright holders, or authorized representatives and grant ERIC a royalty-free, perpetual, and irrevocable license to index and display submitted materials.eric.ed.gov · 2 Oct 2026
Submission file limit: The online submission page requires a PDF upload with a maximum size of 100 MB.eric.ed.gov · 2 Oct 2026
IES grantee embargo: For IES grantee submissions, full text will display in ERIC 12 months after the publication date.eric.ed.gov · 2 Oct 2026
Peer review: ERIC accepts peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed material, and marks records as peer reviewed when the source has demonstrated an acceptable peer-review process.eric.ed.gov · 2 Oct 2026
Support: The IES page says users can email [email protected] for specific requests and that the ERIC help desk provides guidance on searching the digital library.ies.ed.gov · 2 Oct 2026
Purpose: ERIC is an online bibliographic and full-text digital library of education research, including journal articles and non-journal materials.eric.ed.gov · 3 Oct 2026
Sponsor: ERIC is administered by the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance at the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education.eric.ed.gov · 3 Oct 2026
Audience: ERIC’s mission serves educators, parents, policymakers, researchers, and the public.eric.ed.gov · 3 Oct 2026
Search: The site provides a searchable collection with advanced search and filters including peer-reviewed and full-text availability.eric.ed.gov · 3 Oct 2026
Full text: ERIC search results identify records with full text available on ERIC and provide a download option for some records.eric.ed.gov · 3 Oct 2026
Selection policy: ERIC’s selection policy describes criteria for selecting sources and individual education research materials for the digital library.eric.ed.gov · 3 Oct 2026
History: ERIC was founded in 1964 to collect and share education research.eric.ed.gov · 3 Oct 2026
Limits: ERIC’s selection policy states that the collection includes journal articles and non-journal materials selected under its criteria.eric.ed.gov · 3 Oct 2026