According to our latest Current Term Enrollment Estimates (CTEE) report, enrollment at four-year institutions has not only recovered from the pandemic-era declines but has now reached or even surpassed spring 2020 levels. This marks a significant milestone for colleges and universities following years of post-pandemic challenges.
For the first time, this year’s Persistence and Retention report offers a detailed look at first spring persistence — the percentage of students who remain enrolled in college for the spring term immediately following their first fall. The report, which continues to track second fall persistence and retention, also revealed that more than 86% of first-time college students from the fall 2023 cohort returned for their second semester.
The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reported that over 86 percent of the college freshman class of 2023 returned for their second semester.
Check out the live webinars available from the Clearinghouse Academy in July 2025.
As millions of students prepare to graduate this spring, the Clearinghouse is working behind the scenes to ensure their transition to the workforce or continued education is seamless. We support learners with convenient student-facing services while reducing the workload of school administrative staff members.