Dual enrollment is linked to stronger higher education outcomes. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s Tracking Transfer report shows that students who enter community college with dual enrollment experience are more likely to persist, transfer to four-year institutions, and ultimately complete a bachelor’s degree.
The Clearinghouse’s new Sentinel 360SM platform helps colleges combat rapidly growing “ghost student” fraud that drains financial aid and institutional resources. Sentinel 360 gives institutions the broader visibility they need to understand what is happening beyond their own campus and help protect their reputation, integrity and, most importantly, opportunities for learners.
The National Student Clearinghouse today announced the introduction of Sentinel 360SM, a platform that will empower higher education institutions to identify early signals of potential “ghost student” fraud.
More than 3.4 million learners earned undergraduate credentials in the 2024–25 academic year, marking a 3.2% increase from the previous year, according to a new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
The latest Undergraduate Degree Earners report finds 3.4 million learners earned undergraduate credentials in 2024–25, up 3.2% from the prior year, driven by faster, more flexible pathways. More students are completing credentials earlier, often through dual enrollment before finishing high school. “Stacking” awards is rising, with many earning an associate degree before a bachelor’s and maintaining momentum toward workforce goals.