Clearinghouse News
Press Releases
Most College Degrees Are Earned in Four Years or Less
The median time it takes for college students to earn their first credential or degree is under four years across undergraduate award types, but many students take longer, especially when their pathways are less continuous, according to a new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
Recent High School Graduates Increasingly Staying in College for Their Second Year
The percentage of recent high school graduates who enroll in college and stay for a second year (persistence) increased across all high school income characteristics, according to new research from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
The National Student Clearinghouse Announces Nik Osborne as Chief Revenue Officer
The National Student Clearinghouse announced today that Nik Osborne will serve as Chief Revenue Officer, overseeing the non-profit organization’s revenue generation.
Black and Hispanic College Freshmen Return for Their Second Year at Highest Rate in a Decade
Nearly 86 percent of the 2.62 million students who entered college in the fall of 2024 returned for their second semester — and more than 77 percent returned the next fall, according to a new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Those rates held steady from the prior year.
Spring Enrollment: Undergraduate Growth Continues While Graduate Enrollment Holds Steady
Spring 2026 postsecondary enrollment totaled 18.6 million students, marking a modest 1.0 percent increase from the previous year, according to a new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
National Student Clearinghouse Launches Sentinel 360SM to Help Institutions Fight Multi-Million Dollar “Ghost Student” Fraud
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.
Undergraduate Credential Attainment Grows as Students Complete Credentials at Younger Ages
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.
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Get the Answers You Need from the High School Benchmarks Report
The High School Benchmarks report helps high schools evaluate how well they are preparing students for postsecondary success by comparing enrollment, persistence, and completion outcomes with similar schools nationwide. Paired with StudentTracker’s verified student outcome data, it gives schools clearer context to assess performance, set realistic goals, and make more informed decisions that better support students after graduation.
How Student Pathways Affect Time to Degree
The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s new Time to Degree report examines how students’ enrollment pathways influence completion timelines. While most first-time credential earners finish in under four years, stopouts, transfers, attending multiple institutions, and moving across states can substantially extend both active enrollment and elapsed time, with disparities emerging among students who stop out.
Recent High School Graduates Increasingly Staying in College for Their Second Year
TThe 2026 High School Benchmarks report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center finds immediate college enrollment remained steady while persistence improved, particularly among students entering their second year. The report also highlights continuing differences in enrollment, completion, and STEM degree attainment across high school characteristics.