According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s Transfer Enrollment and Pathways report, nearly 500,000 students who enrolled in a four-year institution in fall 2024 started their journey at a two-year college. That’s a 7.6% increase since 2022, reversing a two-year post-pandemic decline.
Community colleges, which were hit especially hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, experienced a significant increase in spring enrollment as revealed in the Spring 2025 Current Term Enrollment Estimates report. The growth is being driven by community colleges that focus on vocational and trade programs.
The transfer student population is on the rise. And the most prevalent group of transfer students are those that previously stopped out, according to the Transfer Enrollment and Pathways report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
Matthew Holsapple, Senior Director of Research at the National Student Clearinghouse, discusses the key trends emerging from the Research Center’s latest reports.
From tracking enrollment trends during critical periods, like the global pandemic, to illuminating the pathways of non-traditional students, the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center has consistently provided a clearer understanding of how students navigate their educational journeys and achieve success. To delve deeper into the impact and future of the Research Center, we spoke with its Executive Director, Doug Shapiro.
The latest Undergraduate Degree Earners report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reveals significant shifts in the types of awards learners are achieving. Based on data from the 2023-24 academic year, the report shows the growing prominence of learners earning undergraduate certificates.