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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Latest from the Research Center
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.
Poverty Level Remains Driving Factor in Postsecondary Outcomes
The 2026 High School Benchmarks report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows high school poverty level remains a key factor in postsecondary outcomes. Immediate college enrollment stayed largely steady, while persistence improved—especially among graduates from high-poverty high schools. However, significant gaps persist in enrollment, persistence, completion, and STEM degree attainment between high- and low-poverty schools.
Changing Trends Among Part-Time Students in Higher Education
National Student Clearinghouse Research Center data shows part-time undergraduate enrollment reached 5.7 million students in Fall 2025, while students who start college part-time are seeing decade-long highs in persistence and retention. Although recent gains were seen across institution types, part-time students still complete credentials at much lower rates than full-time students, making future completion trends important to watch.