Clearinghouse News
Press Releases
Total Higher Ed Enrollment Holds Steady in Preliminary Fall Enrollment Trends Report
Early reporting finds overall enrollment at colleges and universities this fall holding steady as community college undergraduate enrollment increases 1.2 percent and master’s enrollment declines 3.7 percent, according to a preliminary report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
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.
For reporters only
Read more about our products and services on our blog.
Latest from the Research Center
5 Highlights from the Preliminary Fall Enrollment Trends Report
Data from National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s Clearinghouse Enrollment Insights: Preliminary Fall Enrollment Trends shows higher education enrollment remained broadly stable in fall 2026, despite significant differences across sectors, degree levels, fields of study, demographics, and states. Community colleges and health majors grew, while master’s and computer science enrollment declined.
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.