Previous Posts
January Schedule of Live Webinars
Check out the live webinars available from the Clearinghouse Academy in January 2026.
Building a Cyber-Ready Campus
Institutions face increasing cybersecurity threats, like ransomware and data breaches, requiring a culture of cyber readiness that emphasizes people and habits alongside technology. In our webinar, “The Cyber Ready Campus: Empowering Higher Ed Staff for Digital Defense,” a panel of cybersecurity experts highlighted practical strategies to empower higher education staff in defending digital assets.
Six-Year College Completion Rates Remain Robust
According to the Yearly Progress and Completion report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, national six-year completion rates have now held steady for four consecutive cohorts, an encouraging sign of stability in higher education.
Turning Data into Direction with the PDP
In a webinar, Kathleen Boody, PDP Account Manager II at the National Student Clearinghouse, and Carrie Hodge, Director of Data Analysis at Complete College America, demonstrated what the Postsecondary Data Partnership (PDP) is all about. That is, empowering institutions to act on their data.
December Schedule of Live Webinars
Check out the live webinars available from the Clearinghouse Academy in December 2025.
Data Dive: Spotlighting Gaps in Postsecondary Attainment
Data from the 2025 High School Benchmarks Report reveals differences in postsecondary enrollment and degree completion that are connected to high school poverty and income levels. These gaps impact both overall college attendance and STEM degree achievement, underscoring the importance of providing additional support and implementing policies that help address these challenges.
Higher Ed Enrollment Continues Its Comeback After Pandemic-Era Dip
Early data from our Research Center, provided in our new Preliminary Fall Enrollment Trends Report, suggests U.S. higher education enrollment is showing signs of recovery after pandemic-related declines, with notable growth at community colleges and shifts in popular fields of study this fall.
Transforming Rural Student Success with StudentTracker
United Way Muscatine County uses StudentTracker to map student pathways from high school to college, including exploring how dual enrollment and career-focused programs are shaping students’ postsecondary outcomes. By collaborating with schools, employers, and community partners, they turn data insights into targeted programs that improve student outcomes, close achievement gaps, and support workforce readiness in rural Iowa.
Streamline Your Verifications Through the Clearinghouse
Whether you are an employer or work for an educational institution that needs to verify diplomas or degrees, verification services at the Clearinghouse can streamline the process significantly. Existing DegreeVerify users can seamlessly add DiplomaVerify to their account as well, enhancing the overall verifications experience.
Don’t Get Spooked by a Third-Party Vendor
Working with a third-party vendor is a strategic decision that significantly impacts your organization’s data security. There are five critical security areas to address before signing a contract that will help you manage third-party risk and protect sensitive information.
Addressing Credential Fraud in Higher Education
In a recent webinar, higher education and security professionals unpacked the evolving issue of credential fraud. They talked about real world examples and identified ways to combat it, such as using verification services at the Clearinghouse.
Be Cyber Smart and Stay Cyber Safe
For Cybersecurity Awareness Month, John Ramsey, Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at the Clearinghouse, shared expert insights on the importance of safeguarding ourselves and our organizations against cyber threats and fraud.
Beyond the Gridiron: Academic Pathways that Power Football
An exploration of the diverse academic backgrounds and credentials that support the business and operations side of collegiate and professional football. This includes both postsecondary education and non-degree credentials, which are essential to maintaining the integrity and performance standards of the football industry.
Tracking Transfer Report Reveals Student Pathway Insights
Our latest Tracking Transfer report offers detailed analysis of student pathways from two-year to four-year institutions, focusing on transfer patterns, demographics, and degree completion outcomes. This expanded report includes data on dual enrollment students and highlights the effectiveness of transfer pathways in supporting degree attainment.
High School Income Level Drives Postsecondary Success
According to the 2025 High School Benchmarks Report, income disparities between high schools have a greater impact on graduates’ postsecondary outcomes than geographic differences. The report provides national college progression rates for high schools participating in the National Student Clearinghouse’s StudentTracker service.
How to Leverage PDP AR Files for Institutional Impact
In a recent webinar, Monte Schaff, Dean of Enrollment Management at United Tribes Technical College, shared how he leverages PDP analysis-ready files and Microsoft Power BI to get deeper insights and research-specific metrics.
Back to School, Ready for Cyber Threats
As a new school year gets underway, hackers are increasingly using AI to target higher education. The Cyber Readiness Institute (CRI) and the National Student Clearinghouse are joining forces to emphasize cyber readiness, a crucial element of campus safety. This includes four core areas that institutions should focus on to enhance their cyber readiness.
Navigating the FVT/GE Timeline
Institutions may find this fall’s overlapping FVT/GE reporting cycles challenging. The first reporting period is due September 30, 2025. The second reporting period is due the following day, on October 1, 2025. The Clearinghouse offers a free and comprehensive solution to simplify the reporting process, backed by live support and extensive user resources.
Back to School, Forward with Data
The Clearinghouse’s suite of tools — including StudentTracker, the High School Benchmarks report, and DiplomaVerify — offers powerful, data-driven solutions that can help secondary school leaders support students in their transition to college and careers.
It’s Time to Review and Update Your Transmission Schedule
As we head into fall, now is a great time to review and, if needed, update your Enrollment Reporting transmission schedule.