This brief describes how researchers can use National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) data to assess social and economic mobility. The NSC is a near-comprehensive source of postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion data in the United States. It covers approximately 97 percent of students enrolled across public and private institutions, enabling researchers to track educational trajectories and understand how postsecondary experiences shape economic mobility. NSC data include term-by-term enrollment, degree types and dates, and fields of study, with coverage beginning in the mid-1990s and improving over time.
How have researchers used these data?
Researchers use NSC data to study college access, retention, and credential attainment, often linking them to wage records or high school data for longitudinal analyses. These linkages allow for the tracking of students from high school into the labor market, supporting research on educational pathways and long-term outcomes. Common measures include persistence after freshman year, degree or credential attainment, and transfer between institutions. The flexibility of NSC data supports a wide range of research questions and designs, making it an influential dataset for understanding educational mobility.
What are these data’s limitations, and are there opportunities for increased use?
NSC data were not originally designed for research, and files can require extensive cleaning and interpretation. Coverage gaps exist for certain institutions, especially technical colleges and nondegree programs, and opt-out rates can affect match quality. Reporting inconsistencies and limited coverage in earlier years can also be challenging for researchers. Opportunities for improvement include expanding institutional participation, standardizing cleaning processes, streamlining request procedures, and integrating NSC data with statewide longitudinal data systems. These enhancements would strengthen the NSC’s role as a cornerstone dataset for studying educational attainment and economic mobility.
