Research Library - National Student Clearinghouse Research Services
Learn from other researchers
Institutional researchers from around the country regularly incorporate StudentTracker into their educational research. You’ll find several of those studies here. If you have used StudentTracker in a research study and would like to share it on our site with your colleagues, please send your study(s) via our Contact form.
StudentTracker Case Studies: Tracking Former Students
Four Year Institutions:
UC-Davis: Educational Enrichment Program Effectiveness for BUSP (California) (pdf)
Study using National Student Clearinghouse data to determine the effect of enrichment programs on graduation rate and the rate of enrollment in graduate/professional school and on attraction and retention to science, engineering, math and computer science majors. Cohort studied: All undergraduates beginning enrollment from Fall 1993-1999 and program participants as identified by program directors.
UC-Davis: Educational Enrichment Program Effectiveness for SEMCS (California) (pdf)
A study on how UC Davis followed participants in six enrichment programs designed to improve minority student transition rates to graduate or professional programs. The purpose was to compare the effectiveness of interventions and the relative performance of alumni search strategies, including the use of StudentTracker. Cohort studied: UC Davis matriculating freshmen from fall 1993 to fall 1999 with HSGPA, SAT1 and SAT2 scores.
UMCP: Transfer-Out Behavior in Retention Models (Maryland) (pdf)
Paper on using National Student Clearinghouse data to analyze one-year retention at UMCP. The purpose was to determine which students transferred, when and to where and which students stopped attending school, as opposed to the traditional binary approach of retained/not retained. Cohorts studied: Fall 1996 first-time full-time degree-seeking freshmen at UMCP.
University of MN: Redefining Student Success (Minnesota) (pdf)
Presentation from the University of Minnesota on how it used data from the National Student Clearinghouse to perform multinomial regression techniques and assess multi-institutional student success. Presented at the 2008 national AIR conference.
University of Nevada-Reno: Student Return Vs. Dropout/Stopout Vs. Transfer (Nevada) (pdf)
A study measuring the impact of high school preparation, first-year academic performance, multi-institution enrollment, and financial aid support on second year persistence. Purpose of the study was to determine factors in student retention. Cohort studied: multi-year cohorts at a public research university from 2000-2002.
Mt. Hood Community College: Transfer Activity Report (Oregon) (pdf)
Comprehensive overview of subsequent transfer activity by MHCC students regarding which schools they enrolled in, programs they entered, and their academic performance. Cohorts studied: Students who did not re-enroll from 1996/1997-2000/2001 and engaged in transfer activity.
BYU: Closing the Student Information Gap (Utah) (pdf)
Case study on how Brigham Young University used StudentTracker data to gather enrollment and graduation data for entering freshman, students who were admitted but did not enroll, and visiting students. Purpose of the study was to find out where student went when they left BYU & if they graduated. Cohorts studied: Entering Freshmen (1992-1996 summer or fall terms), Denied/Declined Applicants 1992-1996 fall term), & Visiting Student Program participants (2000-2002 spring & summer terms).
Two Year Institutions:
California Community Colleges: Transfer Tracking (California) (pdf)
Presentation on using StudentTracker data to track transfer behavior at California community colleges. Data match performed annually from 1993 to present to account for students lost to transfers.
PGCC: Beyond Transfer Rate - Varieties of Transfer Behavior and Academic Outcomes (Maryland) (pdf)
Report from Prince George’s Community College on how it used National Student Clearinghouse data to calculate a more accurate transfer rate for state and federal accountability reporting. Cohorts studied: Full-time, first-time fall entry students in 1996.
SUNY Community Colleges: Tracking Transfers (New York) (pdf)
Winter 2005 AIR article on how StudentTracker data was used to assess transfer rates at SUNY Community Colleges. Purpose was to get a more accurate measure of transfer behavior by including out-of-state and private colleges. Cohorts studied: New fall term students (first-time and transfer) for 1996-2000.
In order to determine what role the VCCS played in a bachelor’s degree attainment, the VCCS partnered with the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) to take a retrospective look at bachelor’s degree recipients in Virginia between September 1, 2007 and August 31, 2008.
Other Studies:
Student Choice of College: How Far Do Students Go For An Education? (web link)
Mattern, Dr. Krista and Jeffrey Wyatt. "Student Choice of College: How Far Do Students Go For An Education?". Journal of College Admission, 203 (Spring 2009): 18-29.
StudentTracker Case Studies: Tracking Former Applicants
Four Year Institutions:
Cal State Long Beach: The "Impact" of Impaction (California) (pdf)
Case study on how Cal State Long Beach used StudentTracker to determine the effect of impaction and subsequent enrollment of post-impaction freshman cohorts at other institutions. Cohorts studied: Students who applied each fall semester beginning in 2002.
UC-Davis: Non-Enrolling Admits (California) (pdf)
Data charts from UC Davis regarding the percentage of non-enrolled admitted students that were identified using National Student Clearinghouse data and the institutions where they enrolled. Cohort studied: Domestic non-enrolling admits from high school Fall 1998-Fall 2002 for enrollments from May 15th to March 1st.
Other Studies:
Consortium of Chicago School Research: Setting up a Postsecondary Tracking System (ppt)
Instructional presentation from the Consortium on Chicago School Research at the University of Chicago on how to set up a system for tracking postsecondary enrollment, retention and graduation and employment using National Student Clearinghouse data.
Nebraska CCPE: 2007 Higher Education Progress Report (pdf)
Report from the Nebraska CCPE on how it used Clearinghouse data to monitor and evaluate the state's progress in increasing postsecondary enrollment (including the percentage of degrees obtained) and decreasing out-of-state migration of Nebraskans with high levels of educational attainment.
A study on how Utah Valley State College identified college choice factors. The purpose was to find out what where the determining factors for students selecting a college so they can be marketed appropriately. Cohorts studied: All high school students who completed the ACT exam and had UVSC in their choice set during 1999-2001 and all 2001 Utah high school graduates who had UVSC in their choice set and attended college in state.
When the Saints Come Marching In: Effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on Student Evacuees (pdf)
I examine academic performance and college going for public school students affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Students who are forced to switch schools due to the hurricanes experience sharp declines in test scores in the first year following the hurricane. However, by the second and third years after the disaster, Katrina evacuees displaced from Orleans Parish appear to benefit from the displacement, experiencing a .15 standard deviation improvement in scores. The test score gains are concentrated among students whose initial schools were in the lowest quintile of the test score distribution and among students who leave the New Orleans MSA. ...