National Student Clearinghouse is a nonprofit organization that provides enrollment and degree verification services and collects enrollment data from most U.S.
colleges and universities.
How it works
The institution regularly submits enrollment and degree files. When a student or third party requests verification, the Clearinghouse confirms the data and issues an official response. Institutions query the Clearinghouse to learn whether former students have enrolled elsewhere, supporting transfer-out rate calculations and reverse-transfer processes. Students can order their own enrollment or degree verifications through the service.
Example: an employer uses the Clearinghouse to verify that an online graduate completed a bachelor’s degree. The service returns confirmation within minutes. Separately, the graduate’s prior community college uses Clearinghouse data to identify the student for a reverse-transfer associate-degree audit.
How it differs
NSLDS is the federal database of Title IV aid. IPEDS is the federal survey system for aggregate institutional data. The Clearinghouse is a private nonprofit focused on individual enrollment and degree verification and on cross-institutional tracking. A transcript is the institution’s own official academic record.
Common errors
Assuming the Clearinghouse replaces the need for an official transcript in all situations. Confusing Clearinghouse data with NSLDS aid records. Expecting real-time updates; institutional submissions can lag by days or weeks.
References
- 1. National Student ClearinghouseEnrollment and degree verification services
- 2. Institutional reporting to NSCData submissions
National Student Clearinghouse is a nonprofit organization that provides enrollment and degree verification services and collects enrollment data from most U.S. colleges and universities.