StudentTracker 3.0 and StudentTracker 2.0 both provide valuable postsecondary outcomes data, with each offering distinct capabilities designed to support a variety of reporting and analysis needs. This comparison chart highlights key similarities and enhancements across the two versions, including data access, reporting, update frequency, and support resources, helping users understand the strengths of each solution and the additional capabilities being introduced as StudentTracker 3.0 continues to evolve.
| StudentTracker 3.0 | StudentTracker 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | A web application where users with the Data Analyzer role can log in to the application and see visualizations and request reports. Reports are available for download within the application. | StudentTracker aggregate reports in PDF form are sent to an FTP mailbox and available for download. |
| Effective Dates | Postsecondary data outcomes can be retrieved in real time. The data is updated every morning. There are no effective dates.
After you submit a new cohort of student diploma records, the system needs time to complete the postsecondary matching process. As a best practice, wait until your StudentTracker for High Schools PDF reports are available in your FTP mailbox before reviewing the updated outcomes in StudentTracker 3.0. The 3.0 outcomes will refresh during the next nightly update cycle. |
Currently set at three times per year and, typically, in mid-November, mid-April and mid-August. The postsecondary data is frozen for each effective date. |
| Postsecondary Matching | A Clearinghouse data scientist and analysts from our data team are continuing to analyze Clearinghouse data and the current matching algorithm to identify potential enhancements that support high-quality results. | Refer to the document, “Considerations for Measuring the College Enrollment Rates of High School Graduates,” which is available on our Research Center’s website in the “Working with Our Data” section. |
Outcomes/Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
|
Outcomes are presented as visualizations within the application. The same outcomes as in 2.0 are available along with these new outcomes:
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A PDF packet includes outcomes for first enrollments, year 1-to-year 2 persistence and completers, a 6-year completions count, and a longitudinal view of postsecondary progress for each high school cohort. |
| Subscription/Account Information | Available within the application under “Accounts and Settings.”
A list of all of the high schools in your service agreement (aka “Account Reference Sheet”) is included and available for export. A message displays in the application when the subscription end date is approaching. |
Not available |
| Contact Lists | Access to view all contacts on the service agreement in the “Accounts and Settings” section.
The user administrator(s) has permission to make updates and revisions, including adding new or removing users and resetting passwords. See “About User Roles” for descriptions. |
Not available |
| Demographic Data Elements | When data is provided, the KPI visualizations can be broken down or filtered by the demographic data element and high school cohort year. | When data is provided, a PDF report of outcomes is generated and sent to the FTP mailbox. |
| Academic Data Elements | Not yet available. | When data is provided, a PDF report of outcomes is generated and sent to the FTP mailbox. |
| Student-Level Detail Report | Revised!
Available on demand for individual high school cohort years and can be downloaded from the application. Includes new columns of data, like enrollment CIP code and major, and dual enrollment terms. By mid-October 2026, a link to the mapping document will be available within the application. |
Sent to FTP mailbox.
Includes student data for up to 8 years of high school cohorts when provided. |
| Analysis Ready Report | New!
Condenses the student-level detail report into one row per student. Columns for the KPIs are included so you can see how the student is counted in the aggregate outcomes. By mid-October 2026, a link to the mapping document will be available within the application. (The mapping document is also available on the StudentTracker 3.0 FAQs page.) |
Not available |
| High School Level Reports | Visualizations are not yet available at the high school level.
High school level counts for different outcomes are available in the .csv reports that can be generated in the “Predefined Reports” section of the application. Future development will provide functionality for high school level outcomes. |
A PDF of the outcome reports is available for each of the high schools in the service agreement when allowed for in the contract. |
| File Submissions | Not yet available. | The submission format and process has not changed. Submissions are still performed through FTP. |
| Training Materials | Definitions for the visualizations to help you understand how the outcomes are calculated are available in the application.
The Clearinghouse Academy has several StudentTracker 3.0 tutorials. You can download the user guide. Webinars are offered regularly throughout the year. |
An appendix is included at the end of the basic packet PDF.
The Clearinghouse Academy has tutorials available. |
