This is my first time using the Visualizer, how do I get started?

1. Using the Visualizer assumes the following:
   • you have a subscription to the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) StudentTracker for Outreach or StudentTracker for High School service;
   • you have requested data from the NSC;
   • you have received a Detailed Report file in CSV format back from the NSC;
   • if you are a Pro user, you MUST have a unique student ID populated in the Requestor Return Field
2. Register for a Free Visualizer account
3. Upgrade to a Pro Visualizer account (if desired)
4. Sign-in to your Visualizer account
5. Upload your NSC Detailed Report (in CSV format)—just the way you received it from NSC:
   • From the Home screen there are two ways to upload your data:
     • In the Step 1 tile, click on the Upload Now button and then drag your CSV file into the upload window and click “Submit File”
     • Click on the Upload File option on the left-hand side and then click and drag your CSV file into the upload window and click “Submit File”
6. Visualize your data in Student View or Summary View
   • Click on the view you desire from the Home screen: either from the menu on the left-hand side or from the buttons listed under the Step 2 tile
   • Student View shows one student per line
   • Summary View calculates aggregate outcomes
   • You can use various filters to disaggregate your data further. Pro users can add additional demographic data and other key variables (see Add Demographic Data & Other Key Variables)

I received an error when trying to upload my NSC Detailed Report file, what should I do?

• Make sure that your Detailed Report file is saved in CSV format. If your file is in Excel format, Save As and select “CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)” format.
• If the error message that you receive includes a row number, open your file in Excel and look at that row of data to ensure that it follows the NSC formatting conventions below (e.g., only 1 letter for the middle initial column is allowed—not a full middle name).
• Your Detailed Report file must be in official NSC format (please refer to the formatting guidelines below to troubleshoot any formatting errors):
  • StudentTracker for High Schools
  • StudentTracker for Outreach Programs (see page 3)
• Pro users MUST include unique identifiers in the Requestor Return Field or the file will not upload.

How are the retention and graduation rates calculated in the Visualizer?

• Persistence + Grad Rate: The proportion of students who ever enrolled in college who are still enrolled or have earned a two- or four-year degree.
• 4-Year Grad Rate: The proportion of students who ever enrolled in college four or more years ago who have earned a two- or four-year degree within four years.
• 6-Year Grad Rate: The proportion of students who ever enrolled in college six or more years ago who have earned a two- or four-year degree within six years.

How should I interpret the values in the Counts Table?

The Counts Table in Summary View is intended to be looked at year by year, not cumulatively. It allows the user to deconstruct the persistence and graduation calculations and to calculate additional measures if they choose (e.g., seven-year graduation rate). Both the numerator and denominator change each year based on when each student started college.

For example, if you look at the Counts Table under the Year 6 column, the number of Eligible Students (n=X) is the number of students who have had at least six years to graduate from college and the number of 4-Year Degrees is the number of students within that group of X Eligible Students who have earned bachelor’s degrees.

I have a question that is not addressed on the website. Whom should I contact?

Please submit a Feedback Form if you have any further questions and a staff member will reply to you via email within two business days.

I have a question that is not addressed on the website. Whom should I contact?

Please submit a Feedback Form if you have any further questions and a staff member will reply to you via email within two business days.

I have a question that is not addressed on the website. Whom should I contact?

Please submit a Feedback Form if you have any further questions and a staff member will reply to you via email within two business days.