The National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 is the first in a series of longitudinal studies of high school students led by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The study began with a nationally representative sample of high schools and seniors set to graduate from those schools in 1972. Data were collected on students' academic experiences, socioeconomic and family backgrounds, and postsecondary plans, among other topics.
The primary goal of the study was to collect data to better understand the factors that influence students' postsecondary and vocational pathways over time. Participants were resurveyed a total of five times, in 1973, 1974, 1976, 1979, and 1986, and college transcripts collected in 1984.
The National Institutes on Aging (U01AG078533) has funded a sixth follow-up for NLS:72. In 2025, EdSHARe is surveying sample members, asking them to complete a set of cognitive tasks aligned with Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP), collecting biomarker data, and MRI brain scans to understand the influence of life experiences and education on cognitive outcomes later in life.
NLS:72 Follow-Up Contents and Purposes Over Time
| 1972-1986 Follow-Ups | 2025 Follow-Up | |
|---|---|---|
| Main Purpose: How does education shape... | ...degree attainment, early career, family | ...cognitive functioning and aging |
| Mode | In-Person, Phone, Paper | In-Person or Phone (backup web, paper) |
| Neurocognitive Assessments | No (achievement tests only) | Yes |
| Physical Measures | No | Yes |
| Biomarkers | No | Blood, saliva, MRI |
| Administrative Records | College Transcripts, School Record Information | Mortality, Voting, Consumer Credit, Pharmacy, Lab |
| Spatial Location | Yes | Yes (full residential history) |