About NLS:72

Overview

The National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS:72) is the first cohort in a series of landmark longitudinal studies of high school students led by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Based on a nationally representative sample of high schools and seniors graduating in 1972, NLS:72 examines how education and early-life experiences shape individuals’ life trajectories.

Study Design and Data Collection

  • Sample
    • High school seniors from across the U.S., class of 1972.
  • Follow-Up Waves
    • Participants were resurveyed six times:
      • 1973
      • 1974
      • 1976
      • 1979
      • 1986
      • 2025 (currently in the field)
    • College Transcripts collected in 1984. 

Purpose and Evolution 

The historical purpose of NLS:72 cohort has been to understand the diverse factors that influence educational attainment, vocational outcomes, and life-course transitions among young Americans. 

In 2025, with funding from the National Institutes on Aging (U01AG078533), EdSHARe launched a sixth follow-up of NLS:72 sample members. This latest effort aims to understand how education and early-life experiences influence cognitive aging and later-life outcomes.
 

NLS:72 Follow-Up Contents and Purposes Over Time

Features 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)

Why NLS:72 Matters

NLS:72 offers a unique lens on the long-term impact of education, with decades of rich data on academic, social, and health outcomes. The latest follow-up positions NLS:72 at the forefront of aging and cognitive research, integrating traditional survey approaches with cutting-edge biomedical and administrative data.

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