Methodology
Survey Design
First conducted in the 1970s, the National Survey of College Graduates is collected every two to three years. In the most recent NSCG survey cycle, the 2025 NSCG, the data collection effort takes place September 2025 to January 2026. The 2025 NSCG survey target population consists of all U.S. residents under age 76 with at least a bachelor’s degree as of January 1, 2023.
In the past, the NSCG sample was drawn from the decennial census long form universe. Beginning in 2010, the Census discontinued the long form and began using the American Community Survey. At the recommendation of the Committee on National Statistics (part of the National Academy of Sciences), the NSCG sample was drawn from the ACS – first in 2010, again in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019, 2021, 2023 and currently for the 2025 NSCG.
The 2025 NSCG includes returning sample from the 2023 NSCG as well as new sample selected from the 2023 ACS. The majority of the 2025 NSCG sample – approximately 102,000 cases – were selected from the 2023 NSCG returning sample. The other portion of the 2025 NSCG sample, the 59,000 new sample cases, were derived from the 2023 ACS.
There are three different versions of the questionnaire, one for new sample members, one for returning sample members who responded in 2023, and one for returning sample members who did not respond in 2023. The main difference in the questionnaires is the collection of historical educational information and basic demographic information in the new sample questionnaire. For more detailed information about the history, design, and methodology of the NSCG, please visit www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvygrads.