Tackling Financial Aid Fraud & Ghost Students with the Power of the National Student Clearinghouse

February 18, 2026

February 18, 2026 | 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM ET

Financial aid fraud and ghost student schemes are accelerating at an unprecedented pace, straining institutional resources, threatening compliance, and diverting aid away from the students who need it most. With some colleges reporting that 20–25% of applications show indicators of fraud and leading institutions dedicating entire teams to combating bad actors, higher education is facing a rapidly evolving crisis.

In this Business Solutions Showcase, the National Student Clearinghouse will unveil how it is uniquely positioned to help institutions tackle this challenge head‑on. Leveraging the Clearinghouse’s unparalleled coverage of U.S. postsecondary enrollments—spanning more than 97% of Title IV degree‑granting institutions—the new suspicious enrollment identification solution provides powerful, data‑driven insights to help institutions detect potential fraud before aid is disbursed.

Participants will learn about the innovative capabilities launching as part of the Clearinghouse’s multi‑phase fraud‑detection initiative, including its first production release anticipated this summer, strategically timed to support institutions ahead of Fall 2026 disbursements. This new solution equips institutions with real‑time data empowering financial aid teams, registrars, compliance offices, and system partners to identify unusual enrollment patterns early and intervene with confidence.

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Presenters:

Sean McTighe

Vice President, Compliance, Data Reporting, & Strategy, National Student Clearinghouse

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