In an effort to improve the relevancy of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) postsecondary survey data to current higher education data needs, this paper examines the ways in which the postsecondary landscape has changed since the inception of the first NCES longitudinal survey. It reviews the sociocultural and historical context surrounding the NCES postsecondary sample surveys, examines whether the current data collections address current needs and anticipate future needs, and provides recommendations including realignment of survey content with the current postsecondary landscape.