Fewer 18-Year-Olds Enrolled in College This Fall

Inside Higher Ed

December 03, 2024

The National College Attainment Network recently reported a 5% decline in 18-year-old 2024 college enrollment compared to 2023. This analysis was conducted to assess the impact of widespread FAFSA issues last year, caused an 11.5% decline in completion rate and delayed the release of financial aid packages for students. Other noted contributors to the decline in enrollment was the ban on affirmative action and opportunities for high school graduates to enter the workforce during a relatively strong economy. The likelihood of students enrolling into a higher education institution and obtaining a postsecondary degree greatly diminishes without students’ immediate transition to college. The decline in freshman enrollment could have a long-lasting impact on students and higher education institutions.

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House lawmakers pass bipartisan bill to mandate an Oct. 1 FAFSA release date

HIGHER ED DIVE

November 15, 2024

The House of Representatives recently passed the FAFSA Deadline Act, requiring the U.S. Department of Education to make the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form annually available by October 1. This policy would take effect for the 2026-27 FAFSA. The bill received overwhelming support after initially being rejected by a majority of house lawmakers. The bill seeks to allow users to complete the FAFSA form without experiencing complications in order to receive access to timely financial aid.

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Undergraduate enrollment rises 3% despite drop in first-year students, early data shows

HIGHER ED DIVE

October 23, 2024

There has been a 3% increase in fall 2024 undergraduate enrollment compared to fall 2023. This increase in enrollment can be driven by students who previously started their first year of college and/or completed dual enrollment in high school. Specifically, data has shown a 1.9 % increase in bachelor’s degree programs, 4.3% increase in associate degrees, and 7.3% increase in certificate seekers. On the other hand, enrollment amongst first-year students has declined by 5%, signifying potential cracks in the K-12 pipeline. The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center also discovered an increase in re-enrollment of students who previously left college without completing a degree or credential.

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What Are the Graduation Outcomes for 4-Year and 2-Year Degree-Seeking Students?

The Chronicle of Higher Education

October 17, 2024

Approximately 2,182 higher education institutions within the 50 states were surveyed regarding graduation outcomes for 4-year and 2-year degree seeking students. A cohort of students starting their 4-year degree in 2016 and a cohort of students starting their 2-year degree in 2019 were selected. The survey monitored the number of students within the cohort who transferred out and who were still and no longer enrolled.

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Stress Testing the FAFSA

Inside Higher Ed

October 14, 2024

After facing challenges with the 2023-2024 FAFSA form, 680 students have successfully submitted the 2024-2025 application and reported a positive experience while navigating the phase 1 process.  The purpose of phase 1 was to help identify and resolve technical and usability issues to further restore users’ trust in the FAFSA form. Further reports indicated that families were able to complete the form in approximately 20 minutes with minimal errors and without any in-person assistance. On the other hand, some students noted challenges with not being able to get their FSA IDs. Higher education institutions are also anticipating the success of the new form to further diminish the possibility of further delays.

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Report: Stop-Outs Don’t Know About Support Services on Campus

Inside Higher Ed

September 24, 2024

Each year college students stop out of higher education institutions due to financial, academic, and mental health challenges. Most students that stop out report not being aware of student support services available to assist them.  In response, higher education institutions are actively working to increase student awareness of the support services that can assist with student persistence and completion rates. Recommendations include streamlining communication via email or text, increasing awareness of all resources available, addressing student safety, and considering the role of financial aid.

 

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How colleges can navigate a shifting test-optional landscape

HIGHER ED DIVE

October 02, 2024

Higher education institutions are continuously evaluating the benefits and drawbacks of test optional policies. At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a drastic shift in over 2,000 institutions moving to test optional admissions practices. Proponents of test optional policies believe that SAT and ACT scores do not show the strengths of applicants but rather leads them to not apply to institutions that require these scores, ultimately impacting diversity in the applicant pool. Advocates of standardized tests believe that test scores indicate prospective students’ academic success and preparedness. Importantly, institutions that are currently test optional have reported no impact on student retention.

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College enrollment rate improved among high school class of 2022, report finds

HIGHER ED DIVE

September 12, 2024

The class of 2022 is enrolling in college within a year of their high school graduation.  According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, high and low minority high schools saw approximately a 1% increase in college enrollment compared to low-poverty high schools that experienced a 1.1% decrease. Statistics reveal that the high school class of 2021 had a higher persistence rate compared to the class of 2020. Improving persistence rates is identified as a factor that shows signs of high school student’s college enrollment.

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Cuts to Race-Based Scholarships Block Path to College, Students Say

The Washington Post

August 28, 2024

Higher education institutions are eliminating scholarships specifically catered to underrepresented racial groups after the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision that restricted affirmative action. Race-conscious scholarships helped remove the financial burden from students and allowed them to focus on their academic experience. Higher education professionals believe that removing race-conscious scholarships will hurt Black and Latino students being that merit-based scholarships favorably assist White and Asian students. Higher education institutions are avoiding possible lawsuits regarding commitment to racial inclusion, rather than justifying the need of race-conscious scholarships.

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Next FAFSA will be released in phases, Education Department says

The Washington Post

August 07, 2024

The Education department recently announced starting October 1, they will launch the 2025-2026 FAFSA form in phases to assist in identifying and resolving system errors based on the feedback from a limited set of student users. This extra precaution is implemented to identify and fix the same technical glitches and bureaucratic delays experienced in the 2024-2025 form. Testing protocols will further ensure an easy navigation for users before the application is made available to all students on or before December 1. Congressional Republicans as well as the Interim President and Chief Executive of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators believe the form should not be launched in phases, but rather rolled out on the anticipated October 1 date that has been a norm since 2016.

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