Higher Ed. Dive
April 12, 2022 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Students at the University of Missouri who did not submit admissions tests scores for fall 2021 earned slightly lower GPAs in the first semester compared to their peers who did. However, both groups had similar retention rates. Many test-optional and test-free policies remain in effect across institutions. More than 1,800 colleges and universities are not mandating exam score submission for fall 2022 applicants.
The Washington Post
April 08, 2022 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Prominent U.S. institutions report a surge in international applications over the past two years. This is fueled by the easing pandemic travel restrictions, test-optional policies, and pent-up demand. The Common Application found a 34 percent increase in international student applications since 2020, vs. a 12 percent rate of growth for U.S. applicants.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
April 04, 2022 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
As colleges try to address declining enrollment rates, many are targeting students who left college without earning a degree. The majority of these students are adult learners and consequently have different needs than traditional college students. While the re-enrollment efforts are still in the early stages, one overarching theme is that these students need support, and institutions need to look for creative ways to provide it.
Higher Ed. Dive
April 04, 2022 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
Free college’s momentum shifted from the federal level to state and local programs. Numerous initiatives covering tuition and other educational expenses have been proposed and enacted in recent months. There are about 350 state and local “promise programs”, compared with about 53 six years ago. Rutgers–New Brunswick recently launched the Scarlet Guarantee, a program to make tuition free for students with household incomes under $65,000 and decrease tuition costs for those with an income under $100,000.
The Chronicle of Higher Education
March 28, 2022 Pre-College Outreach, Value and Affordability
Last year, $3.75B in federal Pell Grants were left unclaimed by high school graduates who failed to complete a FAFSA. States are now requiring students to complete a FAFSA in order to graduate. It is imperative that students take advantage of unclaimed financial aid, especially as the COVID pandemic has impacted both college enrollment and FAFSA completion.
Higher Ed. Dive
March 28, 2022 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
About three-fourths of the National Association for College Admission Counseling members are White. Less than half of college undergraduates and public high school students are White, suggesting a need for more diversity in admissions. A recent report offers ideas for bolstering diversity, inclusion and equity training throughout colleges and for recruiting.
Inside Higher Ed
March 22, 2022 Student Success, Value and Affordability
Scholarships for students suffering with psychological disorders have proliferated in recent years. Often funded by donors who lost loved ones to mental illness, the scholarships range in eligibility and criteria. Such scholarships can be particularly useful because students with mental health needs may face unique financial barriers when attending college.
Inside Higher Ed
March 21, 2022 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Current admissions and enrollment decision-making involve common-sense thinking regarding location, price, and flexibility. Students at four-year institutions’ top responses for college choice include major or program of interest offered, strong academic reputation, proximity to home, quality of academics in the area of interest, price of tuition, and financial aid package/scholarships. Students at community colleges overwhelmingly chose based on proximity to home and cost.
Inside Higher Ed
March 17, 2022 Student Success, Value and Affordability
When students are in crisis, they often connect with academic advisers, professors, resident assistants or student affairs staff. As such, these points of contact must be aware of financial wellness resources, such as emergency financial assistance and proactive financial literacy information, to assist students. A one-stop model focused on student financial business can make finding assistance and information more streamlined for students.
Higher Ed. Dive
March 15, 2022 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
Research-oriented public colleges raised tuition rates in recent years. Despite this, low-income students paid less to attend those institutions. This suggests public research universities provided more financial aid to students as they increased their sticker prices. However, the high-tuition, high-aid price model only broadly benefits those from the lowest income brackets.