Higher Ed. Dive
February 24, 2022 Pre-College Outreach, Student Success
According to a report by ACT, nearly half of the high school graduating class of 2021 reported disruptions in college preparation activities. The pandemic most significantly affected students’ campus visits and college fair attendance. Low-income students, and those who are Hispanic/Latino and Asian were more likely to report disruptions.
Inside Higher Ed
February 18, 2022 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
College and university endowments grew by at least 20 percent in fiscal year 2021. The average value increased by 35 percent to $1.1 billion. The median endowment size swelled to $200 million. Surveyed institutions posted a median return of 30.1 percent in fiscal 2021, compared with 1.8 percent in 2020. While growing endowments are good for institutions, very few students benefit from the high returns.
Higher Ed. Dive
February 10, 2022 Student Success, Value and Affordability
The jobs crisis has been top of mind for employer-facing interest groups. The pandemic also put the spotlight on worker retraining, especially after mass layoffs. The US House of Representatives passed am omnibus bill Feb. 4. The amendments would make Pell grants available for rapid retraining programs and provide accurate and timely information to drive better decisions.
Inside Higher Ed
February 03, 2022 Enrollment Management Trends, Student Success
A new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found the six-year college completion rate hit 62.2 percent, but experts say it’s still too low for underserved students. The largest gain was among community colleges at 42.2 percent. Public four-year institutions had the second largest gain, followed public two-year institutions and private non-profit four-year institutions.
Higher Ed. Dive
January 19, 2022 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Transfer enrollment declined by less than 1% in fall 2021, compared to 9.2% last fall. It is up 2.3% among continuing students. Reverse transfers declined by 0.9%, while lateral transfers rose 0.2%. Upward transfer fell 1.6%. Increased transfers among continuing students were concentrated at private nonprofit four-year institutions and public four-year institutions.
Inside Higher Ed
January 12, 2022 Enrollment Management Trends, Value and Affordability
High school juniors who believe they can’t afford higher education are less likely to attend college within the first three years after high school. College affordability is particularly a concern for first-generation students. Among those studied, the group least likely to enroll in college were students who believed they could not afford college and had at least one parent with a high school diploma or less. Across low-income states, families are required spend a significant percent of their income for a family member’s college education.
Inside Higher Ed
January 10, 2022 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
A new report shows an unprecedented decline in college enrollment among high school graduates. College enrollment by the high school class of 2020 showed a decline between 4 and 10 percentage points. Preliminary data show freshman enrollment declined by 2.7 percent last fall. Overall postsecondary enrollment fell by 2.6 percent compared to 2020. Immediate enrollment fell from 55 percent to 45 percent between 2019 and 2020.
Inside Higher Ed
January 05, 2022 Student Success, Value and Affordability
The pandemic illuminates the issues faced by low-income, first-generation or racial minority students. Students face issues like affordability, maintaining their enrollment status, and other academic and personal concerns. Colleges face structural barriers that drive inequity, including the pandemic and a long-overdue racial reckoning. Universities use continuous improvement to improve affordability, teaching and learning, and holistic student support.
Higher Ed. Dive
January 04, 2022 Pre-College Outreach, Admissions
Highly personalized methods for enrolling students are expensive and difficult for institutions to scale. Virtual outreach tools like social media and online campus tours are particularly effective. Institutions need to employ a dynamic model for determining enrollment. They should be the ones to choose how many variables to include in the model as they pinpoint student enrollment patterns. Predictive models will help even if the pandemic has upended the traditional factors for forecasting enrollment.
Higher Ed. Dive
December 02, 2021 Student Success, Value and Affordability
A new survey of “disengaged learners” found financial reasons to be the top cause for stepping away. The longer a former student stays away, the less likely they are to reenroll. Reaching personal goals are a deciding factor for returning students. More than half of respondents were full-time employees in the retail or food industry, with a yearly household income of $50,000 or less. Institutions can offer the following to entice students to return: certificates for credits earned, less expensive classes, workshops to address students’ problems, counseling and help through concierge services.