The Chronicle of Higher Education
June 10, 2021 Enrollment Management Trends, Student Success
New data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center shows a total undergraduate college enrollment decline of 3.5%, a shortfall of 603,000 students. The decline was sharper in traditional-aged college students, and male student enrollment continued to fall more than female enrollment (5.5% vs. 2%). Enrollment fell in almost every undergraduate major except certain majors such as psychology (+4.8%) and computer and information science (+3%).
Higher Ed. Dive
June 08, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many 4-year colleges that required entrance exams temporarily moved to test-optional policies for admissions consideration. Research indicates that the SAT and ACT favor White and wealthy students over poor, Black and Hispanic students. Though policies and messaging across institutions was inconsistent and ambiguous this year, Admissions experts believe that these test-optional policies open doors for students whom higher education has historically boxed out.
Inside Higher Ed.
May 19, 2021 Enrollment Management Trends
Due to a decline in births from the 2008 recession, a demographic cliff (an anticipated 15% drop in freshman prospects) is anticipated to reach higher education institutions in 2025. Another large drop in births in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic will reach colleges in 2037. These demographic changes, paired with mounting factors that dissuade prospective students from investing in traditional degrees will require post-secondary institutions to be innovative and shift service delivery.
Higher Ed. Dive
May 05, 2021 Enrollment Management Trends, Student Success
Federal agencies have extended and clarified flexible policies for international students attending U.S. colleges during the 2021-2022 academic year, as well as eased some travel restrictions. This decision will allow students and schools to better plan for the upcoming academic year, but visa processing backlogs could be a potential hurdle.
Higher Ed. Dive
April 30, 2021 Enrollment Management Trends
A growing contingent of public and private post-secondary institutions are requiring students to be vaccinated in advance of the fall 2021 semester. Colleges typically require incoming students to be vaccinated against certain diseases, and are on solid legal ground to do so. The coronavirus vaccine, however, is currently approved under Emergency Use Authorization, which may make some institutions more hesitant to enforce its requirement.
EdSurge
April 16, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends
The COIVD-19 pandemic significantly altered enrollment behaviors of students for the current enrollment cycle and possibly future cycles as well. Admissions and enrollment professionals question if pre-pandemic methods of predicting enrollment will remain relevant. If not, how can these predictive analytics be recalculated accordingly?
Higher Ed. Dive
April 12, 2021 Enrollment Management Trends
Data reported by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reflects enrollment decreases in the transfer student population. The American Council on Education recently shared strategies with regard to editing credit transfer policies, a large barrier for enrollment of transfer students.
Higher Ed. Dive
April 05, 2021 Enrollment Management Trends
Following the pandemic related travel restrictions and tightened visa policies, international student enrollment fell 16% last fall. While many assumed that these numbers would bounce back for fall 2021, many factors including competition and the legacy of the previous presidential administration will likely stagnate recovery and hamper tuition revenue for several years.
Inside Higher Ed.
March 29, 2021 Admissions, Enrollment Management Trends, Student Success
The pandemic has led to a surge in applications at the most competitive colleges, both public and private. New applications include minority and low-income applications, and many top college also admitted large early decision/early-action classes. As a result, predicting yield will likely be more difficult this year, and institutions will likely rely on waiting lists more than they normally do.
Higher Ed. Dive
March 26, 2021 Enrollment Management Trends, Research
Rutgers is the first-known higher education institution to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for students, increasing transparency of its plans for fall 2021 and assisting students and families with the decision-making process for post-secondary enrollment. Public health and legal experts predict more colleges will follow.